Classic Poem

As Friends and Kindred, fallen out, have been,
Oft at more Distance, as more near of Kin;
Each Brother of Iniquity, does grow,
To his own Sin in others, the worst Foe.
The Dog, so like the Wolf, a Worrier,
As more like him, is to him more severe;
The little vixen teizing Terrier too,
The more he's like the Fox, is more his Foe;
As Thief-Catchers are oft by Justice made,
Their Punishers for having been o'th' Trade:
We Bad Men's Persons hate, or disesteem,
Not our own Vices, which we find in them:
Like Rivals in their Crime, not Foes to it,
Not, because it we think not Just, or Fit;
But, because it we want Pow'r to commit.
From Envy, not our Hatred; but appear,
Not to the Vices, but the Men severe:
Condemn them, others Censures to prevent.
On us, but more to our Disparagement;
But call them Guilty, to seem Innocent:
Atheists call Parsons False Believers, who,
Against the Truth, upon the Gospel, do
Vouch such things as, no Human Reason can
For Truth, or Probability, maintain;
And, on the contrary, the Church-Men so,
Call Faithless Atheists, True Believers too;
Allowing them Faith in Divinity,
But to discredit their Philosophy,
Because they Disbelieve implicitly.
The Perjur'd are to Liars most severe,
As the Detractor damns the Flatterer;
Who, for the worst Traducer ought to pass,
Who his best Friend traduces to his Face:
The Proud Man who the worst Affronts will give;
Will them but most impatiently receive;
He, who most Wrong has to his Friend's Bed done,
Is always the most jealous of his Own;
The loose Jilt, but for losing her Good-Name,
Does censure most an Honest Woman's Fame,
Shows but more Impudence, to get less Shame:
Does but her Crime more guiltily deny,
Professing impudently, Modesty,
Which but her Shame, the more does justifie;
The most Persidious Man, in Word or Fact,
Most Faith, Truth, will from other Men exact;
And the most baffled, silenc'd Coward too,
To Brave Men's Fame, is the most dreadful Foe;
Usurpers, most severe to Traitors are;
And Tyrants, the most Guiltless, least will spare;
Grim Death's sure Minister, the Doctor so,
Will call th' Apothecary Pois'ner too;
Like all Manslayers, will lay his own Crime
Of Murther (to hide his own Guilt) on him:
Damn'd Wits, by their Faults, damning Critics grow;
As in Hell, Sinners Sin's Tormenters too;
As are the Judge, and Hangman, oftentimes,
Made Ministers of Justice, by their Crimes.