Streams from Helicon Or, Poems On Various Subjects. In Three Parts. By Alexander Pennecuik ... The Second Edition. Enter'd in Stationer's Hall |
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 | Streams from Helicon |  |
Prayers said, Rolls call'd, a venerable Beech,
In Judgment strong, and eloquent in Speech,
Mov'd that four Members might not have a Vote,
The first was Knave, the second was a Sot;
The third a Rebell, and the fourth was worse,
An Atheist, who had never got Remorse:
The Facts were proven, they with Shame sent Home,
Four honest Trees elected in their Room.
To keep, said he, from a Tyranick Throne,
Let's first declare ours an elective Crown,
Let us be in a magna Charta fix'd,
No Safety where the Governments not mix'd:
The King's Prerogative must not devour
The Subjects Properties, but these secure;
Nor must we streach our Arms to grasp the Regal Power.
When weak or wicked Princes rule a State;
Slavery and Chains becomes the Subjects Fate.
You know we had a Monarch while he stood,
Wrote all our Laws in Characters of Blood:
Then chuse a Tree well vers'd in Forrest Laws,
Hath Strength and Courage to support our Cause;
Who knows the Institutions of the Wood,
Better indeed he be of Royal Blood:
Who'll keep the Coronation Oath he takes,
Boldly defend us from th'invading Ax.
In Judgment strong, and eloquent in Speech,
Mov'd that four Members might not have a Vote,
The first was Knave, the second was a Sot;
The third a Rebell, and the fourth was worse,
An Atheist, who had never got Remorse:
The Facts were proven, they with Shame sent Home,
Four honest Trees elected in their Room.
To keep, said he, from a Tyranick Throne,
Let's first declare ours an elective Crown,
Let us be in a magna Charta fix'd,
No Safety where the Governments not mix'd:
The King's Prerogative must not devour
The Subjects Properties, but these secure;
Nor must we streach our Arms to grasp the Regal Power.
88
Slavery and Chains becomes the Subjects Fate.
You know we had a Monarch while he stood,
Wrote all our Laws in Characters of Blood:
Then chuse a Tree well vers'd in Forrest Laws,
Hath Strength and Courage to support our Cause;
Who knows the Institutions of the Wood,
Better indeed he be of Royal Blood:
Who'll keep the Coronation Oath he takes,
Boldly defend us from th'invading Ax.
| Streams from Helicon | |