have delighted in those that do it, nor have once discouraged the
many Rudenesses which have been shewn towards me; indeed towards yourself, if
you rightly understood them; for I am your Guest, and by the Laws of Hospitality
entitled to your Protection. One Gentleman hath thought proper to produce some
Poetry upon me, of which I shall only say, that I had rather be the Subject than
the Composer. He hath pleased to treat me with Disrespect as a Parson; I
apprehend my Order is not the Object of Scorn, nor that I can become so, unless
by being a Disgrace to it, which I hope Poverty will never be called. Another
Gentleman indeed hath repeated some Sentences, where the Order itself is
mentioned with Contempt. He says they are taken from Plays. I am sure such Plays
are a Scandal to the Government which permits them, and cursed will be the
Nation where they are represented. How others have treated me, I need not
observe; they themselves, when they reflect, must allow the Behaviour to be as
improper to my Years as to my Cloth. You found me, Sir, travelling with two of
my Parishioners, (I omit your Hounds falling on me; for I have quite forgiven
it, whether it proceeded from the Wantonness or Negligence of the Huntsman,) my
Appearance might very well persuade you that your Invitation was an Act of
Charity, tho' in reality we were well provided; yes, Sir, if we had had an
hundred Miles to travel, we had sufficient to bear our Expences in a noble
manner.« (At which Words he produced the half Guinea which was found in the
Basket.) »I do not shew you this out of Ostentation of Riches, but to convince
you I speak Truth. Your seating me at your Table was an Honour which I did not
ambitiously affect; when I was here, I endeavoured to behave towards you with
the utmost Respect; if I have failed, it was not with Design, nor could I,
certainly, so far be guilty as to deserve the Insults I have suffered. If they
were meant therefore either to my Order or my Poverty (and you see I am not very
poor) the Shame doth not lie at my door, and I heartily pray, that the Sin may
be averted from your's.« He thus finished, and received a general Clap from the
whole Company. Then the Gentleman of the House told him, »he was sorry for what
had happened; that he could not accuse him of any Share in it: That the Verses