Prejudice

INGRATITUDE's crime worse than Witchcraft is nam'd,
A neglect to repay what we owe;
Of such an omission we must be asham'd,
I'm asham'd such omission to shew.

But when the alarm of an Earthquake was spread,
All London seem'd running away;
Unsafe the fine Gentleman fancy'd his bed,
And tumbl'd out, trembling, to pray.

No Sunday-throng'd Routs then Politeness disgrac'd,
But each to the Temple repairs;
The Delicate, dress'd most immensely in Taste,
Attempted to spell out their Prayers.

Under Beds, into Cellars, up Chimneys, in shoals,
As Rabbits to burrows will fly;
The Free-thinkers ran, they believ'd then in Souls,
And blubbering,—begg'd not to dye.

But when Apprehension had labour'd in vain,
And Safety stopp'd Penitent's din,
Religion was quitted, for Seven is the Main,
'Tis Church Time, my Dear, we'll cut in.

Before that Rebellion at Culloden fled,
Pale Terror took Towns in the South;
Laugh seem'd to want Mirth, nay, Debauch sneak'd to Bed,
And Clamour was down in the Mouth.

Then Soldiers were welcom'd, as Soldiers shou'd be,
Nay, embrac'd, as the Props of the Land;
And Englishmen grateful, from Prejudice free,
Shook bra' bonny Scots by the Hand.

But since — may HIS Memory Britons preserve,
Who gave to Invasion Defeat;
In Peace we permit our own Soldiers to starve,
But can't bear a Scotchman shou'd eat.

E'er Mahomet cou'd the Turk's Mission begin,
Arch Gabri'l came down as his guest;
He purify'd Mecca's Professor from sin,
Extracting a Speck from his breast.

That Spot we are born with, 'tis Jealousy's Core,
Mortality's Pain and Disgrace;
Pluck it out, and to hinder its hurting you more,
EMULATION apply in its place.