But _needy Merit_ must not dare To hope with these _thy Alms_ to share, Commit _that_ to the _Bridewell_-lash, But give it neither _Food_ nor _Cash_; Distinguish'd Honour shalt thou gain In _Pandaemonium_, for thy Pain. But--one Word more--My Mind misgives, That _Virtue_ a near _Neighbour_ lives-- For in my search to find out Thee, I spied in this Vicinity A Knot of Friends, where I cou'd trace _Honour_ emblazon'd in their Face, These (for their Thoughts I plainly see) Bear no good Will to you or me; _Foolishly honest_, cheap they hold _Libidinoso_ and his Gold, And will maintain, to Conscience true, Their Virtue, spite of Me and You. Altho' your Influence be weak, Oppose them for _opposing' Sake_, Do ev'ry little Act of Spite, And snarl, altho' You cannot bite-- Be faithful--there will come a Day, When I thy Services will pay, Will bring Thee to my Realm, and make Thee _Pilot of the burning Lake_." He said--and quick as Thought withdrew, And to th' infernal Regions flew; Blue sulph'rous streaks the Peasants scare, Marking his passage thro' the Air-- _Libidinoso_ left behind, Began revolving in his Mind His Master's Promises, and sigh'd To have them fully ratified; Then homeward plodded, (but, be sure, Before he went, he kiss'd his Whore) Resolv'd, if possible, on more And greater Evils than before. All vain was the Resolve--his Cup Of _Wickedness_ was quite fill'd up, And no Cup can another drop Contain, when fill'd up to the Top. Since all Improvement was forbid, What cou'd he do, but what he did? Nought he diminish'd of the Charge, But acts _Hell_'s Minister at large.