The Minor Poems of Joseph Beaumont ... Edited from the autograph manuscript with introduction and notes by Eloise Robinson |
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Thrift
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 | The Minor Poems of Joseph Beaumont |  |
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Thrift
June 1. 1652.
1
Say not, Tis base to spare,Unless thou knew'st what spareing were.
Hadst that been thy forefather's minde
More reason thou wouldst finde
To rayle on Spending: but thy scorn thou now
On thine own Prides Foundation doth throw.
2
Is't base? bold Prodigal,Know'st thou whom heer thou dost miscall?
Dares thy contemptuous Censure fling
Basenes on Bounties King?
He, noblest He, his own miraculous Gift
Was not ashamed to seal up with Thrift.
3
When he had thousands fed,He set on every bit of bread
His saving care: Let nothing be
Squanderd & lost, sayd He,
But up with every crumb: yea though his word
To all the World a banquet could afford.
429
4
Will thy estate hold outAs well as his, that thou shouldst flout
The thought of Sparing? or wouldst thou
More generousnes show
Than God himself? Ah fool, yf thou wouldst be
Noble indeed, thy Copy must be He.
5
'Tis thine who findst the faultWith Thrift; for Thrift is Bounties Salt,
Which from corrupting keeps it free,
And makst it lasting be.
Belev't, he best knows how to spend (whate'r
Thy fancy weens,) who best knows how to spare.
| The Minor Poems of Joseph Beaumont | |