Dr Bungey's
RECANTATION.
Much against his Inclination,
Were it not for Preservation
Of his Odd Precarious Station.
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LOng I liv'd in Dark Privation
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'Mongst the Offal of the Nation,
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Not a Man of Observation,
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Wou'd admit my Conversation,
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'Till at length a Reformation
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Was Resolv'd, by Combination
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Of some Men, whose quick Sensation
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Told Them, to Infatuation
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They must owe their whole Creation;
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These to Me made Application
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With an Ample Toleration,
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For all Sly Insinuation,
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Cunning, Trick, Equivocation,
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And most solemn Protestation
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With a Mental Reservation.
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I who knew my Reputation,
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Not one Sous in Valuation,
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Yielded to their Demonstration.
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Being call'd on for Probation
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Of my Parts on this Occasion,
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I aloud made Proclamation;
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That Impending Desolation,
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From Fanatic Obduration,
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Threatned us with Extirpation,
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Whilst false Brethren's Retrogation,
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Joyn'd with their Abomination.
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Summon'd for Prevarication,
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In my insolent Oration,
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By the Realms Representation,
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My fast Friends such Mitigation
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Offer'd to each Accusation;
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And, to move the Ladies Passion,
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Penn'd me such a Declaration,
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Which my soft Pronounciation
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Put so wonderful a Grace on,
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That upon th' Imagination,
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'T work'd like Transubstantiation;
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For tho' Fam'd for Violation
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Of each sacred Obligation,
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Avarice, Pride, Adulation,
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Envy, Malice, Prophanation,
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And all Marks of Reprobation;
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In a Moments Variation,
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From the Blackest Reputation,
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I arose (by Transformation)
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A White, Innocent Oblation:
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Nay their Praise to Adoration
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Rais'd, They call'd me their Salvation.
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But at length th' Exorbitation,
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(Swelling, to Impostumation)
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Broke in Stench and Suffocation:
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And my Virtue's Aggregation
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Vanish'd like an Exhalation.
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Now 'twas found my Affectation
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For the Churche's sure Foundation,
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Was all Trick and Machination,
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To induce a Speculation,
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Might secure the Exaltation
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Of some Men, then out of Fashion.
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Tables turn'd thus to amaze one.
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Were I blest but with Persuasion,
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M--ta---ue wou'd let me graze on,
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I wou'd to Life's Termination
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Be--- (by Heaven) for Moderation.
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