William Cowper Esqre



==== Edited text: ====

 [William Cowper Esq$re$] 

—FOR this is being a friend just in the nick, Not when he’s well, but waiting till he’s sick; He calls you to his help; be you not mov’d Until, by being sick, his wants are prov’d. You see him spend his soul in prophecy: Do you believe it a confounded lie, Till some bookseller, and the public fame, Prove there is truth in his extravagant claim. For ’tis atrocious in a friend you love To tell you anything that he can’t prove, And ’tis most wicked in a Christian nation For any man to pretend to inspiration. ________________________________________

The original text:
 William Cowper Esq$re$ 

For this is being a Friend just in the nick Not when hes well but waiting till hes sick He calls you to his help be you not movd Untill by being Sick his wants are provd You see him spend his Soul in Prophecy Do you believe it a Confounded lie Till some Bookseller & the Public Fame Proves there is truth in his extravagant claim For tis atrocious in a Friend you love To tell you any thing that he cant prove And tis most wicked in a Christian Nation For any Man to pretend to Inspiration ________________________________________