MANY seeming weak Acts by Contrivance are done, Thus at first the Field's left that the Day may be won. Old @3Turenne,@1 to disorder the Foe would turn Tail, Make a Feint, suffer Loss, face about, and prevail. So @3Hermes@1 at Chess (says a Prelate of Fame) Thought the losing a Man would be getting a Game. But to come to the Point. Old Parables tell A remarkable Instance that happen'd in Hell: Grim @3Satan@1 one Night us'd his Spirits like Slaves, On Pretence that in @3England@1 they serv'd him by Halves: "Where's @3Mammon?@1 I order you out from the Rest, "Go, tempt and secure old Sir @3John@1 of the West: "You have known better Things than beguiling in vain, "So without Him ne'er think of returning again." Well, away went the Fiend, and nine Days he was gone, Then came back to his Master;——but not with Sir @3John: Satan,@1 mad as he was but to think himself shamm'd, Roar'd, redden'd, spoke broken, shook, sweated, and damn'd. Poor @3Mammon@1 stood up to be heard in his Place, And thus in plain Terms represented the Case: "Let it never be said that you'll hear but one Side, "Crimes suspected are Crimes till the Criminal's try'd; "I have stay'd, and have let your Knight go; but the Fact is, "A Parson secur'd both his Faith and his Practice: "Yet the Int'rest of all our good Friends here below "Is as well carry'd on, as the Sequel may show. "When Sir @3John@1 would not yield, his Attention to draw, "I appear'd like an honest Attorney at Law; "Then I multiply'd Visits the more he grew ill, "Till, @3In Nomine Domini@1 I made his Will. "It was now the right Time my whole Scheme to perform, "So thus I addrest my Testator in Form: "Forasmuch as your Lands are in Charity giv'n, "To remain so while you are rewarded in Heav'n, "Be this your chief Care, that the Poor be ne'er cheated, "Lord! by how many Ways good Designs are defeated! " 'Tis a Comfort to me in this reprobate Age, "To see Piety thus your Affection engage! "Now Sir @3John@1 I act always you know undisguis'd, "Only beg you in Matters of Law be advis'd, "The Conveyance is All—Gifts are lost by Degrees, "Where the Donors devise their Estates to Fe'ffees; "Single Men may forget their own Deaths to supply, "But a legal Town-Corporate never can die; "Corporations are Guardians, Trustees, and Directors, "Of Funds, and of Schools, and Alms-houses, and Lectures: "Now whereas you have specify'd these in your Will, "Are not large Bodies best, large Designs to fulfil? "Should not Men of Authority manage your Lands? " 'Tis a Credit to leave one's Affairs in such Hands; "Let your Gifts be on Magistrates settled in Trust, "Those that punish Injustice can ne'er be unjust: "Their own Shops will be all Magazines for your Poor, "Trade and Charity Both may be further'd the more. "Chuse a Town then whose Justices yearly are sworn; "What d'ye think of the Place where your Honour was born? "He approv'd, sign'd, and dy'd"——Here the Monarch of Hell Grinn'd a ghastly, broad Smile, and swore——" 'Tis all well—— "For instead of one Knight, to our Share now will fall, "May'r, Aldermen, Burgesses, Town-clerk, and All." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...VOYAGE A L'INFINI by WALTER CONRAD ARENSBERG IN THIS DARK HOUSE by EDWARD DAVISON THE LOST SHEEP by SARAH PRATT MCCLAIN GREENE LUCASIA, ROSANIA, AND ORINDA PARTING AT A FOUNTAIN by KATHERINE PHILIPS THE LITTLE CROSS by EDITH AGNEW TO BARON DE STONNE.....TO FIND HIMSELF BETWEEN by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD |