DIALOGUE. II.
5
Admit your Law to spare the Knight requires;
As Beasts of Nature may we hunt the Squires?
Suppose I censure—you know what I mean—
To save a Bishop, may I name a Dean?
A. A Dean, Sir? no: his Fortune is not made,
You hurt a man that's rising in the Trade.
B. If not the Tradesman who sets up to day,
Much less the 'Prentice who to morrow may.
Down, down, proud Satire! tho' a Land be spoil'd,
Arraign no mightier Thief than wretched [1]Wild,
Or if a Court or Country's made a Job,
Go drench a Pick-pocket, and join the Mob.
But Sir, I beg you, for the Love of Vice!
The matter's weighty, pray consider twice:
Have you less Pity for the needy Cheat,
The poor and friendless Villain, than the Great?
Alas! the small Discredit of a Bribe
Scarce hurts the Lawyer, but undoes the Scribe.
Then better sure it Charity becomes,
To tax Directors, who (thank God) have Plums;
Still better, Ministers; or if the thing
May pinch ev'n there—why lay it on a King.
As Beasts of Nature may we hunt the Squires?
Suppose I censure—you know what I mean—
To save a Bishop, may I name a Dean?
A. A Dean, Sir? no: his Fortune is not made,
You hurt a man that's rising in the Trade.
B. If not the Tradesman who sets up to day,
Much less the 'Prentice who to morrow may.
Down, down, proud Satire! tho' a Land be spoil'd,
Arraign no mightier Thief than wretched [1]Wild,
Or if a Court or Country's made a Job,
Go drench a Pick-pocket, and join the Mob.
But Sir, I beg you, for the Love of Vice!
The matter's weighty, pray consider twice:
Have you less Pity for the needy Cheat,
The poor and friendless Villain, than the Great?
Alas! the small Discredit of a Bribe
Scarce hurts the Lawyer, but undoes the Scribe.
Then better sure it Charity becomes,
To tax Directors, who (thank God) have Plums;
Still better, Ministers; or if the thing
May pinch ev'n there—why lay it on a King.
- ↑ Jonathan Wild.
A. Stop!
