Common Sense

ONE night having nothing to do—nor to drink,
I began a new practice, and that was to think;
What my subject shou'd be, kept me some time in doubt,
I consider'd, at last—what we all were about.

Such frauds and such fractions, such follies, such fictions,
Such out-of-door clamours, and in contradictions;
What must this be owing to? why? or from whence?
What is it we want?—why, we want Common Sense.

O yes! who can tell us where Common Sense dwells?
Does it burnish Gold Roofs, or strew Rushes in Cells?
Does it beam in the Mine? does it swim in the Sea?
Does it wing the wide Air? does it blossom the Tree?

If folks wou'd accept Common Sense as their guest,
With Meum and Tuum at home they'll be bless'd.
Not Lunatic Lacqueys run mad up and down,
Nor mind any business but what was their own.

But which is the way to find Common Sense out?
She feasts not on Turtle;—cuts in at no rout?—
Get the Tub Cynic's lanthorn, we won't mind expence,
But look by its light, 'till we spy Common Sense.

If chance she is seen, tho' for fear we mistake her,
She's natively neat, like a lovely young Quaker.
Pure Beauty, despising false Drapery's aid,
And Common Sense scorns all pedantic parade.

Let us first call at Court, but, perhaps, we intrude,
'Twas told so by Miss Affectation, the Prude;
There Fashion forbids the free use of the mind,
What can Common Sense say in a place so refin'd?

Then at Church! to be sure, Common Sense there succeeds,
Unless Superstition should choak it with weeds;
And tho' Infidelity dares a pretence,
She's easily vanquish'd by plain Common Sense.

When I mention'd the Church, you expected at least,
In the common-place mode, some stale joke 'gainst a Priest;
That a laugh I shou'd raise, at the Clergy's expence,
But he who wou'd wish it, must want Common Sense.

As to Trade, no accounts can be well kept without her,
Yet Stock-jobbers say they know nothing about her.
Bear witness 'Change-Alley—the Omniums declare,
Common Sense shall for ever be under Par there.

Come, I'll give you a Toast, if I give no offence—
Here's the Sensitive Plant, and the Root Common Sense.
Here's Love's Magic Circle, which all Senses binds,
And Delicate Pleasures to Sensible Minds.