Crassus, the Poet's and the Villain's Tool,
Just Wise enough to think himself a Fool,
Swears that in each Lampoon he sees his Face,
And vows Revenge upon the Rhiming Race:
For once dear Crassus let a Foe advise,
Look on thy self with more auspicious Eyes,
To blab thy Weakness, be not thou the first,
For that of all thy Follies is the worst;
Ill--natur'd Scriblers, unoffended, read,
The conscious Ideot is a Wretch indeed!
By other Hands let our Defects be known,
For 'tis the Devil to betray one's own.