TO E——.
Reading edition
Let Folly smile, to view the names Of thee and me in friendship twin'd, Yet virtue will have greater claims To love, than rank with vice combin'd. And though unequal is thy fate, Since title deck'd my higher birth; Yet envy not this gaudy state, Thine is the pride of modest worth. Our souls at least congenial meet, Nor can thy lot my rank disgrace; Our intercourse is not less sweet, Since worth of rank supplies the place.
November, 1802.
