The Poetical Works of the Right Hon. George Granville, Lord Lansdowne/32

by George Granville

FOR LIBERALITY.

Tho’ ſafe thou think’ſt thy treaſure lies,
Hidden in cheſts from human eyes,
A fire may come, and it may be
Bury’d, my friend, as far from thee.
Thy veſſel that yon ocean ſtems,5
Loaded with golden duſt and gems,
Purchas’d with ſo much pains and coſt,
Yet in a tempeſt may be loſt.
Pimps, whores, and bawds, a thankleſs crew,
Prieſts, pickpockets, and lawyers too,10
All help by ſeveral ways to drain,
Thanking themſelves for what they gain.
The liberal are ſecure alone,
For what we frankly give for ever is our own.14