Poetical Works / Comprising Elegies, Sketches from Life, Pathetic, and Extempore Pieces

Transcribed from the early 1800’s copy by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org. Many thanks to Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library, UK, for kindly supplying the images from which this transcription was made.
comprising Elegies, Sketches from Life, PATHETIC,
and EXTEMPORE PIECES .
PRICE ONE SHILLING.
NORWICH :
printed and sold by lane and walker, st. andrew’s.
sold also by the author; crosby and co. w. baynes, london; gooch, yarmouth; and all other booksellers.
Oft have you pray’d me, when in youth, Never to err from paths of truth; But youth to vice is much too prone, And mine by far too much, I own. Induced to riot, swear, and game, I thought in vice t’acquire fame; But found the pois’ning scenes of riot Soon robb’d my mind of joy and quiet. The usual course of rakes I ran, The dupe of woman and of man. Careless of fortune’s smile or frown, My desk I left t’enjoy the town, At folly dash’d in wisdom’s spite, Idled by day, revell’d by night: But short was that delusive scene, And I awoke to sorrow keen. Debt press’d on debt: I could not pay, And found that credit had its day. No friend to aid, what should I do? I made bad worse: to liquor flew:
For when my bill-book I survey’d, I shrunk, as if I’d seen my shade; And to drive terror from my mind, Drank on, and care gave to the wind: But wine nor words can charm away The banker’s clerk who comes for pay. Payment is press’d, the cash is gone: Too late I cry, ‘what must be done?’ Horrow! a docket struck appears: I look aghast, my wife’s in tears. The naked truth stares in my face, And shows me more than one disgrace. My keys a messenger demands; While, as a culprit often stands, The humbled bankrupt lowers his view, And sees the law its work pursue. Soon comes of all his goods, the sale; Which, like light straw before a gale, The hammer-man puffs clean away, And cries, ‘they must be sold this day.’ They are so, and I’ll tell you how: At loss you’ll readily allow. Then comes the tedious, humbling task, To answer all commiss’ners ask; And those who mean to act most fair, Will at first meeting e’er appear, To questions ask’d will answer true, And clearly state accounts to view.