To His Son

[From the MSS. John Dyer, Esq., the poet's only son, " of the most amiable disposition, and heir to his father's classical taste," was heir to the bulk of his uncle's (John Strong Ensor) estates. He devoted the principal part of his time to travelling, had a good notion of drawing, and in 1776 and 1777 seems to have held some official post at the court of France. Mr. Longstaffe remarks; " He grieved his uncle by not settling down to money-making; and by staying among his Warwickshire friends instead of meeting Mr. Ensor in London, lost the opportunity of a good appointment in America, much, perhaps, to his own contentment. He died in London in 1782, aged but 31. " ]
Temperance , exercise, and air,
Make thee strong and debonair;
Quiet, competence, and health,
Furnish thee with real wealth;
Truth, humility, and love,
Lead thee to the bliss above.
More, at best, is but a bubble,
More is often toil and trouble.