Poems (Sewell)/Charity and Hypocrisy
CHARITY AND HYPOCRISY.A FABLE.
As Charity, the other day,
Unheeded took her secret way;
Her face was mask'd, her air serene—
She stole so softly o'er the green,
No human creature cou'd have heard her;
Even Malice wou'd have thought her farther,
Cautious of treach'ry seem'd the maid,
Of her own shadow half afraid;
She often look'd behind her too,
That none her footsteps might pursue.
Thus as she walk'd with cautious feet,
Hypocrisy she chanc'd to meet,
Who wore a face so like her own,
The difference cou'd scarce be known.
Unheeded took her secret way;
Her face was mask'd, her air serene—
She stole so softly o'er the green,
No human creature cou'd have heard her;
Even Malice wou'd have thought her farther,
Cautious of treach'ry seem'd the maid,
Of her own shadow half afraid;
She often look'd behind her too,
That none her footsteps might pursue.
Thus as she walk'd with cautious feet,
Hypocrisy she chanc'd to meet,
Who wore a face so like her own,
The difference cou'd scarce be known.
"What dost thou mean? why take my form?
(Says Charity with anger warm)
"Oh thou! for whom I'm in disgrace,
Why dost thou cheat the human race?
No open vice cou'd ever be
So hurtful to my cause as thee,"
(Says Charity with anger warm)
"Oh thou! for whom I'm in disgrace,
Why dost thou cheat the human race?
No open vice cou'd ever be
So hurtful to my cause as thee,"
"Perfidious Wretch!" replied the cheat—
"Cease these invectives of deceit;
Appeal to all the world around!
Am not I still with honour crown'd?
Does not the gen'ral voice proclaim,
And recompence my worth with fame?
"Cease these invectives of deceit;
Appeal to all the world around!
Am not I still with honour crown'd?
Does not the gen'ral voice proclaim,
And recompence my worth with fame?
"Why art thou here—unknown—neglected!
"But thy imposture is detected!
"'Tis thine my graceful air to ape;
"I prithee chuse some other shape!
"See Folly here—to her appeal—
"Thy spiteful tricks she'll soon reveal."
"But thy imposture is detected!
"'Tis thine my graceful air to ape;
"I prithee chuse some other shape!
"See Folly here—to her appeal—
"Thy spiteful tricks she'll soon reveal."
Truth chanc'd to pass that moment by,
She view'd them with a doubtful eye;
So like they seem'd,—she did not know
Her friend from her invet'rate foe:
But hearing their dispute, she said,
"Come let me now the judge be made
"Unprejudic'd I'll give my oath,
"And do right justice om ye both.
"But first, I've got a piece of news,
"Which ev'ry greedy ear pursues;
"A friend there is to one of you—
"Damon the gen'rous, and the true;
"The frank, the honest, and the just!
"Our Damon has betray'd his trust!
"Has robb'd his friend—ungrateful swain!—
"A sordid woman's heart to gain.
"Damon my name doth disavow;
"Ah say, who can be trusted now?
"What punishment doth he deserve,
"Who from our laws like him can swerve?
"Can sink at once—can sink so low!
"For such a wretch can pity flow?"
She view'd them with a doubtful eye;
So like they seem'd,—she did not know
Her friend from her invet'rate foe:
But hearing their dispute, she said,
"Come let me now the judge be made
"Unprejudic'd I'll give my oath,
"And do right justice om ye both.
"But first, I've got a piece of news,
"Which ev'ry greedy ear pursues;
"A friend there is to one of you—
"Damon the gen'rous, and the true;
"The frank, the honest, and the just!
"Our Damon has betray'd his trust!
"Has robb'd his friend—ungrateful swain!—
"A sordid woman's heart to gain.
"Damon my name doth disavow;
"Ah say, who can be trusted now?
"What punishment doth he deserve,
"Who from our laws like him can swerve?
"Can sink at once—can sink so low!
"For such a wretch can pity flow?"
Hypocrisy exclaims aloud—
"Perfidious, interested crowd!
"No faith—no honour to be found!
"'Tis all rank treachery around.
"What punishment?—Eternal shame
"And infamy attend his name!
"May daggers pierce his faithless heart,
"And hell be felt in ev'ry part!
"Death, racks and tortures, are his due,
"And these are much too gentle too.
"Oh Wretch! whom no excuse shou'd save!
"Indeed, I thought I saw the knave:
"I thought, thro' all that specious smile,
"I saw a soul completely vile;
"I thought along, 'twas all pretence:
"All that profusion and expence,
"Was but to gratify the pride
"His arts from me cou'd never hide.
"For all his name was so preferr'd,
"Upon my life, I never heard
One act of charity he did;
"They say his charities were hid—
A praise we justly may give to 'em,
"When not one creature ever knew 'em."
"Perfidious, interested crowd!
"No faith—no honour to be found!
"'Tis all rank treachery around.
"What punishment?—Eternal shame
"And infamy attend his name!
"May daggers pierce his faithless heart,
"And hell be felt in ev'ry part!
"Death, racks and tortures, are his due,
"And these are much too gentle too.
"Oh Wretch! whom no excuse shou'd save!
"Indeed, I thought I saw the knave:
"I thought, thro' all that specious smile,
"I saw a soul completely vile;
"I thought along, 'twas all pretence:
"All that profusion and expence,
"Was but to gratify the pride
"His arts from me cou'd never hide.
"For all his name was so preferr'd,
"Upon my life, I never heard
One act of charity he did;
"They say his charities were hid—
A praise we justly may give to 'em,
"When not one creature ever knew 'em."
"Enough!" said Truth, and turn'd away,
To hear what Charity wou'd say:
But she, not prone to be severe,
Cou'd only answer, with a tear!
To hear what Charity wou'd say:
But she, not prone to be severe,
Cou'd only answer, with a tear!
"'Tis plain," said Folly, in a heat,
"That's the impostor-that's the cheat!
"'Tis plain—she's not a word to say;
"Come, let us drive the wretch away."
"That's the impostor-that's the cheat!
"'Tis plain—she's not a word to say;
"Come, let us drive the wretch away."
"And dost thou raise thy abject head?
(Superior Truth, indignant said)
"Thou'rt Folly, tawdry wretch, I see—
"For know from Truth-that's Charity."
(Superior Truth, indignant said)
"Thou'rt Folly, tawdry wretch, I see—
"For know from Truth-that's Charity."