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⟨There⟩ was a time (his Grace can tell)
⟨I⟩ knew the Duke exceeding well;
Knew ev'ry ſecret of his heart;
⟨In⟩ truth, we never were apart:
But when the court became his end,
He turn'd his back upon his friend.
One day I call'd upon his Grace,
⟨Juſt⟩ as the Duke had got a place:
⟨I⟩ thought (but thought amiſs, 'tis clear)
⟨I⟩ ſhou'd be welcome to the peer:
Yes, welcome to a man in power;
And ſo I was—for half an hour.
But he grew weary of his gueſt,
And ſoon diſcarded me his breaſt;
Upbraided me with want of merit,
But moſt for poverty of fpirit.
You reliſh not the great man's lot?
Come then, I'll take thee to my cot.
Think me not partial to the great,
I'm a ſworn foe to pride and ſtate:
No monarchs ſhare my kind embrace;
There's ſcarce a monarch knows my face:
Content ſhuns courts, and oftner dwells
With modeſt worth in humble cells;
There's no complaint, tho' brown the bread,
Or the cold ſtone ſuſtain the head;
Tho' hard the couch, and coarſe the meat,
Still the brown loaf and ſleep are ſweet.
