William Cowper

And spare the poet for his subject's sake.

And spare the poet for his subject's sake.

Stamps God's own name upon a lie just made,
To turn a penny in the way of trade.

Stamps God's own name upon a lie just made,
To turn a penny in the way of trade.

The man that hails you Tom or Jack,
And proves by thumps upon your back
How he read more

The man that hails you Tom or Jack,
And proves by thumps upon your back
How he esteems your merit,
Is such a friend, that one had need
Be very much his friend indeed
To pardon or to bear it.

Great contest follows, and much learned dust
Involves the combatants; each claiming truth,
And truth disclaiming both.

Great contest follows, and much learned dust
Involves the combatants; each claiming truth,
And truth disclaiming both.

. . . thieves at home must hang; but he that puts
Into his overgorged and bloated purse
read more

. . . thieves at home must hang; but he that puts
Into his overgorged and bloated purse
The wealth of Indian provinces, escapes.