If any through suspicion errs,

And to himself alone refers,

What was design’d for thousands more

He’ll show too plainly, where he’s sore.

Yet ev’n from such I crave excuse,

For (far from personal abuse)

My verse in gen’ral would put down

True life and manners of the town.

But here, perhaps, some one will ask

Why I, forsooth, embraced this task?