| Alexander Pope (1688–1744). Complete Poetical Works. 1903. | | | | Later Poems | | Epigram (“Yes! ’t is the time”) |
| | | | Explained by Carruthers to refer to the large sums of money given in charity on account of the severity of the weather about the year 1740. |
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YES! ’t is the time (I cried), impose the chain, | |
| Destin’d and due to wretches self-enslaved; | |
| But when I saw such charity remain, | |
| I half could wish this people should be saved. | |
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| Faith lost, and Hope, our Charity begins; | 5 |
| And ’t is a wise design in pitying Heav’n, | |
| If this can cover multitude of sins, | |
| To take the only way to be forgiv’n. | | | |
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