Page:Poetical Works of John Oldham.djvu/146

I have no present business to attend,
At least, which I'll not quit for such a friend.
Tell me not of the distance; for, I vow,
I'll cut the Line, double the Cape for you;
Good faith, I will not leave you; make no words;
Go you to Lambeth? Is it to my lord's?
His steward I most intimately know,
Have often drunk with his comptroller too.'
By this I found my wheedle would not pass,
But rather served my sufferings to increase;
And seeing 'twas in vain to vex, or fret,
I patiently submitted to my fate.
Straight he begins again: 'Sir, if you knew
My worth but half so thoroughly as I do;
I'm sure you would not value any friend
You have, like me; but that I wont commend
Myself, and my own talents, I might tell
How many ways to wonder I excel.
None has a greater gift in poetry,
Or writes more verses with more ease than I;
I'm grown the envy of the men of wit,
I killed even Rochester with grief and spite;
Next for the dancing part I all surpass,
St. André^[1] never moved with such a grace;
And 'tis well known, whene'er I sing or set,
Humphreys, nor Blow,^[2] could ever match me yet.'
Here I got room to interrupt: ’Have you
A mother, sir, or kindred living now?'
'Not one: they are all dead.''Troth, so I guessed:
'The happier they,' said I, 'who are at rest!
Poor I am only left unmurdered yet;
Haste, I beseech you, and despatch me quite;
For I am well convinced, my time is come:
When I was young, a gipsy told my doom:

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1. The famous dancing-master.
2. The composer. Humphreys was a singer.