Occasional verse, moral and sacred Published for the instruction and amusement of the Candidly Serious and Religious [by Edward Perronet] |
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A REFLECTION. |
 | Occasional verse, moral and sacred |  |
195
A REFLECTION.
I
If they are blest, and only they,Who love and wou'd do all men well;
What can we do to them or say,
Who prove they wish to all men ill?
II
And that they do not wish all well,As foes, not friends, to liberty,
Is plain from this—let such prevail,
And tyrants all or slaves must be.
III
For there's no medium in the case,If Liberty's allow'd to none;
But those who claim the highest place,
Or mount by murder to a throne.
IV
Our choice, indeed, may not be hard,So far as choice of will may go;
Since few would chuse to be debarr'd,
If choice of what they lik'd wou'd do.
196
V
But this not so—not one in ten,No, nor ten thousand times that sum,
But must submit to other men,
Perhaps the offspring of the scum.
VI
And say not—“This is not my choice.”I know 'tis not as well as you:
'Tis the dread sentence of a voice,
That cries aloft, “It must be so.”
VII
So long as men are what they are,So long this sentence must remain:
Reason and Justice both declare,
“Slaves must submit, and tyrants reign.”
VIII
But when, thus punish'd, they relent,That hand adore that wields the rod;
Of every sin forsook, repent,
And thus repenting turn to God:
IX
Then shall the wrath of Heav'n be turn'd,All farther enmity shall cease;
The sire that o'er his children mourn'd,
Shall smiling seal their mutual peace.
| Occasional verse, moral and sacred | |