A courtier, summon'd hence of late, br Was call'd to Minos' Judgment Seat. br br The Cretan Sage began the Charge, br Recounted all his Crimes at large; br His Insincerity, and Pride, br His Hundred evil Arts beside; br Arts, thinly veil'd with Virtue's Guise, br The modern Statesmens Scheme to rise. br br He, cringing, owns his Guilt, with Shame; br Yet from himself would shift the Blame; br Insists, that since the World began, br Kings seldom rais'd the virtuous Man: br (Some Instances must be allow'd, br Tho' almost lost in such a Croud) br That Courts were other Things of late, br Than when he rul'd the Cretan State: br That those who breathe in them, will find, br The tainted Air corrupts the Mind. br br Courtier, the Judge reply'd, beware-- br Theander has resided there; br The third of an accomplish'd Race, br Who fill'd successively one Place: br Yet see the Stream of Virtue run, br Untainted down from Sire to Son: br Humane their Hearts, enlarg'd, refin'd, br With ev'ry Gift to bless their Kind; br In Friendship's noblest Zeal sincere; br In Honour amiably severe; br Steady to Faith, and Truth, and Right; br With open Honesty, polite; br With no Disguise in Sptech, or Spirit, br But Modesty, the Mask of Merit. br br True, Minos--yet you must agree, br These Instances conclude for me.