University of Virginia Library

A Pass-By, in Relation to those, who seem offended at my Frequent-Scriblings, as they call them.

Me thinks, I hear some say, who look upon
These Papers; will this fellow ne'r have done?
Which Questionists, I, with a smile, contemn,
Supposing, labour lost, in answering them:
For, nothing is more pleasing to their ears
Then Scurril Pamphlets, Bawdy Rimes, and Jeers.
To them alone, therefore, who take delight
In wholsome words, Ile shew why still I write;
Presuming, that my Reasons will not seem
To merit, altogether, disesteem.
Although my former Poems, and my Musings
Had not until of late Dayes, those perusings
Which I expected, nor now valued be
Of many, they have much refreshed me;
And, otherwile, for supplements have stood
Instead of sleep, of Rayment, and of Food.
In Troubles, me, they more content have made
Then Wealth, Repute, and all the Friends I had.
They cause me to be fearless of my Foes;
When I am vext, my spirit they compose;
When I am Poor, they are in stead of Wealth,
When I am Sick, they help repair my Health;
When I am Well, they are my Recreation,
When tempted to Despair, Hopes Reparation.
Thereby, when Sadness comes, to Mirth I turn it;
When I am slieghted, they do make me scorn it.
In Prisons, when my Body is confin'd
They do so many wayes inlarge my Mind
That, doubting whether will for me prove best,
The Freedom lost, or that which is Possest,
I use the means of Both; but, wholly leave
The choice to GOD; and what he gives receive.
They are Companions, when I'm left alone;
They find me work to do, when I have none.
By day, me from ill Company they keep;
Make nights less tedious, when I cannot sleep.
They ease me, when I am opprest with wrongs;
When I want Musick, they do make me Songs.
To Friends, who like them (where's no bettet cheer)
They, acceptable Entertainments are:
Oft, likewise, I make use of them, instead
Of Charms, when, I of Fools would fain be rid;
For, if I read them, but a page or two,
They strait, grow weary, and away they go.
They fix thoughts, which would quite slip out of mind,
And, when writ down, I them, know where to find;
Yea, other men, thereby, have oft teceived
Refreshments, if their words may be believed:
And (which is more then all this) to GOD's praise,
They are, and may be useful, sundry wayes.
For these respects, whoever shall appear
Pleas'd or displeas'd, to me my Musings are
Considerable; and if any one
They do offend, them, he may let alone;
For, though they have been tendred unto many,
I never, yet, inforced them on any,
Against their wills; except perhaps it were
To save them, whose destruction I thoughr near;
And, (I will not be shie the Truth to say
No men, have worse requited me, then they:
But peradventure, if that dead I were,
None daring to be their Remembrancer,
(As I have been) they may more mischief'd be
Through want of one, then troubled now by me.