Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commercial & Political

EVERY MAN A THIEF BY NATURE.
TO A LADY

Listen to me my dearest creature,
Every man's a thief by nature
See the little girls and boys,
How they steal each others toys :
Stealing is the first of arts,
None are thieves but men of parts.
Poets steal from one another,
Nay, the daughter robs her mother,
Time will steal our very youth,
Liars sometimes steal the truth ;
Nay, your sex would pilfer you-
Of those eves of heavenly blue,
Of that soft vermillion lip,
And that ear with rosy tip,
And your silky auburn hair,
That wantons in the enamour'd air
Since we are such thieves by nature.
Why accuse me, dearest creature
Of a crime, a crime so glorious,
Is your swain at last victorious ?
Have I really stole your heart,
Spite of all your pride and art ?
If you pardon the transgression,
You 'shan't lose by the confession,
You shall find your heart at rest,
In your lover's faithful breast;
How I'll guard the precious treasure,
Love's the source of every pleasure ;
You can prove it, if you doubt it,
Life, indeed, is nought without it.