The Village and The Newspaper

by George Crabbe

The pois’nous springs from learning’s fountain rise;

Not there the wise alone their entrance find,

Imparting useful light to mortals blind;

But, blind themselves, these erring guides hold out

Alluring lights to lead us far about;

Screen’d by such means, here Scandal whets her quill,

Here Slander shoots unseen, whene’er she will;

Here Fraud and Falsehood labour to deceive,

And Folly aids them both, impatient to believe.

Such, sons of Britain! are the guides ye trust;