IX.
While the Wits and the Fools Parson PRETTY belabour,
With—“Thou shalt not false witness; set up ’gainst thy neighbour,”
The text and the fact (cries the Priest) disagree.
For in Downing-street I, in Great George-street lives He.
X.
What shall reward bold PRETTY’s well-tim’d sense, }
For turning new an IRISH Evidence? }
An IRISH Bishoprick’s the recompence! }
XI.
What varied fates the same offence assail!
PRETTY, install’d—and ATKINSON, in jail.
Both scorn alike the laws that truth maintains;
Yet one, a Prebend, one, a Prison gains.
This mounts a stall, the pillory that ascends;
For public, one, and one for private ends.
The first gets ample scope our ears to pain;
The other scarcely can his own retain:
Just Heav’n, reverse the doom!—To punish each,
To ATKINSON alone, let PRETTY preach!
XII.
How happy, alas! had it been for poor PITT,
If WYVILL, like PRETTYMAN, never had writ!
XIII.
———Scelera ipsa nefasque
Hâc mercede placent————