The Works of Soame Jenyns ... In Four Volumes. Including Several Pieces Never Before Published. To Which are Prefixed, Short Sketches of the History of the Author's Family, and also of his Life; By Charles Nalson Cole |
 | I. |
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THE WAY TO BE WISE.
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| II. |
 | The Works of Soame Jenyns |  |
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THE WAY TO BE WISE.
IMITATED FROM LA FONTAINE.
Poor Jenny, am'rous, young, and gay,
Having by man been led astray,
To nunn'ry dark retir'd;
There liv'd, and look'd so like a maid,
So seldom eat, so often pray'd,
She was by all admir'd.
Having by man been led astray,
To nunn'ry dark retir'd;
There liv'd, and look'd so like a maid,
So seldom eat, so often pray'd,
She was by all admir'd.
The lady Abbess oft would cry,
If any sister trod awry,
Or prov'd an idle slattern;
See wise and pious Mrs. Jane,
A life so strict, so grave a mien
Is sure a worthy pattern.
If any sister trod awry,
Or prov'd an idle slattern;
See wise and pious Mrs. Jane,
A life so strict, so grave a mien
Is sure a worthy pattern.
A pert young slut at length replies,
Experience, madam, makes folks wise,
'Tis that has made her such;
And we, poor souls, no doubt shou'd be
As pious, and as wise, as she,
If we had seen as much.
Experience, madam, makes folks wise,
'Tis that has made her such;
And we, poor souls, no doubt shou'd be
As pious, and as wise, as she,
If we had seen as much.
| The Works of Soame Jenyns | |