Scripscrapologia or, Collins's Doggerel Dish Of All Sorts. Consisting of Songs Adapted to familiar Tunes, And which may be sung without the Chaunterpipe of an Italian Warbler, or the ravishing Accompaniments of Tweedle-Dum or Tweedle-Dee. Particularly those which have been most applauded in the author's once popular performance, call'd, The Brush. The Gallimaufry garnished with a variety of comic tales, quaint epigrams, whimsical epitaphs, &c. &c. [by John Collins] |
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AN EYE TO POSTHUMOUS REPUTATION. |
 | Scripscrapologia |  |
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AN EYE TO POSTHUMOUS REPUTATION.
Says Avaro to Timon, You lavish your gold,As young fools lavish time, to wish back when they're old.—
Now Avaro was close as the clench of a vice,
And “Hold Fast” to his friend was his constant advice;
While Timon, diffuse as the sun's vivid rays,
Scatter'd wealth to bless millions with charity's blaze;
Yet the former still stuck to his text with the latter,
Insisting 'twas wiser to scant than to scatter;
Ay, and honester too, for the man that acts fair,
Will even of posthumous scandal beware,
Nor when dead risk the censure of robbing his Heir.
Of robbing my Heir? says young Timon,—why ay,—
When I'm under the sod, such a thing they may say;
But there's nothing in nature more common, Avaro,
'Tis done ev'ry day at Whist, Hazard, and Pharo;
But, as living all days of my life is my plan,
Like a dog may he die that won't live like a man:
And, tho' robbing one's Heir may be deem'd somewhat wrong,
By the gold-grasping, fast-holding, pelf-loving throng,
Yet as he who in wealth is with avarice hamper'd,
Unnat'rally starves that his purse may be pamper'd,
Let me never be deem'd so unnat'ral an elf,
As, when dead, to be censur'd for robbing Myself.
| Scripscrapologia | |