Verse I abjure, nor will forgive that friend,

Who in my hearing shall a rhyme commend.

It cannot be—Whether I will, or no,

Such as they are, my thoughts in measure flow.

Convinc'd, determin'd, I in prose begin,

But ere I write one sentence, verse creeps in,

And taints me thro' and thro': by this good light,

In verse I talk by day, I dream by night;

If now and then I curse, my curses chime,

Nor can I pray, unless I pray in rhyme,