Where 'tis agreed by bullies chicken-hearted,

To fright the ladies first, and then be parted.

A fair attempt has twice or thrice been made,

To hire night murderers, and make death a trade[2].

When murder's out, what vice can we advance?

Unless the new-found poisoning trick of France:

And, when their art of rats-bane we have got,

By way of thanks, we'll send them o'er our plot.

Footnotes:

  1. It was anciently a part of the apprentice's duty, not only to carry the family bible to church, but to take notes of the sermon for the edification of his master or mistress.
  2. Alluding apparently to the assassination of Thomas Thynne, esq. in Pall-Mall, by the hired bravoes of count Coningsmark.