NATURE
and
FORTUNE
.
To
the
Earl
of
CHESTERFIELD
.
NATURE
and
fortune
blith
and
gay
,
To
pass
an
hour
or
two
,
In
frolick
mood
agreed
to
play
At
"
What
shall
this
man
do
?
"
Come
,
I'll
be
judge
then
,
FORTUNE
cries
,
And
therefore
must
be
blind
;
Then
whipt
a
napkin
round
her
eyes
,
And
ty'd
it
fast
behind
.
NATURE
had
now
prepar'd
her
list
Of
names
on
scraps
of
leather
,
Which
roll'd
,
she
gave
them
each
a
twist
,
And
husled
them
together
.
Thus
mixt
,
which
ever
came
to
hand
She
very
surely
drew
;
Then
bade
her
sister
give
command
,
For
what
that
man
should
do
.
'Twould
almost
burst
one's
sides
to
hear
What
strange
commands
she
gave
;
That
C—R
should
the
laurel
wear
,
And
C—E
an
army
have
.
At
length
when
STANHOPE'S
name
was
come
,
Dame
NATURE
smil'd
and
cry'd
,
Now
tell
me
,
sister
,
this
man's
doom
,
And
what
shall
him
betide
?
That
man
,
said
FORTUNE
,
shall
be
one
Blest
both
by
you
and
me
:
—
Nay
,
then
,
quoth
NATURE
,
let's
have
done
;
Sister
,
I'm
sure
you
see
.