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A CHARACTER by CLARA REEVE

First Line: A QUAKER'S STIFFNESS, WITH A TRADESMAN'S GRIN
Last Line: APPLAUD THY BAWDY, BLASPHEMY, AND LIES.

A QUAKER'S stiffness, with a tradesman's grin;
A Jesuit's conscience, with an open mien;
A sailor's breeding, with a courtier's art;
A zealot's fury, with an atheist's heart;
These are thy honours! -- Not thy wild expense,
Fed and supported by the public pence,
Poured forth in awkward, splendid, motley treats,
Where dirt with cleanness, want with fullness meets;
Devoured by hungry parsons, sots, and fools,
All well-picked, servile, suppliant, fawning fools;
Who with dull flatt'ry, and admiring eyes,
Applaud thy bawdy, blasphemy, and lies.



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