The Poetical Works of Robert Fergusson, with the Life of the Author by David Irving

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1800 Excerpt: ...'tis true. No marvel then that all the world should own, In Peachum's trench'ry Justice Fielding known, Since thieves so common are, and, Justice,. you Thieves to the gallows for reward pursue. Had Gay by writing rous'd the stealing trade, You'd been less active to suppress yo art read; For, trust me! when a robber loses ground, You lose your living with your forty pound. 'Twas Woman first that snatch'd the luring bait, The tempter taught her to transgress and eat; Tho' wrong the deed, her quick compunction told, She banish'd Adam from an age of gold. When women now transgress fair Virtue's rules, Men are their pupils, and the stews their schools; From simple wh--d--m greater sins began To shoot, to bloom, to center all in mar.; G Tootpads onHounslow flourish here to-day,. The next old Tyburn sweeps them all away; For woman's faults, the cause of ev'ry wrong! Men robb'd and murdered, thieves at Tyburn strung. In panting breasts to raise the fond alarm, Make females in the cause of virtue warm, Gay has compar'd them to the summer flow'r, The boast and glory of an idle hour; When cropt it falls, shrinks, withers, and decays, Afid to oblivion dark consigns its days. Hath this a pow'r to win the female heart Back from its vice, from virtue ne'er to part; If so the wayward virgin will restore, And murders, rapes, and plunders be no more. These were the lays of him who virtue knew, Rever'd her dictates, and practis'd them too; No idle theorist in her stainless ways, He gave the parent Goddess all his-days. O Queensberry! his best and earliest friend, All that his wit or learning could command; Best of patrons! the Muse's only pride! Still in her pageant shalt thou first preside; No idle pomp that riches can procure, Sprung at a start, and faded in an hour, But pa...