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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The Poor Man's Petitioning at Court.
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 | Labour in Vain |  |
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The Poor Man's Petitioning at Court.
[At once his Quondam Friends sounded Retreat]
At once his Quondam Friends sounded Retreat,Wou'd scarce afford good Words, and much less Meat
To see his Face, they'd never after Care,
As if his very Looks Infectious were:
Like Careful Bees, to their own Hives they flew:
As he from Fortune, they from him withdrew.
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[Then tell me how the Poor shall find relief]
Then tell me how the Poor shall find relief,Or gain a Cure for Undeserved Grief,
Their Fate depending on a King's Belief.
[Before a Fav'rite, none shall be believ'd]
Before a Fav'rite, none shall be believ'dAnd 'gainst the Rich, 'tis hard to be Reliev'd:
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Which Fattens not the Courtier, or his Heir;
Something that's Solid, and of real Good,
(At least for such by Worldlings understood)
Must be presented, if you'd favour find,
Which rarely warms th'Endowments of the Mind;
But to the Fortunate, and Rich are kind.
Since Money weighs down Justice and Desert,
The Poor's Desires don't signifie a Fart.
| Labour in Vain | |