The BASTARD. A POEM.
BY Mr. RICHARD SAVAGE.
THE BASTARD. A POEM, Inscribed with all due Reverence to Mrs. BRET, once Countess of MACCLESFIELD.
By RICHARD SAVAGE, Son of the late Earl RIVERS
DUBLIN: Printed by S. POWELL, for T. BENSON, at Shakespear's Head, in Castle-street, and P. CRAMPTON, at Addison's Head, opposite to the Horse-guard in Dame's -street, 1728.
The PREFACE.
THE Reader will easily perceive these Verses were begun, when my Heart was gayer, than it has been of late; and finish'd in Hours of the deepest Melancholy.
I hope the World will do me the Justice to believe, that no part of this flows from any real Anger against the Lady, to whom it is inscrib'd. Whatever undeserv'd Severities I may have receiv'd at her Hands, wou'd she deal so candidly as to acknowledge Truth, she very well knows, by an Experience of many Years, that I have ever behaved myself towards her, like one, who thought it his Duty to support with Patience all Afflictions from that Quarter. Indeed if I had not been capable of forgiving a Mother, I must have blush'd to receive Pardon myself at the Hands of my Sovereign.
Neither to say Truth, were the manner of my Birth All, shou'd I have any Reason from complaint—when I am a little disposed to a gay turn of Thinking, I consider, as I was a De-relict from my Cradle, I have the Honour of a lawful Claim to the best Protection in Europe. For being a Spot of Earth, to which no body pretends a Title, I devolve naturally upon the KING, as one of the Rights of his Royalty.
[Page] While I presume to name his MAJESTY, I look back, with Confusion, upon the Mercy I have lately experienc'd, because it is impossible to remember it, but with something I would fain forget; for the sake of my future Peace, and Alleviation of my past Misfortune.
I owe my Life to the Royal Pity, if a Wretch can, with Propriety, be said to live, whose Days are fewer than his Sorrows; and to whom Death had been but a Redemption from Misery.
But I will suffer my Pardon, as my Punishment, till that Life, which has so graciously been given me, shall become considerable enough not to be useless in his Service, to whom it was forfeited.
Under Influence of these Sentiments, with which his MAJESTY's great Goodness has inspired me, I consider my Loss of Fortune, and Dignity, as my Happiness; to which, as I was born without Ambition, I am thrown from them without repining.—Possessing those Advantages, my Care had been, perhaps, but how to enjoy Life; by the want of them I am taught this nobler Lesson, to study how to deserve it.
Books, Poems and Plays, Printed for, and Sold by P. Crampton at Addison's Head opposite to the Horse-guard in Dame's- street, and T. Benson at Shakespear's Head in Castle-street.
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