Classic Poem

You us'd me ill, and I withdrew,
Intent on satirising you.
The Muses to my Aid I call;
They came; and told me, one and all,
That I mistook their Province quite;
They never sully'd what was bright;
And said, If Satire was my Aim,
I ought to chuse another Theme.

I heard with Anger, and Surprize;
Begg'd they'd inspire, and not advise.
In vain I begg'd — — they all withdrew;
When to my Aid a Phantom flew,
And vow'd she'd give my Satire Stings,
And whisper'd some resentful Things — —
Said, You delighted, all your Days,
To torture her a thousand Ways:
Bad me revenge her Cause, and mine,
And blacken you in ev'ry Line.

This I resolv'd; but still in vain — —
We both must unreveng'd remain:
For I, alas! remember now,
I long ago had made a Vow,
That, should the Nine their Aid refuse,
Envy should never be my Muse .