To
the
Rev.
Mr.
J.
S.
John Straight (1687-1736).
1731.
By
J.
H.
SIR
,
PROMISES
are
different
cases
At
various
times
,
in
various
places
.
In
crowded
street
of
Arlington
,
Where
slaves
of
hope
to
levées
run
,
A
promise
signifies
no
more
,
Than
in
the
chamber
of
a
whore
.
And
when
the
good
deceiv'd
Sir
Francis
With
madam
up
from
Yorkshire
dances
,
To
claim
the
great
man's
promise
given
Some
six
years
since
,
or
(
some
say
)
seven
;
No
one
can
blame
that
curious
writer
,
That
says
,
they'll
both
return
the
lighter
.
But
can
we
hence
affirm
that
no
miss
Of
all
the
sex
can
keep
a
promise
?
Or
say
,
from
what
our
courtier
speaks
,
That
all
men's
faiths
are
wafer-cakes
?
That
courts
make
rogues
is
my
belief
,
As
'tis
the
mill
that
makes
the
thief
.
But
'cause
one
limb
is
none
o'
th'
best
,
Shall
I
for
that
cut
off
the
rest
?
Sure
it
may
be
with
safety
said
,
A
parson's
promise
duely
made
Beneath
a
prelate's
holy
roof
,
Must
stand
'gainst
all
assaults
a
proof
.
Yet
he
,
who
thinks
the
church
unshaken
,
May
find
himself
in
time
mistaken
.
I
know
the
man
,
and
grieve
to
say't
,
Who
so
did
fail
—
and
that
was
S
—
And
can
we
then
no
more
depend
on
Our
good
forgetful
friend
at
Findon
,
Than
on
a
courtier
promiseful
,
Or
a
whore's
oath
to
cheat
her
cull
?
Can
S
—
no
better
promise
keep
?
If
that
were
true
—
I
e'en
shou'd
weep
.
In
Sarum's
town
when
last
we
met
,
I
told
you
'mongst
much
other
prate
,
That
my
design
was
to
withdraw
,
And
leave
the
craggy
paths
of
law
:
And
as
the
skilful
pilot
steers
Wide
of
the
dreadful
rocks
he
fears
,
And
in
the
safer
ocean
rides
,
Nor
fears
his
vessel's
bulging
sides
;
So
I
from
Coke's
and
Croke's
reports
,
And
special
pleadings
of
the
courts
,
Had
veer'd
about
to
bury
dead
,
And
'gainst
a
pulpit
run
my
head
.
Didst
thou
not
promise
then
and
there
,
(
But
promises
are
china-ware
)
Didst
thou
not
promise
,
as
I
spoke
,
That
you'd
ere
long
your
Muse
invoke
,
And
cloath'd
in
strong
harmonious
line
,
Send
counsel
to
the
young
divine
?
Where
of
thy
word
then
is
the
troth
,
Which
I
thought
good
as
any
oath
?
Or
where
that
strong
harmonious
line
,
Bless'd
by
each
sister
of
the
Nine
?
That
whore
we
speak
of
i'
th'
beginning
,
Hath
some
excuse
to
make
for
sinning
:
Her
tongue
and
tail
are
taught
deceit
From
her
not
knowing
where
to
eat
.
The
courtier
too
hath
some
excuse
To
think
word-breaking
small
abuse
:
And
'midst
the
hurry
,
noise
,
and
bustle
,
Of
crowds
,
that
at
his
levée
jostle
,
No
man
can
be
in
such
a
taking
To
see
a
little
promise-breaking
.
But
what
indulgence
,
what
excuse
Can
plead
for
thee
,
or
for
thy
Muse
?
For
thee
,
on
whom
the
sisters
wait
Pleas'd
with
the
task
impos'd
by
S—
;
Whom
at
his
christ'ning
they
did
dip
O'er
head
and
ears
in
Aganip
;
For
thee
,
at
mention
of
whose
strain
Their
winged
courser
courts
the
rein
,
Bounds
e'en
through
Sussex-roads
along
,
Proud
of
the
burthen
of
thy
song
?