Classic Poem

Scorning religion all thy life time past
and now embracing popery at last
as like thy selfe and what thou'st done before
defying wives and marying a whore
alas how leering Hereticks will laugh
to see a grey old hedge bird caught with chaffe,
a lewd old Atheist some religion owne
yet one to show his judgment wors then none
a poet to from greate heroick th[e]ames
and inspiration, past to dreaming dreams
yet this the preists will gett by thee at last
that if they mend thee miracles are not ceast
for tis not more to cure the lame, and blind
then haile an impious ulcerated mind
This if they doe and give thee but a graine
of common honesty, or common shame,
'twill be more credit to theire cause I grant
than twou'd to make another man a saint
but thou noe party ever willt adorne
to thy owne shame and natur's scandall borne
all [shun] a like thy ugly outward part
while none have right or title to thy heart,
resolv'd to stand and constant to the times
fix't to thy lewdness, settl'd in thy crimes
whilst Moses with the Israelits abode
thou seem'st content to worshipp Moses god
but since he went and since thy betters fell
thou found'st a goulden calfe would doe as well
and when another Moses shall arise
once more I know thou'lt rub and clear thy eyes
and turn to be true Israelite againe
for when the act is done and finish't cleane
what should the poet doe but shift the scene