 | Pierides |  |
54
37. Three Friends.
1
Theer certain friends (whom fortune did exposeTo many harms and dangers,
And circumvented with a world of foes;
Some neighbours, others strangers,)
2
VVell blest with vigour, and prepar'd with arms,And stedfastly conjoin'd
VVith resolution to oppose all harms,
VVith one entire mind.
3
(Their minds thus melted into one) they wentVVith fury, to resist
Each stop that stood their projects to prevent,
And each Antagonist.
4
Nor did success prove poorer unto these,Then 't was fore-doom'd to do:
For many a one they shackled by degrees,
And many a one they slew.
5
Nor did their thirsty swords forbear to spillThe vitals of their foes;
Nor sheath their bloody jaws in scabbards, till
There was no more t' oppose.
6
Now all is won, and every prize their own,55
(All the extinsick trouble being gone)
VVith native peace and rest.
7
But pride (the darling of good fortune) sprung(Arm'd with desire of strife)
These glorious Champions, and these friends among;
And spoil'd their friendly life.
8
Nor would it vanish, till it had untwistedThe knots once love had ti'd;
And now each friend his bosom-friend resisted,
till they were all destroy'd.
The Moral.
These trusty friends three Nations were, well knownTo be subordinate to a single Crown;
And while they lov'd, the world could not out-vie
But their intestin hate did soon destroy them.
Intrinsick strife, and home bred contradiction,
Are the next road to ruine and affliction.
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