Of real helpers to be call'd too late; This find the sick, when (time and patience gone) Death with a tenfold terror hurries on. Suppose the case surpasses human skill, There comes a quack to flatter weakness still; What greater evil can a flatterer do, Than from himself to take the sufferer's view? To turn from sacred thoughts his reasoning powers, And rob a sinner of his dying hours? Yet this they dare, and craving to the last, In hope's strong bondage hold their victim fast: For soul or body no concern have they, All their inquiry, "Can the patient pay? "And will he swallow draughts until his dying day?" Observe what ills to nervous females flow, When the heart flutters, and the pulse is low; If once induced these cordial sips to try, All feel the ease, and few the danger fly; For, while obtain'd, of drams they've all the force, And when denied, then drams are the resource. Nor these the only evils--there are those Who for the troubled mind prepare repose; They write: the young are tenderly address'd, Much danger hinted, much concern express'd; They dwell on freedoms lads are prone to take, Which makes the doctor tremble for their sake; Still if the youthful patient will but trust In one so kind, so pitiful, and just; If he will take the tonic all the time, And hold but moderate intercourse with crime; The sage will gravely give his honest word, That strength and spirits shall be both restored; In plainer English--if you mean to sin, Fly to the drops, and instantly begin. Who would not lend a sympathizing sigh, To hear yon infant's pity-moving cry? That feeble sob, unlike the new-born note Which came with vigour from the op'ning throat, When air and light first rush'd on lungs and eyes, And there was life and spirit in the cries; Now an abortive, faint attempt to weep Is all we hear; sensation is asleep: The boy was healthy, and at first express'd His feelings loudly when he fail'd to rest; When cramm'd with food, and tighten'd every limb, To cry aloud was what pertain'd to him; Then the good nurse (who, had she borne a brain, Had sought the cause that made her babe complain) Has all her efforts, loving soul! applied To set the cry, and not the cause, aside; She gave her powerful sweet without remorse The sleeping cordial--she had tried its force, Repeating oft: the infant, freed from pain, Rejected food, but took the dose again, Sinking to sleep; while she her joy express'd, That her dear charge could sweetly take his rest: Soon may she spare her cordial; not a doubt Remains, but quickly he will resfc without. This moves our grief and pity, and we sigh To think what numbers from these causes die; But what contempt and anger should we show, Did we the lives of these impostors know! Ere for the world's I left the cares of school, One I remember who assumed the fool; A part well suited--when the idler boys Would shout around him, and he loved the noise; They called him Neddy;--Neddy had the art