Epilogue to Eutychus

I yet have stock in hand to spare,

And could write on—but will forbear—

First, lest I tire a friend, whose state

And avocations are so great:

And then, if other pens should try

This moral scheme as well as I,

They may have something to pursue:—

Yet if the spacious field we view,

More men are wanting for the plan,

Rather than matter for the man.

Now for that prize I make my plea

You promised to my brevity.

Keep your kind word; for life, my friend,

Is daily nearer to its end;

And I shall share your love the less

The longer you your hand repress:

The sooner you the boon insure,

The more the tenure must endure;

And if I quick possession take,

The greater profit must I make,

While yet declining age subsists,

A room for friendly aid exists.

Anon with tasteless years grown weak,

In vain benevolence will seek

To do me good—when Death at hand

Shall come and urge his last demand.

’Tis folly, you’ll be apt to say,

A thousand times to beg and pray

Of one with so much worth and sense,

Whose gen’rous bounty is propense.

If e’er a miscreant succeeds,

By fair confession of his deeds,

An innocent offender’s case

Is far more worthy of your grace.

You for example sake begin,

Then others to the lure you’ll win,

And in rotation more and more

Will soon communicate their store.

Consider in your mind how far

At stake your word and honour are;

And let your closing the debate

By what I may congratulate.

I have been guilty of excess

Beyond my thought in this address

But ’tis not easy to refrain

A spirit work’d up to disdain

By wretches insolent and vile,

With a clear conscience all the while.

You’ll ask me, sir, at whom I hint—

In time they may appear in print.

But give me leave to cite a phrase

I met with in my boyish days.

“’Tis dangerous for the mean and low

Too plain their grievances to show.”

This is advice I shall retain

While life and sanity remain.