Thomson(i)
1 But now the meanest have me in derision: now, those undertake to admonish me; whose fathers I held in contempt: whom I did not think worthy the dogs of my flocks.
2 What in deed was the strength of their hands to me? Destruction would have been lost upon them.
3 By reason of want and famine it was useless. Already they were fleeing ineffectually from distress and misery:
4 they were crouding round the samphire on the sounding shore; and feeding on sea weeds as their food; despicable and contemned and in want of every thing good, they through extreme want were chewing even the roots of trees.
5 Against me thieves have risen up,
6 whose habitations were the clefts of rocks.
7 Amidst this tuneful choir, are to be heard the brawls of them who lived under hedges.
8 A race of fools and despicable wretches, whose name and honour are extinguished from the earth.
9 But now I am become their song: and they have me for their by-word:
10 and have abhorred me and stood at a distance: and have not spared to spit in my face.