The Virginia Gazette

A Short View of some of the World's Contents.

A WORLD that's full of Fools and Madmen;
Of over-glad, and over-sad Men,
With a few good, but many bad Men.
So many Cheats, and close Disguises,
So many down; for One that rises,
So many Fops, for One that wise is.
So many Women ugly, fine,
Their Inside foul, their Outside shines;
So many Preachers, few Divines.
So many of Religious Sect,
Who quite do misexpound the Text,
About they know not what perplext.'
Many Diseases that do fill ye;
Many Doctors that do kill-ye,
Few Physicians that do heal ye.
Many Lawyers that undo ye,
But few Friends who will stick to ye;
And other ills that do pursue ye
So many Tradesmen Liars,
So many cheated Buyers,
As even Numeration tires.
So many loose ones, and high-flying
Who live as if there were no dying:
Heav'n and Hell, and all defying:
So many under Scanty Fates,
Who yet do live at lofty Rates,
And make Shew of great Estates:
And if they will not take Offence,
Many great Men of little Sense,
Who get to Politicks make Pretence:
Many meriting lower Fate;
Have Title, Office, and Estate,
Their Betters waiting at their Gate:
The Worthless meet with high'r Advances
As the Wise Bestower fancies
To the Worthy nothing chances
The worthy and the worthless Train,
Modest, silent; nothing gain ;
Impudent, begging, all obtain:
A World wherein is plenteous Store
Of foppish, rich, ingenious, poor,
Neglected, forc'd to beg from Door to Door:
A World compos'd, 'tis strange to tell!
Of seeming Paradise, real Hell,
Yet all agree to love't too well.
Where pious, loud, the Fool the wise,
The one like to the other dies,
And leaves a World of Vanities.
Proud and covetous, Beaus and Bullies;
Like one of your musing Melancholies,
I cry for all their Ills, and laugh at all their Follies.