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Labour in Vain

or, What Signifies Little or Nothing. Viz. I. The Poor Man's Petitioning at Court. II. Expectation of Benefit from a Covetous Man in his Life-time. III. The Marriage of an Old Man to a Young Woman. IV. Endeavours to Regulate Mens Manners by Preaching or Writing. V. Being a Jacobite. VI. Confining an Insolvent Debtor. VII. Promise of Secrecy in a Conspiracy. VIII. An Enquiry after a Place [by Edward Ward]

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[Before a Fav'rite, none shall be believ'd]

Before a Fav'rite, none shall be believ'd
And 'gainst the Rich, 'tis hard to be Reliev'd:

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In vain you offer up an empty Prayer,
Which Fattens not the Courtier, or his Heir;
Something that's Solid, and of real Good,
(At least for such by Worldlings understood)
Must be presented, if you'd favour find,
Which rarely warms th'Endowments of the Mind;
But to the Fortunate, and Rich are kind.
Since Money weighs down Justice and Desert,
The Poor's Desires don't signifie a Fart.