Poems (Davidson)/Lines, written under the Promise of Reward
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LINES,WRITTEN UNDER THE PROMISE OF REWARD.
Whene'er the Muse pleases to grace my dull page,At the sight of reward, she flies off in a rage;Prayers, threats, and entreaties I frequently try,But she leaves me to scribble, to fret, and to sigh.
She torments me each moment, and bids me go write,And when I obey her, she laughs at the sight;The rhyme will not jingle, the verse has no sense,And against all her insults I have no defense.
I advise all my friends, who wish me to write,To keep their rewards and their praises from sight;So that jealous Miss Muse won't be wounded in pride,Nor Pegasus rear, till I've taken my ride.