ROME'S PARDONS: A TAL E.

If Rome can pardon fins, as Romans hold;
And if thofe pardons may be bought and fold,
It were no fint adore and worship gold.

ROCHESTER

I

T happen'd on a certain time,

Two Seigniors, who had spent the prime

Of youth in every wickedness,
Came to his holiness to confefs;
Of which, the one had riches store,
The other (wicked wretch!) was poor.
But both grown old, had now a mind
To die in peace with all mankind;
And go to heaven a nearer way

Than those who all their life-time pray:
effected be they hope,

Which may

By buying pardon of the pope.
So calling fresh to mind their fins,
The rich offender thus begins.

"Most holy father, I have been, "I must confefs, in many a fin.

"All

"All laws divine I've tbought a joke;
"All human laws for intereft broke.
"And to encrease my ill-got ftore,
"Thought it no crime t'opprefs the poor,
«To cheat the rich, betray my friends,
"Or any thing to gain my ends.

But now grown old, and near to die, "I do repent me heartily

"Of all my vile offences past,

"And in particular the last,

"By which I wickedly beguil'd

"A dead friend's fon, my guardian child,
τέ Of all his dear paternal ftore,

<< Which was ten thousand pounds or more;
"Who fince is starv'd to death by want,
"And now fincerely I repent:

"Which that your holiness may fee,

"One half the fum I've brought with me, "And thus I caft it at your feet,

"Difpofe of it as you think meet,

To pious ufes, or your own, "I hope 'twill all my

faults atone.

..

Friend, quoth the

pope, I'm glad to fee

Such true repentance wrought in thee ;

But as your fins are

very great,

"You have but half repented yet

"Nor can your pardon be obtain’d,

"Unless the whole which thus you've gain'd,

"To pious ufes be ordain'd.

}

All!

"All! cry'd the man, I thought that half "Had been a pretty price enough.

"Nay, quoth the pope, fir, if you hum "And haw at parting with the fum, "Go, keep it, do; and damn your foul: "I tell you, I must have the whole. "'Tis not a little thing procures

"A pardon for fuch fins as yours.
Well---rather than be doom'd to go,
To dwell with everlasting woe,

One wou'd give any thing, you know:
So th' other half was thrown down to't,
And then he foon obtain'd his fuit ;
A pardon for his fins was given,

And home he went affur'd of heaven.

And now the poor man bends his knee; "Moft holy father, pardon me, "A poor and humble penitent, "Who all my fubftance vilely spent, "In every wanton, youthful pleasure; "But now I fuffer out of measure; "With dire diseases being fraught, "And eke fo poor not worth a groat.

"Poor! quoth the pope, then ceafe your fuit,

"Indeed you may as well be mute;

"For

"Forbear your now too late contrition,

"You're in a reprobate condition.

"What! spend your wealth, and from the whole

"Not fave one foufe to fave your foul?

"O, you're a finner, and a hard one, "I wonder you can ask a pardon:

"Friend, they're not had unless you buy 'em, "You're therefore damn'd, as fure I am

"Vice-gerent to the king of heaven :

"No, no, fuch fins can't be forgiven.
"I cannot fave you if I wou'd,
"Nor would I do it if I cou’d.

Home goes the man in deep despair, And dy'd foon after he came there ; And went, 'tis faid, to hell: But sure He was not damn'd for being poor ! But long he had not been below, Before he faw his friend come too ; At this he was in great furprize, And fcarcely could believe his eyes: "What, friend, faid he, are you come too? "I thought the pope had pardon'd you. "Yes, quoth the man, I thought so too; "But I was by the pope trapan'd--"The devil could not read his hand.

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AN

His First Coming to COURT.

Forgive me, Duck, that fuch a mufe as mine,

Brings her weak aid to the support of thine;

In lines, which if the world fhould chance to fee,
They'd find I pleaded for myfelf-in thee.
Yet fome indulgence fure they ought to shew
An infant poet, and unlearn'd as you;
Unfkill'd in art, unexercis'd to fing;
I've just but tasted the Pierian spring:
But tho' my stock of learning yet is low;
Tho' yet my numbers don't harmonious flow,
I fain wou'd hope it won't be always fo.
The morning fun emits a stronger ray,
Still as he rises tow'rds meridian day :

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