Businessman’s prayer

To my Lord in the morning, who looked over my accounts and agreed to them. I did also get him to sign a bill (which do make my heart merry) for 60l. to me, in consideration of my work extraordinary at sea this last voyage, which I hope to get paid.
I dined with my Lord and then to the Theatre, where I saw “The Virgin Martyr,” a good but too sober a play for the company. Then home.

Lord, look over my greed.
Make my heart err
for my work,
a martyr to the company.


Erasure poem derived from The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Saturday 16 February 1660/61.

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