Ye statesmen, priests, of one religion all!
Ye tradesmen, vile, in army, court, or hall!
Ye reverend atheists----
_F_. Scandal! name them, who?
_P_. Why that's the thing you bid me not to do.
Who starved a sister, who forswore a debt, 20
I never named; the town's inquiring yet.
The poisoning dame----
_F_. You mean----
_P_. I don't.
_F_. You do.
_P_. See, now I keep the secret, and not you!
The bribing statesman----
_F_. Hold, too high you go.
_P_. The bribed elector----
_F_. There you stoop too low.
_P_. I fain would please you, if I knew with what;
Tell me, which knave is lawful game, which not?
Must great offenders, once escaped the crown,
Like royal harts, be never more run down?
Admit, your law to spare the knight requires, 30
As beasts of nature may we hunt the 'squires?
Suppose I censure--you know what I mean--
To save a bishop, may I name a dean?
_F_. A dean, sir? no: his fortune is not made,
You hurt a man that's rising in the trade.
_P_. If not the tradesman who set up to-day,
Much less the 'prentice who to-morrow may.
Down, down, proud Satire! though a realm be spoil'd,
Arraign no mightier thief than wretched Wild;[205]
Or, if a court or country's made a job, 40
Go drench a pickpocket, and join the mob.
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