The Forger's Doom:
OR,
John Currie's last Speech.
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I Find I was a Fool to mock the Laws;
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My Notes are finely chang'd for Hangie's Taas;
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I thought to've turn'd them all to ready Cash;
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But now I'm paid for every Pound a Lash.
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Is this the Way to clear me o'er the Nail,
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To drive it thro' my Ears, and lash me down the Tail;
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Scurvy prompt Payment; fy upon such Clerks,
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Instead of Sterling Coin, to pay with good broad Marks;
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Trone Weight, i' faith, and that my Back will feell;
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They'l forge my Flesh, and there ingrave their Seal.
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The LAW of old, ingrav'n was on Stones;
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But now it is ingrav'n on Flesh and Bones;
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I thought that Rome and W-----s were not a-kin,
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But here's a Popish Penance for my Sin,
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To save my Soul, they'l mortify my Skin:
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That cruel Bank, O how was I beguil'd?
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Their Note was lawful, mine a Bastard Child,
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In shape and Features, and in Sense the same,
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How then can their's be straight, and mine be lame?
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Since they so much resemble one another,
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Why should not mine be honour'd as a Brother?
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Once I believ'd 'twas Policy and Sense,
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To draw a daily Bill on David Spence.
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After a twelve Months Plea, I'll ne'er forget,
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Sharp was the Way he's ta'en to pay the Debt,
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Naked turn'd me to dance upon the Street;
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And yet they say, That Falshood hasn't Feet.
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Curst be the Man invented knacks of Law,
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A base Bug-bear, to keep the World in Awe;
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Of all it's Tricks, with which the World is curs'd,
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Conjunct Probations, surely is the worst.
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Why may not I, Bookbinder to my Trade,
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Forge Paper as a Smith may forge a Spade?
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Thanks to my Stars, I have a Pair of Hands,
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Can forge Bills faster, than the Smith's forge Bands;
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Some forge a Lie, and others forge an Oath;
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And yet the Law doth overlook them both.
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Is not this partial in a high Degree,
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To punish none, save dextrous Men like me.
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O is there not some blessed foreign Clime,
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Where Forg'ry yet was never made a Crime?
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I'll travel there, and carry on the Prank,
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Till all the Earth become John Curries Bank.
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Farewel, dear Friends, you'l shortly hear frae me
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And send my Compliments beyond the Sea.
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That ye may drink their Health who send me from a Tree.
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