An act that surely did not show his sense,
And little needed,
While he had this defence:—
"Gentlemen,—any frauds by me display'd
Were in the way of trade;
I forged the bills, 'tis true; what then, I ask?
Pray was it, do you think, the sort of task
To earn for me a scourging?
For, since the days of Vulcan, I would know,
Up to this very last Exchequer go,