Classic Poem

TO

Orator H — — R P — — TT .

A S musing on his bed the Speecher lay,
Conning harangues for some important day;
Labouring to make the turns harmonious fall,
And to the taste attune 'em of Whitehall:
A sudden noise, career of fancy stops,
And a pale phiz within the curtains pops.
The phiz his opening eye no sooner meets,
Than quick he dives between th' unsavory sheets:
Not Proof against the visage of her grace,
Down sinks; — — till now, that unembarass'd face.

The spectre thus: " No sooner laid my head,
" But all thy patriot sentiments are fled:
" And I in my atoning project chous'd,
" The latest and the best I e'er espous'd.

" To my trustees (since fate forbids to me,)
" Return, base v--l--n! my retaining fee;
" Bequeath'd to save that country thou woud'st sell.
" Refund — — not such a Judas roars in hell.

" That soften'd thief, by sense of guilt dismay'd,
" Threw back the price of him he had betray'd;
" But, wretch! my purse in thy polluted paws
" Meant to support, thou turn'st to crush the cause;

" Tho' lost on thee, yet hear these rules I teach:
" Usage like this wou'd make the devil preach.
" No weight to words can eloquence impart,
" Tho' ne'er so clear the head, if foul the heart:
" Men's words, the world will by their actions scan:
" The Orator must be the Honest man.
" No prostitute the generous bosom arms,
" The Whore peeps thro' the bloom, and blasts her " charms.
" Once with applause was heard thy flowing " tongue,
" And on its motions sweet persuasion hung:
" But now those lips (and thanks to Sarah's money)
" That in thy country's struggles drop down honey,
" Shall please no more! (take my prophetick word)
" Nor all their flourishes be worth at — d.

" But see! the morning streaks the eastern sky:
" Now crows the scaring cock: from hence I hye,
" And leave thee to the lash of lost integrity.