To the Detractor

Where others love and praise my verses, stillThy long black thumb-nail marks them out for ill:A fellon take it, or some whitflaw comeFor to unslate or to untile that thumb!But cry thee mercy: exercise thy nailsTo scratch or claw, so that thy tongue not rails:Some numbers prurient are, and some of theseAre wanton with their itch; scratch, and 'twill please.