Labour in Vain or, What Signifies Little or Nothing. Viz. I. The Poor Man's Petitioning at Court. II. Expectation of Benefit from a Covetous Man in his Life-time. III. The Marriage of an Old Man to a Young Woman. IV. Endeavours to Regulate Mens Manners by Preaching or Writing. V. Being a Jacobite. VI. Confining an Insolvent Debtor. VII. Promise of Secrecy in a Conspiracy. VIII. An Enquiry after a Place [by Edward Ward] |
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Promise of Secrecy in a Conspiracy.
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 | Labour in Vain |  |
Promise of Secrecy in a Conspiracy.
21
[Whilst a protecting Providence do sway]
Whilst a protecting Providence do sway,Whilst Men Inspir'd dictates do obey,
Whilst Life has Value, and Reward has Love,
Protested Secresie in Ill does prove
Of small Validity; the first will act
What's Consonant to Justice of a Fact:
The Second by Impulsive Power Command,
What wo'n't Man do to keep his wasting Sand?
And bountiful Reward makes Men betray
Their dearest Kin, and Friendship wipes away.
Subject to Power, and tempted by a Bait,
Too pleasing to deny, of little weight
Proves promis'd Privacy; then why should I
Meddle in Plots, in Hopes of Secresie?
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[To what Extremities am I driven]
To what Extremities am I driven,When Parish-Clarks bar my Converse with Heav'n,
As much as in the surly Rascals lye;
Who by the Face, the Pocket do descry,
And Sine Pence, admittance they deny!
These under Graduate Peters of the Church,
Would Sell to Simon the Heavenly Gift,
If to their Avarice and Humour left,
Perhaps the Mon did my Misfortunes know,
Affraid to Trust me, who so much did Owe.
Deny'd admittance, lest that I should pray
Blessings, for which they thought I'd never Pay.
[Fed up with Hope by such, his Money's spent]
Fed up with Hope by such, his Money's spent,But has no greater Prospect, than if Lent
To needy Noblemen, of it's return,
Who seldom Pay a Debt, but to the Urn.
Place-Brokers to Enquirers still speak Fair,
Blow up a Bubble Globe, which turns to Air
Like Lottery Projectors draw a Scheme,
How Thousands may be got,
If, if they Draw the Lot,
But Hit, or Miss, there's Profit still to them.
FINIS.
| Labour in Vain | |