In Imitation of Hudibras The Dissenting Hypocrite, or Occasional Conformist; with reflections On Two of the Ring-Leaders, &c. Viz. I. Their Works and Writings. II. Their Professions and Principles. III. Their Qualifications and Parts. IV. Their Persons and Practices [by Edward Ward] |
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 | In Imitation of Hudibras |  |
44
Not to Defend, but to Annoy
Th'Authority that gives them Peace,
Great Power and Religious Ease;
They wound the Giver, as they please,
Like the kind Hand that's stung with thankless Bees.
Of Old, when they were Uppermost
In Government, and rul'd the Roast,
Then Liberty of purest Conscience
To Royalists was arrant Non Sense;
They might not Preach, nor Pray, nor Teach,
And hardly had the Leave of Speech
In Publick, or in private Schools:
No, they were no such Gen'rous Fools.
45
And those rejoyce that have once Mourned;
Why, in the Name of solid Reason,
Should not the Whigs be out of Season?
For, to an Impartial By Stander,
What's Sauce for Goose is Sauce for Gander.
And this not half so hard a Bone is,
Nor so severe a Lex Talionis,
As their Barbarities have been
From martyr'd Laud's Time to the QUEEN;
Who gently reigns upon a changed Scene:
Who hath deny'd them nothing yet
If Liberty for Safety fit;
Yet what some Liberty do call,
That's Rope enough to hang 'em All.
46
As any QUEEN that ever Reigned,
With their vile Threats and desp'rate Libels
Sufficient to confound our Bibles;
Which tell 'em of their common Failing,
To bring no Accusation railing.
| In Imitation of Hudibras | |