Volume I Part 32 (2/2)

Now, if you d.a.m.n this censure, as too bold, Judge by yourselves, and think not others sold.

Meantime my sons, accused by fame's report, Pay small attendance at the Lion's court, Nor rise with early crowds, nor flatter late; For silently they beg who daily wait.

Preferment is bestow'd, that comes unsought; Attendance is a bribe, and then 'tis bought. 240 How they should speed, their fortune is untried; For not to ask, is not to be denied.

For what they have, their G.o.d and king they bless, And hope they should not murmur, had they less.

But if reduced, subsistence to implore, In common prudence they should pa.s.s your door.

Unpitied Hudibras,[122] your champion friend, Has shown how far your charities extend.

This lasting verse shall on his tomb be read, ”He shamed you living, and upbraids you dead.” 250

With odious atheist names[123] you load your foes; Your liberal clergy why did I expose?

It never fails in charities like those.

In climes where true religion is profess'd, That imputation were no laughing jest.

But imprimatur,[124] with a chaplain's name, Is here sufficient licence to defame.

What wonder is't that black detraction thrives?

The homicide of names is less than lives; And yet the perjured murderer survives. 260

This said, she paused a little, and suppress'd The boiling indignation of her breast.

She knew the virtue of her blade, nor would Pollute her satire with ign.o.ble blood: Her panting foe she saw before her eye, And back she drew the s.h.i.+ning weapon dry.

So when the generous Lion has in sight His equal match, he rouses for the fight; But when his foe lies prostrate on the plain, He sheaths his paws, uncurls his angry mane, 270 And, pleased with bloodless honours of the day, Walks over and disdains the inglorious prey.

So James, if great with less we may compare, Arrests his rolling thunderbolts in air!

And grants ungrateful friends a lengthen'd s.p.a.ce, To implore the remnants of long-suffering grace.

This breathing-time the matron took; and then Resumed the thread of her discourse again.

Be vengeance wholly left to powers divine, And let Heaven judge betwixt your sons and mine: 280 If joys hereafter must be purchased here With loss of all that mortals hold so dear, Then welcome infamy and public shame, And, last, a long farewell to worldly fame.

'Tis said with ease, but, oh, how hardly tried By haughty souls to human honour tied!

O sharp convulsive pangs of agonizing pride!

Down then, thou rebel, never more to rise, And what thou didst, and dost, so dearly prize, That fame, that darling fame, make that thy sacrifice. 290 'Tis nothing thou hast given, then add thy tears For a long race of unrepenting years: 'Tis nothing yet, yet all thou hast to give: Then add those may-be years thou hast to live: Yet nothing still; then poor, and naked come: Thy father will receive his unthrift home, And thy blest Saviour's blood discharge the mighty sum.

Thus (she pursued) I discipline a son, Whose uncheck'd fury to revenge would run: He champs the bit, impatient of his loss, 300 And starts aside, and flounders at the Cross.

Instruct him better, gracious G.o.d, to know, As thine is vengeance, so forgiveness too: That, suffering from ill tongues, he bears no more Than what his sovereign bears, and what his Saviour bore.

It now remains for you to school your child, And ask why G.o.d's anointed he reviled; A king and princess dead! did s.h.i.+mei worse?

The cursor's punishment should fright the curse: Your son was warn'd, and wisely gave it o'er, 310 But he who counsell'd him has paid the score: The heavy malice could no higher tend, But woe to him on whom the weights descend.

So to permitted ills the Demon flies; His rage is aim'd at him who rules the skies: Constrain'd to quit his cause, no succour found, The foe discharges every tire around, In clouds of smoke abandoning the fight; But his own thundering peals proclaim his flight.

In Henry's change his charge as ill succeeds; 320 To that long story little answer needs: Confront but Henry's words with Henry's deeds.

Were s.p.a.ce allow'd, with ease it might be proved, What springs his blessed Reformation moved.

The dire effects appear'd in open sight, Which from the cause he calls a distant flight, And yet no larger leap than from the sun to light.

Now let your sons a double paean sound, A Treatise of Humility is found.

'Tis found, but better it had ne'er been sought, 330 Than thus in Protestant procession brought.

The famed original through Spain is known, Rodriguez' work, my celebrated son, Which yours, by ill-translating, made his own; Conceal'd its author, and usurp'd the name, The basest and ign.o.blest theft of fame.

My altars kindled first that living coal; Restore, or practice better, what you stole: That virtue could this humble verse inspire, 'Tis all the rest.i.tution I require. 340

Glad was the Panther that the charge was closed, And none of all her favourite sons exposed.

For laws of arms permit each injured man, To make himself a saver where he can.

Perhaps the plunder'd merchant cannot tell The names of pirates in whose hands he fell; But at the den of thieves he justly flies, And every Algerine is lawful prize.

No private person in the foe's estate Can plead exemption from the public fate. 350 Yet Christian laws allow not such redress; Then let the greater supersede the less.

But let the abettors of the Panther's crime Learn to make fairer wars another time.

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