Each mean compliance gallantly denies,
And in mute honefty is brave and dies.

While you, tho' tutor❜d from your early youth,
To all the principles of fteddy truth,
Tho' ftation, birth, and character conspire,
To kindle in your breast the manly fire,
Friends, reputation, confcience, all disclaim,
To glory loft, and funk in endless shame;
For the dull privilege to breathe the air,
For everlasting infamy declare,

50

55

And down to late pofterity record

A name that's curs'd, abandon'd, and abhorr'd.

60

Go, wretch! enjoy the purchase you have gain'd,
Scorn and reproach your every step attend;
By all mankind neglected and forgot,
Retire to folitude, retire and rot.

But whither? whither can the guilty • flie'
From the devouring worms that never die?
Those inward stings that rack the villain's breast, 65
Haunt his lone house, and break his tortur'd rest.
'Midft caves, 'midst rocks and defarts you may find
A fafe retreat from all the human kind,
But to what foreign region can you run,
Your greatest enemy, yourself, to shun?

d;

V. 51. Here malice, rapine, accident, conspire,
And now a rabble rages, now a fire.

LONDON,

70

Where e'er thou go'ft, wild anguish and despair, And black remorse attend with hideous ftare; Tear diftracted foul with torments fell, Your paffions devils, and your bofom hell.

your

Thus may you drag your heavy chain along, 75 Some minutes more inglorious life prolong; And when the fates fhall cut a coward's breath, Weary of being, yet afraid of death,

If crimes like thine hereafter are forgiven,

Judas and Murray both may go to heaven. 8a

Whose days are dwindled to the shortest span;
Oh! give relief-and heav'n will bless your store.

Thefe tatter'd cloaths my poverty bespeak,

5

These hoary locks proclaim my lengthen'd years;

And many a furrow in my grief-worn cheek

Has been the channel to a ftream of tears.

Yon houfe, erected on the rifing ground,

With tempting aspect drew me from my road, 10 For plenty there a refidence has found, And grandeur a magnificent abode :

(Hard is the fate of the infirm and poor!)
Here craving for a morfel of their bread,

A pamper'd menial forc'd me from the door,
To feek a fhelter in an humbler shed.

*First printed 176..

15

Oh! take me to your hospitable dome,

Keen blows the wind, and piercing is the cold! Short is my paffage to the friendly tomb,

For I am poor and miferably old.

Should I reveal the fource of every grief,

If foft humanity e'er touch'd your breast, Your hands would not withhold the kind relief, And tears of pity could not be represt.

20

Heav'n fends misfortunes-why should we repine? 25 'Tis heaven has brought me to the state you fee; And your condition may be foon like mine, The child of forrow-and of mifery.

A little farm was my paternal lot,

Then like the lark I fprightly hail'd the morn; 30 But ah! oppreffion forc'd me from my cot, My cattle dy'd, and blighted was my corn.

My daughter-once the comfort of my age
Lur'd by a villain from her native home,
Is caft abandon'd on the world's wide stage,
And doom'd in scanty poverty to roam.

!

My tender wife-fweet foother of my care!
Struck with fad anguish at the ftern decree,
Fell-ling'ring fell a victim to despair,

35

And left the world to wretchednefs and me. 40

Pity the forrows of a poor old man!

Whose trembling limbs have borne him to your door,

Whose days are dwindled to the shortest span;
Oh! give relief-and heav'n will bless your store.