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The works of Mr. Thomas Brown

Serious and Comical, In Prose and Verse; In four volumes. The Fourth Edition, Corrected, and much Enlarged from his Originals never before publish'd. With a key to all his Writings

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A pleasant Dialogue beeween the Pillory and Daniel de Foe.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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A pleasant Dialogue beeween the Pillory and Daniel de Foe.

Pill.
Awake, thou busy Dreamer, and arise,
Shake off th'unwilling Slumber from thy Eyes,

De Foe.
Hail dread Tribunal, reverend Machine,
Of awful Phyz, and formidable Mein,
Thou Prop of Justice, Adjutant of Law,
That keep'st the Paper-blurring World in awe;
But why this early Visit made to me?
Must I again ascend thy Fatal Tree?

Pill.
No,—may'st thou never mount my Fabrick more,
With much Concern, last Time, thy Weight I bore;
And with regret, I see myself of late,
Made a meer Tool and Property of State;

149

Time was when Knaves, whom now for Gold they spare
And such-like Villains trod my Bosom Care.
The Scrivener and the Publick Notaries,
Forgers of Bonds and Wills, were all my Votaries;
Now I'm reverse (so humane Chances vary)
And vent the Spleen of peevish Secretary.

De Foe.
Was it not for this you broke my easy Rest?
You know what publick Failures I detest.
How some Grandees are in a mortal Rage,
To see we know the Scandal of our Age;
And as they are the Grievance of the Times,
Are most afraid of hearing their own Crimes.