The poetical and dramatic works of Sir Charles Sedley Collected and Edited from the Old Editions: With a preface on the text, explanatory and textual notes, an appendix containing works of doubtful authenticity, and a bibliography: By V. de Sola Pinto |
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 | The poetical and dramatic works of Sir Charles Sedley |  |
LXIII
TO SEXTUS
[From Martial,] Lib. 2. Ep. 38.
What Business, or what Hope brings thee to Town,Who can'st not Pimp, nor Cheat, nor Swear, nor Lye?
This Place will nourish no such idle Drone;
Hence, in remoter Parts thy Fortune try.
But thou hast Courage, Honesty, and Wit,
And one, or all these three, will give Thee Bread:
The Malice of this Town thou know'st not yet;
Wit is a good Diversion, but base Trade;
Cowards will, for thy Courage, call thee Bully,
Till all, like Thraso's, thy Acquaintance shun;
Rogues call thee for thy Honesty a Cully;
Yet this is all thou hast to live upon:
Friend, three such Vertues, Audley had undone;
Be wise, and e're th'art in a Jayl, be gone,
Of all that starving Crew we saw to Day
None but has kill'd his Man, or writ his Play.
| The poetical and dramatic works of Sir Charles Sedley | |