"Now view his Father as he dosing lies, "Whose Senses wake not when he opes his Eyes; "Who slips and shuffles when he means to walk, ས "And lisps and gabbles if he try to talk ; "Feeling he 's none, he could as soon destroy "The Earth itself, as aught it holds enjoy; "A Nurse attends him to lay strait his Limbs, "Present his Gruel, and respect his Whims: "Now shall this Dotard from our Hero hold "His Lands and Lordships? Shall he hide his Gold ? "That which he cannot use, and dare not show, "And will not give-why longer should he owe? "Yet, 'twould be murder should we snap the locks, "And take the thing he worships from the box; "So let him doat and dream, but till he die "Shall not our generous Heir receive supply? "For ever sitting on the River's brink, "And ever thirsty, shall he fear to drink? "The means are simple, let him only wish, "Then say he's willing, and I'll fill his dish." They all applauded, and not least the Boy, Who now replied, 'It fill'd his Heart with joy To find he needed not deliverance crave 'Of Death, or wish the Justice in the Grave; ( Who, while he spent, would every art retain, Of luring home the scatter'd Gold again; 'Just as a Fountain gaily spirts and plays 'With what returns in still and secret ways.' Short was the Dream of Bliss; he quickly found, His Father's Acres all were Swallow's Ground: Yet to those arts would other Heroes lend The Business could'nt have been speedier done: To seek his Friendship, that remain❜d the same; Thus be retir'd in peace, and some would say How Swallow felt, then said, "a change is wrought:" True, Swallow's Board had still the sumptuous treat, But could they blame? the warmest Zealots eat ; He drank-'twas needful his poor Nerves to brace; He swore-'twas Habit; he was griev'd-'twas Grace : What could they do a new-born Zeal to nurse? "His Wealth's undoubted-let him hold our Purse; "He'll add his Bounty, and the House we 'll raise Alas! such Speech was but an empty boast, "Could he but know to whom he should refund, "He would most gladly-nay, he 'd go beyond; "But when such numbers claim'd, when some were gone, "And others going-he must hold it on ; "The Lord would help them"-Loud their anger grew, And while they threat'ning from his door withdrew, He bow'd politely low, and bade them all adieu. But lives the Man by whom such Deeds are done? It is not his, they all escape the shame ; Nor is there vestige now of all he had, His Means are wasted, for his Heir was mad : An hard bad Man, who prey'd upon the Weak. |