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The Works of John Sheffield

Earl of Mulgrave, Marquis of Normanby, and Duke of Buckingham. In two volumes ... The third edition, Corrected
  
  
  
  
  

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202

On the TIMES.

Since in vain our Parsons teach,
Hear, for once, a Poet preach.
Vice has lost its very Name,
Skill and Coz'nage thought the same;
Only playing well the Game.
Foul Contrivances we see
Call'd but Ingenuity;
Ample Fortunes often made
Out of Frauds in ev'ry Trade,
Which an aukward Child afford
Enough to wed the greatest Lord.
The Miser starves to raise a Son;
But, if once the Fool is gone,
Years of Thirft scarce serve a Day,
Rake-hell squanders all away.

203

Husbands sneaking for a Place,
Or toiling for their Pay;
While the Wives undo their Race
By Petticoats and Play:
Breeding Boys to Drink and Dice,
Carrying Girls to Comedies,
Where Ma-ma's Intrigues are shown,
Which ere long will be their own.
Having first at Sermon slept,
Tedious Day is weekly kept
By worse Hypocrites, than Men,
Till Monday comes to cheat agen.
Ev'n among the Noblest-born,
Moral Virtue is a Scorn;
Gratitude, but rare at best;
And Fidelity a Jest.
All our Wit but Party-mocks;
All our Wisdom, raising Stocks:
Counted Folly to defend
Sinking Side, or falling Friend.

204

Long an Officer may serve;
Prais'd and wounded, he may starve:
No Receipt, to make him rise,
Like inventing loyal Lyes.
We, whose Ancestors have shin'd
In Arts of Peace, and Fields of Fame,
To Ill and Idleness inclin'd,
Now are grown a publick Shame.
Fatal that intestine Jar,
Which produc'd our Civil War!
Ever since, how sad a Race!
Senseless, violent, and base!