Page:Poems on Several Occasions - Broome (1739, 2nd edition).djvu/24

 Benefit they reap from this Privilege, is to discover Objects of Horror, Ghosts and Apparitions.

But it is time to end, though I have too much reason to enlarge the Argument for Candour in Criticism, through a consciousness of my own Deficiency: I have in reality been pleading my own Cause, that if I appear too guilty to obtain a Pardon, I may find so much mercy from my Judges, as to be condemn'd to suffer without Inhumanity: But whatever be the fate of these Works, they have prov'd of use to me, and been an agreeable Amusement in a constant Solitude; Providence has been pleased to lead me out of the great Roads of Life, into a private Path; where, tho' we have leisure to chuse the smoothest Way, yet we are all sure to meet many Obstacles in the Journey: I have found Poetry an innocent Companion, and Support from the Fatigues of it; how long, or how short the future Stages of it are to be, as it is uncertain, so it is a Folly to be over-sollicitous about it: he that