When Fate presents us with the Bays, We prize the Praiser, not the Praise. We scarcely think our Fame eternal If vouched for by the Farthing Journal;
But when the Craftsman's self has spoken, We take it for a certain Token. This an Example best will show, Derived from DENNIS DIDEROT.
A hackney Author, who'd essayed All Hazards of the scribbling Trade; And failed to live by every Mode, From Persian Tale to Birthday Ode;
Embarked at last, thro’ pure Starvation, In Theologic Speculation. ‘ Tis commonly affirmed his Pen Had been most orthodox till then;
But oft, as SOCRATES has said, The Stomach's stronger than the Head; And, for a sudden Change of Creed, There is no Jesuit like Need.
Then, too,‘ twas cheap; he took it all, By force of Habit, from the Gaul. He showed ( the Trick is nowise new ) That Nothing we believe is true;
But chiefly that Mistake is rife Touching the point of After-Life; Here all were wrong from PLATO down: His Price ( in Boards ) was Half-a-Crown.
The Thing created quite a Scare:— He got a Letter from VOLTAIRE, Naming him Ami and Confrère; Besides two most attractive Offers
Of Chaplaincies from noted Scoffers. He fell forthwith his Head to lift, To talk of “I and DR. SW — FT;” And brag, at Clubs, as one who spoke,
On equal Terms, with BOLINGBROKE. But, at the last, a Missive came That put the Copestone to his Fame. The Boy who brought it would not wait:
It bore a Covent-Garden Date;— A woful Sheet with doubtful Ink. And Air of Bridewell or the Clink, It ran in this wise:— Learned Sir!
We, whose Subscriptions follow here, Desire to state our Fellow-feeling In this Religion you're revealing. You make it plain that if so be
We‘ scape on Earth from Tyburn Tree, There's nothing left for us to fear In this — or any other Sphere. We offer you our Thanks; and hope
Your Honor, too, may cheat the Rope! With that came all the Names beneath, As BLUESKIN, JERRY CLINCH, MACHEATH, BET CARELESS, and the Rest — a Score
Of Rogues and Bona Robas more. This Newgate Calendar he read: ‘ Tis not recorded what he said.
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