Thoughts 13: Outward Show
For Outward Show we barter Competence,
Family Comfort, Credit, Friendship’s Ties;
And even Love’s own dreamy Eden, whence
The beantifullest Flowers of Life arise
To breathe a soul-sweet incense to the skies!
This Social Envy—this most prurient Sense
Of Self-display, grows daily more intense,
Infecting even the Wisdom of the Wise.
Children are pincht with want and early woe,
That She who bore them, Fashion’s fribble Slave,
To Church or Theatre full-drest may go;
Sires, Husbands, Fops, all itch alike, and brave
Even Ruin, to o’erclimb some gaudy knave,
Their Rival in the Court of Outward Show.
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