The London-Spy Compleat In Eighteen Parts :: :: University of Virginia Library

What sundry Projects the Ingenious find,
T'Allure and Cozen Avaritious Fools;
And draw the Common People who are Blind,
In all their Stratagems to be their Tools.

The hopes of sudden Wealth doth most deceive,
When 'tis from Labour and from Danger free,
Let but the hopes be plausible you give,
And most Men will with your designs agree.

For all Men love Prosperity and Ease,
And when its Prospect they with Safety have,
Tho' at a vast long distance, yet 'twill please,
More surely him whom Want does most Enslave.

This made the Lott'ries with the Crowd prevail,
The Odds, tho' great, they mind to Scan,
As long as each among the Num'rous All,
Has equal Hopes to be the happy Man.

343

The vast Deduction for the Pains and Charge;
Of ten per Cent in Reason is too great;
And where the Gain in Justice is too large,
The very Profit is alone a Cheat.

Thousands, 'tis plain, would soon have been Undone,
Had the late Act much longer been delay'd,
Where many suffer to Enrich but one,
All such designs are in their Nature bad.

All loofe vain Projects ought to be debarr'd,
Which are of Evil to the Publick known,
Wherein Projectors have a large Reward,
For doing what they'd better ne'er a done.

This is enough to prove they Hurtful are,
Since among all the Adventurers you meet,
To one who has reason to believe 'em Fair,
A thousand shall Cry out, A Cheat a Cheat.

He that Projects or Models the Design,
Like the Box-keeper certain is to Win:
In Lott'ries 'tis the same as 'tis in Play,
The Knave's the Vulture, and the Fool's the Prey.