Poems on Several Occasions | ||
133
THE Vicar and Waggoner.
A Sunday Conversation.
Thus to his Parish Waggoner, a PriestHis Soul's Resentment zealously address'd—
“How long, how long shall I beseech in vain?
“How long of thy malignant Course complain?
“Say what I can, thou, with uplifted Hand,
“Wilt drive thy Waggon thro' the Fourth Command.
“O worse than Jew, or Infidel, or Turk,
“Why, why, on Sunday's, dost thou dare to work!
“Hop'st thou for Heav'n?—The Waggoner said, Ay,
If there's no wicked Turnpike in the Way.
134
“'Tis full of Turnpikes, and of Thorns beside.
“Yea, 'tis a narrow Path, a rugged Road—
Then, Sir, 'tis worse than e'er my Cattle trod:
Better to keep the Way, that's beat and broad.
“I tell Thee, Waggoner, the beaten Path,
“However easy, leads to certain Death.
I ne'er found that: but, Sir, what Toll's to pay?
“The Toll, (reply'd the Priest) is fast and pray.
I can't afford to fast; I can't indeed—
“Then you'll be damn'd, as sure as there's a Creed.
Ay, marry, rather than be fool'd by Priests
To starve my self, and Jade my worthy Beasts.
Poems on Several Occasions | ||