The Addition to the Epitaph
Authentic
One.
The Addition to the Epitaph, without the Copper-Plate.
Te Diabole oro, & tibi Gratias ago
Great Devil it’s to thee I pray
Hear then my Song, accept my Lay,
My Praises too, for all proceed
From thee O Prince, a Prince indeed!
THOU great Prince of Darkness! Thou Author of all Rebellions and Insurrections, whether Paxtonian or others! Thou Father of my Friend the Kirk! Thou that hath been my Parron thro’ every Stage of Life;---that hath opened a Way for Escape, when Justice (wicked Institution) was near clawing me with her Talons; to thee I now Address myself! Hear my Prayers and accept my Praises; this I trust, thou will do, when though considereth, that my whole Life hath been spend in thy Service; that, to extend thy Dominion here, I have dedicated not only my Youthfull Days, but in my advanced Age, those Days, which, foolish Moralists (thy wicked Enemies) say, should be spent in Repentance for my past Crimes. Mistaken Bigots! to my give my Services to thee, the Appellation of Crimes.---And further, oh Father! As Thou Knowest by the frequent Intercourse between us, the Secrets of my Soul, thou must know this, that my determined Resolution, is, that Repentance never shall take hold of me, but as I live, so will I die with Soul devoted to thee.---First then, I pray, that thou will, by Power, which I always have experienced to be great, enable me constantly to oppose F-----n. G-----y and H------hs thy bitten Foes, and that rising Genius H-----nt. Claw with thy brazen Talons all those that are Enemies to thee, and oppose thy diabolical Measures, whither political or otherwise, which thy Children under Satan’s influences pursue: And for the further promoting thy Kingdom, whither I deal in Prose or Verse, be thou my Muse; that so my Brain may be filled with such a Degree of Invention, that I always may be ready to blast Virtue were e’er I meet her; to attack Rectitude of Manners, to subdue Morality; to trample upon all the sacred Ties of Humanities; and exercise that reason in the glorious Cause of Villainy, which was given me by thy Enemy to war with thee! And I further pray, and thou wilt preserve me from all Reflection, (thy Enemies say Reflection sometimes seizes thy Servants) Reflection keep off from me, whither it arises from my Disloyalty to my King; from the artfull Corruption of the Morals of my Pupils; from my infectious Debaucheries with white; or my more frequent ones with black, preserve me from them all! Cast thy fiery Eyes upon all Wearers of Wigs, (called the enormous ones) upon me, and all other Brutes, whither they may be Mares, Asses, just or unjust, or whatsoever they may be.
AND as I have completed a most noble Performance, representing the Friends of Virtue in a ludicrous Light, blind People’s Judgements so far, that they be Admirers of it (thy Children will, but I mean others) and by admiring it, may be drawn on to admire thee and me the Authors of it! Give it a good Sale, that so I may be profited, and thou glorified! And further, as Heather Mythologists say, Juno was drawn in her Chariot, by Peacocks, so, oh mighty Pluto! Do thou be drawn by Doves, and though we are rarae Aves in Terris, yet I have one in my Eye, that with me will make a good Pair! Gratitude produces this Offer, for as though hath drawn us so long, we are now willing to draw thee.
AND now I praise thee for thy many Favours bestowed upon me; and for my happy escape from Fumigations. Thou knowest Dr. Taylor had put Powder and Ball in an Instrument of Death, but by thy supernatural Power, though converted the dreadfull Ammunition, to harmless Chickens, Blood and Pudden, thereby saving me! Who is there like unto thee! A Retrospect to thy many Deliverances distends my Heart with Gratitude and makes me sincerely say.---Take, Take me to thyself, to no other will I ever desire to go! Thou art my Summum Bonum, and on thee am I fixed! Thou my beloved art mine, and I am thine. Amen. So be it.
