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Alexander Pope - In Imitation of E. of Rochester : On Silence
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I. 
Silence! coeval with Eternity;
Thou wert, ere Nature`s-self began to be,
`Twas one vast Nothing, all, and all slept fast in thee.

II. 
Thine was the sway, ere heav`n was form`d, or earth,
Ere fruitful Thought conceiv`d creation`s birth,
Or midwife Word gave aid, and spoke the infant forth.

III.
Then various elements, against thee join`d,
In one more various animal combin`d,
And fam`d the clam`rous race of busy Human-kind.

IV. 
The tongue mov`d gently first, and speech was low,
`Till wrangling Science taught it noise and show,
And wicked Wit arose, thy most abusive foe.

V. 
But rebel Wit deserts thee oft` in vain;
Lost in the maze of words he turns again,
And seeks a surer state, and courts thy gentle reign.

VI. 
Afflicted Sense thou kindly dost set free,
Oppress`d with argumental tyranny,
And routed Reason finds a safe retreat in thee.

VII. 
With thee in private modest Dulness lies,
And in thy bosom lurks in Thought`s disguise;
Thou varnisher of Fools, and cheat of all the Wise!

VIII.
Yet thy indulgence is by both confest;
Folly by thee lies sleeping in the breast,
And `tis in thee at last that Wisdom seeks for rest.

IX. 
Silence the knave`s repute, the whore`s good name,
The only honour of the wishing dame;
Thy very want of tongue makes thee a kind of Fame.

X.
But could`st thou seize some tongues that now are free,
How Church and State should be oblig`d to thee!
At Senate, and at Bar, how welcome would`st thou be!

XI.
Yet speech ev`n there, submissively withdraws,
From rights of subjects, and the poor man`s cause:
Then pompous Silence reigns, and stills the noisy Laws.

XII.
Past services of friends, good deeds of foes,
What Fav`rites gain, and what the Nation owes,
Fly the forgetful world, and in thy arms repose.

XIII.
The country wit, religion of the town,
The courtier`s learning, policy o` th` gown,
Are best by thee express`d; and shine in thee alone.

XIV.
The parson`s cant, the lawyer`s sophistry,
Lord`s quibble, critic`s jest; all end in thee,
All rest in peace at last, and sleep eternally.
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