The footman's friendly advice To his Brethren of the Livery; And to all Servants in General: ... To which is Prefix'd, An Introduction, humbly Submitted to the Consideration of all Noblemen, Gentlemen, and Ladies, who keep many Servants. Also a postscript, In Answer To Squire Moreton's Pamphlet, Intituled, Every Body's Business is no Body's. By R. D. [i.e. Robert Dodsley] |
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DILIGENCE. |
 | The footman's friendly advice |  |
DILIGENCE.
Of Diligence I now proceed to sing:
O may the Muse perswasive Influence bring!
And one would think few Words might serve t'enforce,
Because th'Advantage 'rising from't is ours.
But some, I doubt, are so with Sloth possest,
They can't embrace it, tho' they know 'tis best;
Loitering they stand, their Business all to do,
'Till the last Pinch, and then they slur it thro'
Half done, half undone, and amidst their Throng,
'Tis ten to one, but something is done wrong.
O may the Muse perswasive Influence bring!
And one would think few Words might serve t'enforce,
Because th'Advantage 'rising from't is ours.
But some, I doubt, are so with Sloth possest,
They can't embrace it, tho' they know 'tis best;
Loitering they stand, their Business all to do,
'Till the last Pinch, and then they slur it thro'
Half done, half undone, and amidst their Throng,
'Tis ten to one, but something is done wrong.
Not so Jack Swift; he lays a Method down,
Proceeds in Business regularly on,
And follows it with Vigour 'till 'tis done.
One Hour for this, and one for that ordains,
Nor lets th'appointed Time slip idly thro' his Hands.
His Business thus pursu'd by just Degrees,
Is soonest done, and done with greatest Ease;
For when a constant Application's us'd,
Tho' full employ'd we never are confus'd;
We never seem embarrass'd with our Throng,
Nor run so much the Risque of doing wrong:
We thus for all Contingencies prepare,
Whatever happens we have Time to spare.
But he who to the last his Business drives,
If any unexpected Thing arrives,
His Master's forc'd to eat with half-clean'd Knives.
Which, if he chance to see, and blames the Crime,
His best Excuse is—Sir, I had no Time.
I did not know of This, and That, and That:
But trust me, Brothers, this is idle Chat;
Such lame Excuses won't the Fault attone,
Masters expect to have their Business done.
Expect that we should think, and have Regard.
To what but may be, and so stand prepar'd.
Proceeds in Business regularly on,
And follows it with Vigour 'till 'tis done.
One Hour for this, and one for that ordains,
Nor lets th'appointed Time slip idly thro' his Hands.
His Business thus pursu'd by just Degrees,
Is soonest done, and done with greatest Ease;
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Tho' full employ'd we never are confus'd;
We never seem embarrass'd with our Throng,
Nor run so much the Risque of doing wrong:
We thus for all Contingencies prepare,
Whatever happens we have Time to spare.
But he who to the last his Business drives,
If any unexpected Thing arrives,
His Master's forc'd to eat with half-clean'd Knives.
Which, if he chance to see, and blames the Crime,
His best Excuse is—Sir, I had no Time.
I did not know of This, and That, and That:
But trust me, Brothers, this is idle Chat;
Such lame Excuses won't the Fault attone,
Masters expect to have their Business done.
Expect that we should think, and have Regard.
To what but may be, and so stand prepar'd.
| The footman's friendly advice | |