Page:The Splendid Shilling by John Philips (1719).pdf/7

Rh The Voice ill-boding, and the solemn Sound. What shou'd I do? or whither turn? Amaz'd, Confounded, to the dark Recess I fly Of Woodhole; strait my bristling Hairs erect Thro' sudden Fear; a chilly Sweat bedews My shud'ring Limbs, and (wonderful to tell!) My Tongue forgets her Faculty of Speech; So horrible he seems! his faded Brow Entrench'd with many a Frown, and Conic Beard, And spreading Band, admir'd by Modern Saints, Disastrous Acts forebode; in his Right Hand Long Scrolls of Paper solemnly he waves, With Characters, and Figures dire inscrib'd, Grievous to mortal Eyes; (ye Gods avert Such Plagues from righteous Men!) behind him stalks Another Monster, not unlike himself, Sullen of Aspect, by the Vulgar call'd A Catchpole, whose polluted Hands the Gods With Force incredible, and Magick Charms Erst have endu'd, if he his ample Palm Should haply on ill-fated Shoulder lay Of Debtor, strait his Body, to the Touch Obsequious, (as whilom Knights were wont) To some enchanted Castle is convey'd, Where Gates impregnable, and coercive Chains In Durance strict detain him, 'till in form Of Money, sets the Captive free.


 * Beware, ye Debtors, when ye walk beware,

Be circumspect; oft with insidious Ken Rh