Watt's Songs Against Evil

<h2>AGAINST EVIL COMPANY.</h2> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">Why should I join with those in play<br/></span> <span class="i1">In whom I've no delight;<br/></span> <span class="i0">Who curse and swear, but never pray;<br/></span> <span class="i1">Who call ill names, and fight?<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">I hate to hear a wanton song:<br/></span> <span class="i1">Their words offend my ears:<br/></span> <span class="i0">I should not dare defile my tongue<br/></span> <span class="i1">With language such as theirs.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">Away from fools I'll turn my eyes,<br/></span> <span class="i1">Nor with the scoffers go:<br/></span> <span class="i0">I would be walking with the wise,<br/></span> <span class="i1">That wiser I may grow.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">From one rude boy, that's used to mock,<br/></span> <span class="i1">They learn the wicked jest:<br/></span> <span class="i0">One sickly sheep infects the flock,<br/></span> <span class="i1">And poisons all the rest.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">My God, I hate to walk or dwell<br/></span> <span class="i1">With sinful children here:<br/></span> <span class="i0">Then let me not be sent to hell,<br/></span> <span class="i1">Where none but sinners are.<br/></span></div> </div> <p>&nbsp;</p> <div class="figcenter"> <SPAN name="p010-illus.jpg" id="p010-illus.jpg"></SPAN> <ANTIMG src="images/p010-illus.jpg" width-obs="500" height-obs="535" alt="A thief?" title="" /></div> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />