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A BALLAD:

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NOTING THE DIFFERENCE OF RICH AND POOR,

IN THE WAYS OF A RICH NOBLE'S PALACE

AND A POOR WORKHOUSE.

To the Tune of the "Old and Young Courtier."

In a costly palace Youth goes clad in gold;
In a wretched workhouse Age's limbs are cold:
There they sit, the old men by a shivering fire,
Still close and closer cowering, warmth is their
desire.

In a costly palace, when the brave gallants

dine,

They have store of good venison, with old canary wine,

With singing and music to heighten the cheer; Coarse bits, with grudging, are the pauper's best

fare.

In a costly palace Youth is still carest By a train of attendants which laugh at my young Lord's jest ;

In a wretched workhouse the contrary prevails: Does Age begin to prattle?—no man heark'neth to his tales.

In a costly palace if the child with a pin Do but chance to prick a finger, strait the doctor is called in;

In a wretched workhouse men are left to perish For want of proper cordials, which their old age might cherish.

In a costly palace Youth enjoys his lust;
In a wretched workhouse Age, in corners thrust,
Thinks upon the former days, when he was well
to do,

Had children to stand by him, both friends and kinsmen too.

In a costly palace Youth his temples hides
With a new devised peruke that reaches to his

sides;

In a wretched workhouse Age's crown is bare, With a few thin locks just to fence out the cold air.

In peace, as in war, 'tis our young gallants'

pride,

To walk, each one i' the streets, with a rapier by his side,

That none to do them injury may have pretence; Wretched Age, in poverty, must brook offence.

HYPOCHONDRIACUS.

By myself walking,
To myself talking,

When as I ruminate

On my untoward fate,

Scarcely seem I

Alone sufficiently,

Black thoughts continually
Crowding my privacy;
They come unbidden,
Like foes at a wedding,
Thrusting their faces
In better guests places,
Peevish and malecontent,
Clownish, impertinent,
Dashing the merriment:
So in like fashions

Dim cogitations

Follow and haunt me,
Striving to daunt me,

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Fierce Anthropophagi,
Spectra, Diaboli,

What scared St. Anthony,

Hobgoblins, Lemures,

Dreams of Antipodes,
Night-riding Incubi

Troubling the fantasy,
All dire illusions

Causing confusions;

Figments heretical,

Scruples fantastical,

Doubts diabolical,

Abaddon vexeth me,

Mahu perplexeth me,

Lucifer teareth me

Jesu! Maria! liberate nos ab his diris tenta→

tionibus Inimici.

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