That Confcience, which to all their crimes was

mute,

Now calls aloud, and cries to perfecute :
No rigor of the laws to be releas'd,

And much the less, because it was their Lord's

request:

They thought it great their sovereign to controul, And nam'd their pride, nobility of foul.

'Tis true, the Pigeons, and their prince elect, Were short of power, their purpose to effect: But with their quills did all the hurt they could, And cuff'd the tender Chickens from their food: And much the Buzzard in their cause did stir, Tho naming not the patron, to infer With all respect, he was a gross idolater. But when th' imperial owner did espy, That thus they turn'd his grace to villany, Not fuff'ring wrath to difcompose his mind, He strove a temper for th' extremes to find. So to be just, as he might still be kind; Then, all maturely weigh'd, pronounc'd a doom Of facred strength for every age to come. By this the doves their wealth and state pofssess, No rights infring'd, but licence to oppress : Such power have they as factious lawyers long. To crowns afcrib'd, that kings can do no wrong.

}

}

But since his own domestic birds have try'd
The dire effects of their destructive pride,
He deems that proof a measure to the rest,
Concluding well within his kingly breaft,
His fowls of nature too unjustly were opprest.
He therefore makes all birds of every fect
Free of his farm, with promise to refpect,
Their several kinds alike, and equally protect.
His gracious edict the fame franchise yields
To all the wild increase of woods and fields,
And who in rocks aloof, and who in steeples

builds :

}

To Crows the like impartial grace affords,
And Choughs and Daws, and such republic birds :
Secur'd with ample privilege to feed,

Each has his district, and his bounds decreed :
Combin'd in common int'rest with his own,
But not to pass the Pigeons Rubicon.

Here ends the reign of his pretended Dove;
All prophecies accomplish'd from above,
For Shiloh comes the fceptre to remove.
Reduc'd from her imperial high abode,
Like Dionyfius to a private rod,
The paffive church, that with pretended grace
Did her distinctive mark in duty place,

Now touch'd, reviles her Maker to his face.

:

:

What after happen'd is not hard to guess :
The small beginnings had a large increase,
And arts and wealth succeed the secret spoils

of peace.

'Tis said, the Doves repented, tho too late,
Become the siniths of their own foolish fate:
Nor did their owner hasten their ill hour;
But, sunk in credit, they decreas'd in power :
Like snows in warmth that mildly pass away,
Diffolving in the filence of decay.

}

The Buzzard, not content with equal place,
Invites the feather'd Nimrods of his race;
To hide the thinness of their flock from fight,
And all together make a seeming goodly flight:
But each have sep'rate int'refts of their own;
Two Czars are one too many for a throne.
Nor can th' ufurper long abstain from food;
Already he has tasted Pigeons blood:
And may be tempted to his former fare,
When this indulgent lord shall late to heaven

repair.

Bare benting times, and moulting months may

come,

When, lagging late, they cannot reach their home;
Or rent in schism (for fo their fate decrees)
Like the tumultuous college of the bees,

They fight their quarrel, by themselves oppreft; The tyrant smiles below, and waits the falling

feaft.

Thus did the gentle Hind her fable end,
Nor would the Panther blame it, nor commend;

But, with affected yawnings at the close,
Seem'd to require her natural repose :
For now the streaky light began to peep;
And setting stars admonish'd both to fleep.
The dame withdrew, and, wishing to her guest
The peace of heaven, betook herself to rest.
Ten thousand angels on her slumbers wait,
With glorious visions of her future state.

***

*

: A

POEM on the PRINCE,

Born on the Tenth of JUNE, 1688.

4

UR vows are heard betimes, and heaven takes care

To grant, before we can conclude the prayer: Preventing angels met it half the way, And fent us back to praise, who came to pray. Just on the day, when the high-mounted fun Did farthest in its northern progress run, He bended forward, and even stretch'd the sphere Beyond the limits of the lengthen'd year, To view a brighter fun in Britain born ; That was the business of his longest morn; The glorious object seen, 'twas time to turn. Departing Spring could only stay to shed Her gloomy beauties on the genial bed, But left the manly summer in her stead, With timely fruit the longing land to chear, And to fulfil the promise of the year. - Betwixt two seasons comes th' aufpicious heir, This age to bloffom, and the next to bear.

}