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1752–1832

ON THE CREW OF A CERTAIN VESSEL

Philip Morin Freneau

In life's unsettled, odd career What changes every day appear To please or plague the eye: A goodly brotherhood of priests

Are here transformed to swearing beasts Who heaven and hell defy. Here Bonner, bruised with many a knock, Has changed his surplice for a frock;

Old Erskine swabs the decks, And Watts, who once such pleasure took In writing Hymns — here, turned a cook, Sinners no longer vex.

Here Burnet, Tillotson, and Blair, With Jemmy Hervey, curse and swear, Here Cudworth mixes grog; Pearson the crew to dinner hails,

A graceless Sherlock trims the sails, And Bunyan heaves the log.

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ON THE CREW OF A CERTAIN VESSEL · Philip Morin Freneau · Poetry Cove