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| WELCOME, dear wanderer, once more! | |
| Thrice welcome to thy native cell! | |
| Within this peaceful humble door | |
| Let thou and I contented dwell! | |
| |
| But say, O whither hast thou rang’d? | 5 |
| Why dost thou blush a crimson hue? | |
| Thy fair complexion ’s greatly chang’d: | |
| Why, I can scarce believe ’tis you. | |
| |
| Then tell, my son, O tell me, where | |
| Didst thou contract this sottish dye? | 10 |
| You kept ill company, I fear, | |
| When distant from your parent’s eye. | |
| |
| Was it for this, O graceless child, | |
| Was it for this you learn’d to spell? | |
| Thy face and credit both are spoil’d; | 15 |
| Go drown thyself in yonder well. | |
| |
| I wonder how thy time was spent: | |
| No news (alas!) hast thou to bring? | |
| Hast thou not climb’d the Monument? | |
| Nor seen the lions, nor the King? | 20 |
| |
| But now I’ll keep you here secure: | |
| No more you view the smoaky sky: | |
| The court was never made (I’m sure) | |
| For idiots, like thee and I. | |
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