All the acts, refolves, and orders, made Through all the changes of its government: All down from goodly forty-one to horrid forty-eight. XV. His friendship much our monster sought By inftinct, and by inclination too : So without much ado They were together brought. } To him obedience Libel fwore, and by him was he taught. He learnt of him all goodness to deteft; To be afham'd of no difgrace; In all things but obedience to be beast; To hide a coward's heart, and fhew a hardy face. T' have no religion, honefty, or sense, Fraught with thefe morals, he began 'Twixt legislative and judicial power; } Into Into rebellion to divide the nation, How by a lawful means to bring "Twixt perfons natural and politic; How to make faithful fervants traitors And at laft troopers adjutators. Thus well inform'd, and furnish'd with enough Our blade fet forth, and quickly grew A leader in a factious crew. Where-e'er he came, 'twas he first filence broke. By which becoming faucy grace, He gain'd authority and place: By many for preferments was thought fit, For talking treason without fear or wit; For opening failings in the state; For loving noify and unfound debate, his hat. } XVI. Thus, like Alcides in his lion's skin, He very dreadful grew. But, like that Hercules when Love crept in, His foes that found him faw he was but man : } Had brought him to her arms, and I furpriz'd him there, At once to hate and fcorn him I began; To To fee how foolishly she'd dreft, On every fide, behind, before Ballads, and all the fpurious excess Of ills that malice could devife, Hung round about him like a spell : But from fuch ills when will our wretched state Of a huge dragon, fent by fate To lay a finful kingdom waste : So through it all he rang'd, devouring as he paft, } Till wretched matrons curft their womb, The lovers all defpair'd, and fought their tombs Curft ends, to the metropolis he came : His cruelties renew'd again, And every day a maid was flain. The The curfe through every family had past, When to the facrifice at laft Th' unhappy monarch's only child must bow: A royal daughter needs must suffer then, a royal brother now. XVII. On him this dragon Libel needs will prey; His fordid venom, and prophan'd When all his foes lie buried in their fhame. To make him every thing that's rare, Dear to the heart, defirous to the eyes. To high or low, to old or young? Of him what orphan can complain ? Of him what widow make her moan? If this be (as I am fure 'tis) true; Then pr'ythee, prophet, tell me too, Not one man's foe? and then why are not all men friends with him? XVIII. Whene'er his life was fet at stake For his ungrateful country's fake, What dangers or what labours did he ever shun? Or what wonders has not done? Watchful all night, and bufy all the day, Big with the thoughts of conqueft and renown, To them he like a threatening comet shin'd, To fee our daring banners spread : Whilft in their harbours they : Like batten'd monsters weltering lay; The winds, when ours th' ad kiss'd, fcorn'd with their flags to play; But drooping like their captains' hearts, Each pendent, every streamer, hung: The feamen feem'd t' have loft their arts; |