[Page 204]

The Tradesman and the Scholar.

1 A Citizen of mighty Pelf,
2 But much a Blockhead, in himself
3 Disdain'd a Man of shining Parts,
4 Master of Sciences and Arts,
5 Who left his Book scarce once a day
6 For sober Coffee, Smoak, or Tea;
[Page 205]
7 Nor spent more Money in the Town
8 Than bought, when need requir'd, a Gown;
9 Which way of Living much offends
10 The Alderman, who gets and spends,
11 And grudges him the Vital Air,
12 Who drives no Trade, and takes no Care.
13 Why Bookworm! to him once he cry'd,
14 Why, setting thus the World aside,
15 Dost thou thy useless Time consume,
16 Enclos'd within a lonely Room,
17 And poring damnify thy Wit,
18 'Till not for Men, or Manners fit?
19 Hop'st thou, with urging of thy Vein,
20 To spin a Fortune from thy Brain?
21 Or gain a Patron, that shall raise
22 Thy solid State, for empty Praise?
23 No; trust not to your Soothings vile,
24 Receiv'd per me's the only Stile.
25 Your Book's but frown'd on by My Lord;
26 If Mine's uncross'd, I reach his Board.
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27 In slighting Yours, he shuts his Hand;
28 Protracting Mine, devolves the Land.
29 Then let Advantage be the Test,
30 Which of us Two ev'n Writes the best.
31 Besides, I often Scarlet wear,
32 And strut to Church, just next the Mayor.
33 Whilst rusty Black, with Inch of Band,
34 Is all the Dress you understand;
35 Who in the Pulpit thresh to Please,
36 Whilst I below can snore at Ease.
37 Yet, if you prove me there a Sinner,
38 I let you go without a Dinner.
39 This Prate was so beneath the Sence
40 Of One, who Wisdom cou'd dispense,
41 Unheard, or unreturn'd it past:
42 But War now lays the City waste,
43 And plunder'd Goods profusely sell
44 By length of Pike, not length of Ell.
45 Abroad th' Inhabitants are forc'd,
46 From Shops, and Trade, and Wealth divorc'd.
[Page 207]
47 The Student leaving but his Book,
48 The Tumult of the Place forsook.
49 In foreign Parts, One tells his Tale,
50 How Rich he'd been, how quick his Sale,
51 Which do's for scanty Alms prevail.
52 The Chance of War whilst he deplores,
53 And dines at Charitable Doors;
54 The Man of Letters, known by Fame,
55 Was welcom'd, wheresoe'er he came.
56 Still, Potentates entreat his Stay,
57 Whose Coaches meet him on the Way:
58 And Universities contest
59 Which shall exceed, or use him best.
60 Amaz'd the Burgomaster sees
61 On Foot, and scorn'd such Turns as these;
62 And sighing, now deplores too late
63 His cumb'rous Trash, and shallow Pate:
64 Since loaded but with double Chest
65 Of learned Head, and honest Breast,
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66 The Scholar moves from Place to Place,
67 And finds in every Climate Grace.
68 Wit and the Arts, on that Foundation rais'd,
69 (Howe'er the Vulgar are with Shows amaz'd)
70 Is all that recommends, or can be justly prais'd.

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Title (in Source Edition): The Tradesman and the Scholar.
Themes: manners; education
Genres: allegory

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Winchilsea, Anne Kingsmill Finch, Countess of, 1661-1720. Miscellany poems, on several occasions: Written by the Right Honble Anne, Countess of Winchilsea. London: printed for J. B. and sold by Benj. Tooke, William Taylor, and James Round, 1713, pp. 204-208. [8],390p. ; 8⁰. (ESTC T94539; Foxon pp. 274-5; OTA K076314.000) (Page images digitized from a copy in the Bodleian Library [Buxton 100].)

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The text has been typographically modernized, but without any silent modernization of spelling, capitalization, or punctuation. The source of the text is given and all editorial interventions have been recorded in textual notes. Based on the electronic text originally produced by the TCP project, this ECPA text has been edited to conform to the recommendations found in Level 5 of the Best Practices for TEI in Libraries version 4.0.0.

Other works by Anne Finch (née Kingsmill), countess of Winchilsea