Page:Dialogue between a blind man and death.pdf/5

( 5 ) Blind Man. Yer by your Favour I may ſtep aſide? Death. Be not deceived, 'tis in vain to hide;

My Forces are diſperſed thro' all Places,

And act for me without reſpect of Faces.

I have a thouſand ways to ſhorten Life.

Beſides a Raper, Piſtol, Sword or: Knife;

A Fly, a Hair, a Splinter of a Thorn,

A little Scratch, the cutting of a Corn,

Have fometimes done my Buſineſs heretofore,

So to the full, that I need wiſh no more.

Should all theſe fail, enough of Humours lurk,

Within your Bodies, Sir, to do my Work.

Blind Man. Well then, let ſome one run for my Phyſician,

Tell him I was his Aid in this Condition.

Death. Run Boy and fetch him, call the whole College now

For I intend to have them ſhortly too.

I value not their Potions nor their Pills,

Nor all the Cordials in the Doctors Bills:

When my Times come, let then do what they can,

I'll have my due, ſo vain a Thing is Man,

Should Galen and Hippocrates both join,

And Paracelſus with them too combine,

Let them all meet to countermine my Strength,

Yet they ſhall be my Pris'ners all at length

I grant that Men of learning, worth and Art,

May have the better of me at the Start:

But in long Running they'll give out and tire,

And quite the Field and leave me my Deſire,

As for thoſe Quakes, who threaten to undo me,

They are my Friends, and ſpeed ſome Patients to me

Blind Man. Well, if I muft, I will yield you the Day,

So 'tis enacted, and I muſt obey:

Henceforth I'll count myſelf among your Debitors,

For tis I ſee the Meaſure of my betters.

But