WHEN Fate presents us with the Bays, We prize the Praiser, not the Praise. We scarcely think our Fame eternal If vouched for by the Farthing Journal; But when the Craftsman's self has spoken We take it for a certain Token. This an Example best will show, Derived from DENNIS DIDEROT. A hackney Author, who'd essayed All Hazards of the scribbling Trade, And failed to live by every Mode, From Persian Tale to Birthday Ode; Embarked at last, thro' pure Starvation, In Theologic Speculation. 'Tis commonly affirmed his Pen Had been most orthodox till then; But oft, as SOCRATES has said, The Stomach's stronger than the Head; And, for a sudden Change of Creed, There is no Jesuit like Need. Then, too, 'twas cheap; he took it all, By force of Habit, from the Gaul. He showed (the Trick is nowise new) That Nothing we believe is true; But chiefly that Mistake is rife Touching the point of After-life; Here all were wrong from PLATO down: His Price (in Boards) was Half-a-Crown. The Thing created quite a Scare: -- He got a Letter from VOLTAIRE, Naming him Ami and Confrere; Besides two most attractive Offers Of Chaplaincies from noted Scoffers. He fell forthwith his Head to lift, To talk of 'I and Dr. Sw -- FT'; And brag, at Clubs, as one who spoke On equal Terms with BOLINGBROKE. But, at the last, a Missive came That put the Copestone to his Fame. The Boy who brought it would not wait: It bore a Covent-Garden Date; -- A woful Sheet with doubtful Ink, And Air of Bridewell or the Clink. It ran in this wise: -- Learned Sir! We, whose Subscriptions follow here, Desire to state our Fellow-feeling In this Religion you're revealing. You make it plain that if so be We 'scape on Earth from Tyburn Tree, There's nothing left for us to fear In this -- or any other Sphere. We offer you our Thanks; and hope Your Honor, too, may cheat the Rope! With that came all the Names beneath, As BLUESKIN, JERRY CLINCH, MACHEATH, BET CARELESS, and the Rest -- a Score Of Rogues and Bona Robas more. This Newgate Calendar he read: 'Tis not recorded what he said. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MY AIN WIFE by ALEXANDER LAING PREPARATORY MEDITATIONS, 1ST SERIES: 8 by EDWARD TAYLOR ANNIVERS: BAPTISMT by JOSEPH BEAUMONT CLING TO THY MOTHER by GEORGE WASHINGTON BETHUNE PSALM 19. THE FIRST SIX VERSES by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE THE NEW PROSERPINE by MATHILDE BLIND |