Explore "The Convict's Farewell: with Advice to Criminals, Before and After Trial" by James Parkerson on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Vile men, abstain from every artful plan, / When found out disgrace the name of man; / Let those who steal, repent and sin no more, / Ere Law decrees, it's vengeance on them pour: / From trifling things, we greater ills pursue, / Till the Law's fangs are brought within our view; / Stop, stop bad courses, ere it be too late, / And justice dooms you to a culprit's fate.
Riots avoid, tho' mischief none you do, / Your being at them, brings a stain on you; / Those who look on, will afterwards repent, / And share alike in point of punishment: / The Law expressly properly declare, / He adds to tumult, that is present there; / Take my advice, let reason bear her sway, / From scenes of discord, always keep away; / You'd think it hard, a worthless savage crew, / Should gain by plunder, all your goods from you: / The worst of men are foremost on a plan, / To gain by rapine, every way they can; / Do you suppose, that wasting other's store, / Can ease the hardships of the labouring poor; / No such a course, our present ills increase, / And robs the Nation of its inward peace.