A Journey to Hell or, A Visit paid to the Devil. A poem. The Second Edition [by Edward Ward] |
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 | A Journey to Hell |  |
My Lord, these impious Shades behind the Bar,
Whose guilty Looks their horrid Crimes declare,
Wanting the Grace of G---d before their Eyes,
Did, upon Earth, most trait'rously devise
Sundry base means to trouble and inflame
Their native Kingdom, whence the Pris'ners came,
In foreign fruitless Wars involv'd the State,
To draw the Publick low, and make themselves more great;
Crept slyly into every Place of Trust,
By branding with false Infamy the Just;
Advanc'd new Projects, subtly to ingross
The Nations Treasure, to the Nations loss.
And then at Usurers extortion lent
Their ill-got Thousands, with a base intent
To serve their wicked selves, and not the Government.
So faithless Stewards basely act their Cheats,
Who at a distance manage great Estates,
Oft receive Money, to their Lords unknown,
And make them, when they want, pay Int'rest for their own.
Whose guilty Looks their horrid Crimes declare,
Wanting the Grace of G---d before their Eyes,
Did, upon Earth, most trait'rously devise
Sundry base means to trouble and inflame
Their native Kingdom, whence the Pris'ners came,
In foreign fruitless Wars involv'd the State,
To draw the Publick low, and make themselves more great;
Crept slyly into every Place of Trust,
By branding with false Infamy the Just;
Advanc'd new Projects, subtly to ingross
The Nations Treasure, to the Nations loss.
And then at Usurers extortion lent
Their ill-got Thousands, with a base intent
To serve their wicked selves, and not the Government.
So faithless Stewards basely act their Cheats,
Who at a distance manage great Estates,
Oft receive Money, to their Lords unknown,
And make them, when they want, pay Int'rest for their own.
| A Journey to Hell | |