Poems on Several Occasions | ||
To the Right Honourable John Earl of Stair.
1724.
What tho' my Dividend of Wit
For Preaching made me seem unfit,
When, 'midst an Herd of Levites muddy,
Creeds and Confessions were my Study?
Shall Works of mine prove out of Season
With Laymen, for the Clergy's Reason?
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For Offices of every Kind?
Must I despair to get a Place?
Zookers, my Lord, 'tis an hard Case!
—But tho' the World shou'd all agree,
In saying, there's no Worth in Me;
I dare be bold to own to you,
I'll never think the Saying true:
Nor, while so many Fools I spy,
Can I believe there's none but I.
Then, first, my Lord, my Pride forgive,
And, next, e'en help me how to live.
Poems on Several Occasions | ||