 | Poems on several occasions |  |
Searching, they found a lapwing had, unseen,
Crept in a yew, that had a fav'rite been;
Yet, by ill management, had been cashier'd,
And now, with treach'ry, for advancement steer'd.
Knowing this traytor, and that his intent
Was still to keep the choir in banishment;
And wanted, by base means, to reinstate
Himself in favour with the hawk so great,
They instant sent him to a distant plain:
And that Sedition never should arraign
Them of intention to subvert the laws,
Duteous Loyalty with loud Applause
Straitway proceeded, join'd by Caution great,
And thus the charge to th'agents did relate:
Crept in a yew, that had a fav'rite been;
Yet, by ill management, had been cashier'd,
And now, with treach'ry, for advancement steer'd.
Knowing this traytor, and that his intent
Was still to keep the choir in banishment;
74
Himself in favour with the hawk so great,
They instant sent him to a distant plain:
And that Sedition never should arraign
Them of intention to subvert the laws,
Duteous Loyalty with loud Applause
Straitway proceeded, join'd by Caution great,
And thus the charge to th'agents did relate:
Much honour'd Dame, —
Your faithful subjects with petition stand,
Imploring your kind aid against that band
Of wicked miscreants, who daily spread
Throughout your grove Corruption's baleful head:
Nay, using your great name, with lawless sway
They gave such counsel on this fatal day;
And thus with flatt'ring wiles gain'd your consent
And forc'd your subjects into banishment.
Nor have they us'd their dreadful arms in vain,
To murder innocence they yet maintain,
Still brandishing the sword of ill-got might,
They daily strive to banish lawful right;
Therefore we hope that your all-gracious care
Will far remove these harpies from your ear;
Then search our deeds, and let them fall or stand
By the unerring judgment of this land;
Restoring thus our rights, which Nature gave,
Your distress'd warblers you will ever save;
And we shall ever hope joys may extend
To you and yours till time shall have no end.
Imploring your kind aid against that band
Of wicked miscreants, who daily spread
Throughout your grove Corruption's baleful head:
Nay, using your great name, with lawless sway
They gave such counsel on this fatal day;
And thus with flatt'ring wiles gain'd your consent
And forc'd your subjects into banishment.
Nor have they us'd their dreadful arms in vain,
To murder innocence they yet maintain,
75
They daily strive to banish lawful right;
Therefore we hope that your all-gracious care
Will far remove these harpies from your ear;
Then search our deeds, and let them fall or stand
By the unerring judgment of this land;
Restoring thus our rights, which Nature gave,
Your distress'd warblers you will ever save;
And we shall ever hope joys may extend
To you and yours till time shall have no end.
| Poems on several occasions | |