 | Poems on several occasions |  |
XIV.—AN EPIGRAM.
[A steward once, the Scripture says]
A steward once, the Scripture says,When order'd his accounts to pass,
To gain his master's debtors o'er,
Cried, “For a hundred write fourscore.”
Near as he could, sir Robert, bent
To follow gospel-precedent,
When told a hundred, late, would do,
Cried, “I beseech you, sir, take two.”
In merit which should we prefer,
The steward or the treasurer?
Neither for justice cared a fig;
Too proud to beg, too old to dig;
Both bountiful themselves have shown
In things that never were their own.
But here a difference we must grant:—
One robb'd the rich to keep off want;
T'other, vast treasures to secure,
Stole from the public and the poor.
| Poems on several occasions | |