The Virginia Gazette

The INDIGNANT WISH.

Whoever has enough in store,
Yet never ceases craving more,
For little else than to adore it,
Not even God preferr'd before it,

The Devil I consign that wretch's pelf,
So as to make him hang himself.

But should he live, and save his gold,
'Til death arrests him very old,

Then may his sons, if he leaves any,
Cease not to squander every penny;
That others hence may reap some good,
Who live as men and Christians should
Nor niggard, nor profusely vain,
But keeping still the golden mean.

Such may be met with, but so few,
There scarce are six in sixty two.

As for your strictly honest men,
Of whom you reckon one in ten,
Your reckoning's very far from right,
Unless you leave out gamesters quite,
(Count all sorts, and they are, you'll find,
About three fourths of half mankind)

And then 'tis well if one in ten
Are upright, conscientious men.

One in ten are. What an open base I left for the criticks here! But you may let them know that, even in so small a number as twenty, one in ten becomes plural: I am ignorant whether this be a quirk or not; however, why may not I be above grammar rules at this time of day, as well as some of my scribbling betters?

R. HARTSWELL