Fairly began—but finish'd not;

And fruitless, late remorse doth trace—

Like Hebrew lore a backward pace—

Her irrecoverable race.

Disjointed numbers; sense unknit

Huge reams of folly, shreds of wit;

Compose the mingled mass of it.

My scalded eyes no longer brook

Upon this ink-blurr'd thing to look—

Go, shut the leaves, and clasp the book.