URBAN, or Sylvan, or whatever name Delights thee best, thou foremost in the fame Of Magazining chiefs! whose rival page With monthly medley courts the curious age, Hear a poor Passive Participle's case, And, if thou canst, restore me to my place. Till just of late good English has thought fit To call me @3written,@1 or to call me @3writ;@1 But what is @3writ@1 or @3written@1 by the vote Of writers now, hereafter must be @3wrote;@1 And what is @3spoken@1 too, hereafter @3spoke;@1 And measures, never to be @3broken, broke.@1 I never could be @3driven;@1 but, in spite Of Grammar, they have @3drove@1 me from my right. None could have @3risen@1 to become my foes; But what a world of enemies have @3rose!@1 Who have not @3gone,@1 but they have @3went@1 about, And, @3torn@1 as I have been, have @3tore@1 me out. Passive I am and would be; and implore That such abuse may be henceforth @3forbore,@1 If not @3forborn;@1 for by each spelling book If not @3mistaken,@1 they are all @3mistook;@1 And in plain English it had been as well If what has @3fall'n@1 upon me, had not @3fell.@1 Since this attack upon me has @3began,@1 Who knows what length in language may be @3ran?@1 For if it once be @3grew@1 into a law, You'll see such work as never has been @3saw;@1 Part of our speech, and sense, perhaps, beside, Shakes when I'm @3shook,@1 and dies when I am @3died.@1 Then let the Preter and Imperfect Tense Of my own words to me remit the sense; Or, since we two are oft enough agreed, Let all the learned take some better heed, And leave the vulgar to confound the due Of Preter tense, and Participle too. |