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Poor out-cast Childrens Song and Cry 'Twixt Joy's and Sorrows extasie. Their past and present state they view, Their old depraise, and praise their new. These father'd fatherless, their Fathers bless, And beg their Blessings, and this Works success.
[illustration]
[illustration]
SHall we sigh, sing, or do neither;
Mourn, or make melody, or whether,
for our late past, or present blest estate?
Poor starvelings then, though strengthned now,
And Worms did seize us as their due,
when pining, puling under stalls we sate.
Friendless and harborless were we:
And yet what Friends, what Fathers be
so rich, so great, so good as ours indeed!
The mighty GOD, the PARLIAMENT,
Englands Chief CITY with consent,
to Father us have mutually agreed.
In filthy Rags we clothed were;
In good warm Raiments now appear
from Dunghils to Kings Palaces transferr'd:
Where Education, wholesom Food,
Meat, Drink, and Lodging, and that's g••••d
for Soul and Body, are so well pre•••…•••….
Blest be our God, our Parliament,
Our Corporation, President:
we bless your Blessings, and your Blessings crave;
That your adopted Children may,
By you made fit, another day
your Graces, Places, Worth and Wealth to have.
Your Children further you implore,
Oh do not this new Work give o're,
and starve not that, which starvelings thus did cherish!
This will relieve you in that day,
When Health, Wealth, Strength and Life decay,
when Golden Chains, and Scarlet Robes shall perish.
Our ancient Grandsire Lazarus
Hath Children poor and numerous,
who at rich Gluttons gates do fainting lie:
Remove this Scandal from our Land,
And raise them with thy mighty hand,
O Orphans God, regard their watery eye.
Grave Senators, that sit on high,
Let not poor English Children die,
and droop on Dunghils with lamenting notes:
An ACT for Poor's Relief, they say,
Is coming forth; why's this delay?
O let not Dutch, Danes, Devils stop those VOTES!
Right Honorable a President,
And faithful Sir his b second sent,
with c Treasurer, and all our Corporation;
Your presence and assistance give
At Courts, Committees, and revive
your former thoughts to prosper this Foundation.
Though you no carnal motives have,
No Badge of Honor, no Green Staves,
no Golden Cords, such purposes to hold:
When dusty Tabernacles fail,
Such Works as these with God prevail
new to provide, and Bags that wax not old.