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Here the lank-ſided Mſser, worſt of fellons,
Who meanly ſtole (diſcreditable ſhift.)
From back and belly too, their proper cheer;
Eas'd of a tax, it ink'd the wretch to pay
To his own carcaſe ——now lies cheaply lodg'd,
By clam'rous Appetites no longer toaz'd;
Nor tedious Bills of charges and repairs.
But ah! where are his rents, his comings-in?
Ay! now you've made the rich man poor indeed.
Robb'd of his gods, what has he left behind?
Oh! curſed lust of gold, when, for thy ſake,
The fool throws up his intereſt in both Worlds!
First starv'd in this, then damn'd in that to come!
How ſhocking muſt thy ſummons be, O Death!
To him that is at caſe in his poſſeſſions;
Who counting on long years of pleaſure here;
Is quite unfurniſh'd for that world to come!
In the dread moment, how the frantic Soul
Raves round the walls of her clay tenement!
Runs to each avenue, and ſhrieks for help,
But ſhrieks in vain! ——How wiſhfully ſhe looks
On all ſhe's leaving, now no longer her's!
A little longer, yet a little longer!
Oh! might she ſtay, to waſh away her ſtains,
And ſit her for her paſſage. ——Mournful fight!
Her very eyes weep blood! and every groan
She heaves is big with horror! But the foe,
Life, a ſtaunch murd'rer, ſteady to his purpoſe;
Purſues her cloſe thro' ev'ry lane of life
Nor miſſes once the track, but preſſes on,
Till forc'd at laſt to the tremendous verge,
At once the ſinks to everlaſting ruin!
Sure 'tis a ſerious thing to die! ——My ſoul,
What a ſtrange moment must it be, when near
Thy journey's end, thou hast the gulph in view!
That awful gulph no mortal o'er repaſs'd
To tell what's doing on the other ſide!
