TO DAVID COOK, A VIGILANT AND CIRCUMSPECT WATCHMAN OF WESTMINSTER, 1716

(From the Latin of Vincent Bourne.) Good friend! for good wishes expressed every day Accept a poor poet's retributive lay; For though only officially you, perhaps, bawl "Good morrow, my masters and mistresses all," Yet while such kind wishes I constantly hear For "A Merry Old Christmas and Happy New Year," I feel as if something was wanting from me, So, Good morrow, good David, Good morrow to thee! Less punctual than thine is "bright chanticleer's" lay That divides the night watches, and heralds the day, And old Time, of all thieves that are known the most sly, Cannot even in cover of midnight…