 | Poems on Affairs of State |  |
132
The Miseries of England, from the Growing Power of her Domestick Enemies, 1701.
Albion
, disclose thy drousy Eyes, and see
The Bondage that surrounds thy Liberty;
Put on thy mourning Weeds, prepare to groan
Beneath that Fate thy Foes are hurry'ng on:
Thou hast not only those Abroad to fear,
But worse at Home that Favour's Badges wear;
Who fond of Honours lurk beneath the Throne,
And sacrifice thy Welfare to their own:
They envy Monarchy, thy Church they hate,
And are but flatt'ring Sycophants of State;
Who widen Discords, and Dissensions breed,
Yet are, by Querks, from common Justice freed;
Upheld by Brethren partial to their Cause,
T'abuse the Kingdom, and defy the Laws;
Rais'd for some secret Services in State,
From narrow Fortunes to be vastly Great.
These for new Wars may well express their hast,
Who throve so strangely in the fruitless last,
And Mercenary-like delight in Broils,
To fill their Coffers with the Kingdom's Spoils.
So those that live on Wrecks calm Weather hate,
Because they gain most when the Storm is great.
Nations in trouble, like to Ships distress'd,
Often by those that help them are oppress'd.
Statesmen, like Salvages, the Publick save,
And for small Service great Rewards will have.
The Bondage that surrounds thy Liberty;
Put on thy mourning Weeds, prepare to groan
Beneath that Fate thy Foes are hurry'ng on:
Thou hast not only those Abroad to fear,
But worse at Home that Favour's Badges wear;
Who fond of Honours lurk beneath the Throne,
And sacrifice thy Welfare to their own:
They envy Monarchy, thy Church they hate,
And are but flatt'ring Sycophants of State;
Who widen Discords, and Dissensions breed,
Yet are, by Querks, from common Justice freed;
Upheld by Brethren partial to their Cause,
T'abuse the Kingdom, and defy the Laws;
Rais'd for some secret Services in State,
From narrow Fortunes to be vastly Great.
These for new Wars may well express their hast,
Who throve so strangely in the fruitless last,
And Mercenary-like delight in Broils,
To fill their Coffers with the Kingdom's Spoils.
So those that live on Wrecks calm Weather hate,
Because they gain most when the Storm is great.
Nations in trouble, like to Ships distress'd,
Often by those that help them are oppress'd.
Statesmen, like Salvages, the Publick save,
And for small Service great Rewards will have.
Those who with Hands unbrib'd, and Hearts sincere,
'Twixt Prince and People in a Medium steer,
Preserve that Ballance which supports the State,
And makes the People Safe, and Monarch Great.
Such worthy Patriots merit our Esteem,
And shine like Jems about the Diadem,
Enjoying what they equally approve,
Their Prince's Favor, and their Country's Love.
'Twixt Prince and People in a Medium steer,
Preserve that Ballance which supports the State,
And makes the People Safe, and Monarch Great.
Such worthy Patriots merit our Esteem,
And shine like Jems about the Diadem,
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Their Prince's Favor, and their Country's Love.
But those aspiring Minions, who extend
Their Master's Pow'r, to serve their own by-End,
Beyond those Fences which the Laws have made,
That neither Part should t'other's Rights invade;
Confound that Concord in the Soul of Pow'r,
That makes the Whole harmoniously secure;
Filling each Subject's Heart with Discontent,
Weakning the pow'rful Frame of Government,
By straining all its Springs beyond their due extent.
So th'active Man, too prodigal of Strength,
Exerts his strenuous Sinews, till at length,
Aiming to show some wonderful Exploit,
Amazing to the fond Spectator's sight,
He breaks in the attempt some Nerve within,
And lamely leaves unfinish'd his Design;
Thus strains himself beyond just Nature's Laws,
And gains Contempt instead of vain Applause.
So fare ambitious Ministers of State,
Who stretch their Power to be unjustly Great.
Their Master's Pow'r, to serve their own by-End,
Beyond those Fences which the Laws have made,
That neither Part should t'other's Rights invade;
Confound that Concord in the Soul of Pow'r,
That makes the Whole harmoniously secure;
Filling each Subject's Heart with Discontent,
Weakning the pow'rful Frame of Government,
By straining all its Springs beyond their due extent.
So th'active Man, too prodigal of Strength,
Exerts his strenuous Sinews, till at length,
Aiming to show some wonderful Exploit,
Amazing to the fond Spectator's sight,
He breaks in the attempt some Nerve within,
And lamely leaves unfinish'd his Design;
Thus strains himself beyond just Nature's Laws,
And gains Contempt instead of vain Applause.
So fare ambitious Ministers of State,
Who stretch their Power to be unjustly Great.
Some from Obscurity start up on high,
And are made Great for none knows what, or why.
To ill Compliance brib'd with golden Baits,
Glean from the Publick Treasure large Estates;
And for dark Stratagems perform'd by stealth,
Glut their base Av'rice with the Nation's Wealth.
These are reserv'd to pacify the Rage
Of injur'd People in a prying Age;
And must, when sullen Times require, atone
For other's Ills as tamely as their own,
And with their Sanative Destruction heal
The painful Wounds the angry Publick feel.
And are made Great for none knows what, or why.
To ill Compliance brib'd with golden Baits,
Glean from the Publick Treasure large Estates;
And for dark Stratagems perform'd by stealth,
Glut their base Av'rice with the Nation's Wealth.
These are reserv'd to pacify the Rage
Of injur'd People in a prying Age;
And must, when sullen Times require, atone
For other's Ills as tamely as their own,
And with their Sanative Destruction heal
The painful Wounds the angry Publick feel.
Others born Great, more wary, and more wise,
Bulky in Wealth, and subtle in Advice,
Run with the Crown for Honor and for Gold,
But yet for Safety with their Country hold:
Betwixt them both their own By-ends persue,
By both much trusted, but to neither true;
From Post to Post they unsuspected slide,
And in one Station never long reside;
But in due Season, to oblige the State,
Make way for Favorites of a later Date.
Some forward Tools, who hasty to aspire,
Will yield to all their Monarch can desire;
And for unlawful Deeds obscurely done,
Are quickly rais'd and oft despis'd as soon:
Whilst those more cunning shift from Place to Place,
And still steer clear of Danger and Disgrace;
Yet glean and plunder safely as they move,
And raise their Minions thro Design not Love;
Who stand as Skreens that interrupt the Light,
To hide their Patrons Ills from human sight;
Labouring where e'er they come to bellow forth
My Lord's great Honour, Honesty and Worth;
What mighty things for th'Publick he has done,
What Universal Love his Deeds have won:
Whilst those that try my worthy Patriot find,
He's Courtier true, all Words, and those but Wind.
Bulky in Wealth, and subtle in Advice,
Run with the Crown for Honor and for Gold,
But yet for Safety with their Country hold:
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By both much trusted, but to neither true;
From Post to Post they unsuspected slide,
And in one Station never long reside;
But in due Season, to oblige the State,
Make way for Favorites of a later Date.
Some forward Tools, who hasty to aspire,
Will yield to all their Monarch can desire;
And for unlawful Deeds obscurely done,
Are quickly rais'd and oft despis'd as soon:
Whilst those more cunning shift from Place to Place,
And still steer clear of Danger and Disgrace;
Yet glean and plunder safely as they move,
And raise their Minions thro Design not Love;
Who stand as Skreens that interrupt the Light,
To hide their Patrons Ills from human sight;
Labouring where e'er they come to bellow forth
My Lord's great Honour, Honesty and Worth;
What mighty things for th'Publick he has done,
What Universal Love his Deeds have won:
Whilst those that try my worthy Patriot find,
He's Courtier true, all Words, and those but Wind.
Such Lords as these the hoodwink'd Nation fleece,
As if the People were their Sheep or Geese,
And they the Foxes that the Flocks betray,
Making th'unthinking Innocents their Prey.
These are the Men the Common-wealth abuse,
Plunder its Treasure, and their Power misuse;
To private Ends pervert their Publick Trust,
And for base Bribes submit to things unjust.
By their vast Fortunes we are Debtors made,
Of Sums too mighty to be nam'd or paid;
Whose growing Int'rest does so fast accrue,
The Nation scarce can raise it when its due.
By what strange Measures must we then prepare,
New Sinews for a fresh more vig'rous War;
Since Debts we owe are too profusely large,
Without the People's Murmurs to discharge?
Besides, if we project no wiser ways
T'apply and husband what the Publick raise,
How should old Debts be otherwise than due,
Since ev'ry Tax we raise begets a New?
As if the People were their Sheep or Geese,
And they the Foxes that the Flocks betray,
Making th'unthinking Innocents their Prey.
These are the Men the Common-wealth abuse,
Plunder its Treasure, and their Power misuse;
To private Ends pervert their Publick Trust,
And for base Bribes submit to things unjust.
By their vast Fortunes we are Debtors made,
Of Sums too mighty to be nam'd or paid;
Whose growing Int'rest does so fast accrue,
The Nation scarce can raise it when its due.
By what strange Measures must we then prepare,
New Sinews for a fresh more vig'rous War;
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Without the People's Murmurs to discharge?
Besides, if we project no wiser ways
T'apply and husband what the Publick raise,
How should old Debts be otherwise than due,
Since ev'ry Tax we raise begets a New?
What Man, who with the Eye of Reason sees,
Can justify Enormities like these?
Or what blind partial Ideot can plead,
That such Misconducts no Inspection need?
What Tool, but he who does his Country hate,
Would labour such Faults to extenuate;
Or strenuously oppose what's clear as Light,
To make such dark Intrigues of State look white?
What close clandestine Service can atone
For Ills like these to the whole Publick done?
Or who but Guilty Favorites make Delays
Of common Justice by uncommon Ways;
Whose very Friends their Crimes with Horror see,
Thro the dim Glass of Partiality:
Tho pleas'd and proud their Leaders are so great,
And busy Actors on the stage of State,
Yet the whole Faction some Concern must feel,
To see full Sharers play their Parts so ill;
Having no more in their Behalf to say,
But only plead th'Advantage of Delay,
Believing they have manag'd Things awry,
And done what Justice cannot justify;
Objecting, that alone the great Affair,
Relating to the new Impending War,
Does at this Juncture just Precedence claim,
And ought to be the Senate's only Aim;
Whilst such small Trifles unredrest should ly,
Or be at least defer'd till by and by,
And all such petty Faults neglected be,
Till some more proper Opportunity.
Can justify Enormities like these?
Or what blind partial Ideot can plead,
That such Misconducts no Inspection need?
What Tool, but he who does his Country hate,
Would labour such Faults to extenuate;
Or strenuously oppose what's clear as Light,
To make such dark Intrigues of State look white?
What close clandestine Service can atone
For Ills like these to the whole Publick done?
Or who but Guilty Favorites make Delays
Of common Justice by uncommon Ways;
Whose very Friends their Crimes with Horror see,
Thro the dim Glass of Partiality:
Tho pleas'd and proud their Leaders are so great,
And busy Actors on the stage of State,
Yet the whole Faction some Concern must feel,
To see full Sharers play their Parts so ill;
Having no more in their Behalf to say,
But only plead th'Advantage of Delay,
Believing they have manag'd Things awry,
And done what Justice cannot justify;
Objecting, that alone the great Affair,
Relating to the new Impending War,
Does at this Juncture just Precedence claim,
And ought to be the Senate's only Aim;
Whilst such small Trifles unredrest should ly,
Or be at least defer'd till by and by,
And all such petty Faults neglected be,
Till some more proper Opportunity.
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Wholesom Advice, and wisely urg'd by those,
Who side for Interest with Domestick Foes,
And frightning us with Foreign Ills to come,
Wound fain encourage those we find at home.
Shame on Forbearance! shall the Commonweal
Endure with Patience, Mischiefs that they feel,
And arm against those Ills we only fear,
Neglecting present Wrongs the Publick bear?
If Men in Trust shall sink the Nation's Aid,
And common Justice by a Trick evade:
If such a Latitude as this we give,
How can our Arms succeed, or Nation thrive?
What is't that made our Funds deficient prove,
And caus'd those Debts we cannot yet remove?
What is't of late prevented our Success,
And made France greater and old England less?
Why is the payment of the Fleet delay'd,
And why the Transport-Service yet unpay'd?
Why is the Army in such large Arrears,
That serv'd us in the late succesless Wars?
Who rais'd Estates miraculously soon,
And left these National Concerns undone?
Why not those Persons from their Posts remov'd,
By the last Senate blam'd, and disapprov'd?
And why not, if known guilty of a Fault,
Without delay to common Justice brought?
Neglect of such Misguidance in the State,
Brought Rome to Ruin which was once so great;
Her publick Treasure being misapply'd,
Forc'd her to stoop to those she once defy'd.
If such Abuses are excus'd so long,
Till Common Practice justifies the Wrong;
That careless Nation does it self betray,
Laying a Ground-work for its own Decay;
And like the Pellican expends its Blood,
To fledg a greedy, worthless, callow Brood.
Yet from some partial Penman have we heard,
Errors so small deserve not our Regard;
Or else that we such Trifles should defer,
To be the last dull Siftings of our Care.
Who side for Interest with Domestick Foes,
And frightning us with Foreign Ills to come,
Wound fain encourage those we find at home.
Shame on Forbearance! shall the Commonweal
Endure with Patience, Mischiefs that they feel,
And arm against those Ills we only fear,
Neglecting present Wrongs the Publick bear?
If Men in Trust shall sink the Nation's Aid,
And common Justice by a Trick evade:
If such a Latitude as this we give,
How can our Arms succeed, or Nation thrive?
What is't that made our Funds deficient prove,
And caus'd those Debts we cannot yet remove?
What is't of late prevented our Success,
And made France greater and old England less?
Why is the payment of the Fleet delay'd,
And why the Transport-Service yet unpay'd?
Why is the Army in such large Arrears,
That serv'd us in the late succesless Wars?
Who rais'd Estates miraculously soon,
And left these National Concerns undone?
Why not those Persons from their Posts remov'd,
By the last Senate blam'd, and disapprov'd?
And why not, if known guilty of a Fault,
Without delay to common Justice brought?
Neglect of such Misguidance in the State,
Brought Rome to Ruin which was once so great;
Her publick Treasure being misapply'd,
Forc'd her to stoop to those she once defy'd.
If such Abuses are excus'd so long,
Till Common Practice justifies the Wrong;
That careless Nation does it self betray,
Laying a Ground-work for its own Decay;
And like the Pellican expends its Blood,
To fledg a greedy, worthless, callow Brood.
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Errors so small deserve not our Regard;
Or else that we such Trifles should defer,
To be the last dull Siftings of our Care.
In the late Wars they cannot but allow,
That France was nothing near so strong as now;
The fatal Union which so much we dread,
Tho long ago foreseen, was then unmade:
And wealthy England, when the War began,
More rich in Coin, and numerous in Men,
With Voice united cry'd, To Arms, To Arms,
And every Pulse beat nothing but Alarms.
The People's Hearts and Purses open lay,
Some fond to fight and others free to pay;
The forward Rabble needed no Decoy,
But freely enter'd, and embark'd with Joy.
Each tipling Hero o'er his Belch would swear,
He'd have a Vineyard of his own next Year;
And doubted not but so far to advance,
That in a Cup of Soldier's Cordial Nants,
He'd drink to England in the midst of France.
Strong foresight of Success the Nation fed,
And mighty hopes the Common People led;
The Kingdom rich, and ev'ry Native free
To hazard all to curb French Tyranny.
Thus wanting neither Mony, Men nor Will,
The faithless French to conquer, or to kill;
But all things made a kind auspicious show,
And look'd more fortunate by much than now:
Threat'ning our miscall'd cow'rdly Enemy,
With sad Destruction both by Land and Sea.
What then obstructed the Designs we laid,
That our great Hopes no better Issue had?
What hinder'd us we humbl'd not our Foes,
Nor then effected what we now propose?
When the whole Kingdom richer was by far,
And ev'ry Genius well inclin'd to War.
That France was nothing near so strong as now;
The fatal Union which so much we dread,
Tho long ago foreseen, was then unmade:
And wealthy England, when the War began,
More rich in Coin, and numerous in Men,
With Voice united cry'd, To Arms, To Arms,
And every Pulse beat nothing but Alarms.
The People's Hearts and Purses open lay,
Some fond to fight and others free to pay;
The forward Rabble needed no Decoy,
But freely enter'd, and embark'd with Joy.
Each tipling Hero o'er his Belch would swear,
He'd have a Vineyard of his own next Year;
And doubted not but so far to advance,
That in a Cup of Soldier's Cordial Nants,
He'd drink to England in the midst of France.
Strong foresight of Success the Nation fed,
And mighty hopes the Common People led;
The Kingdom rich, and ev'ry Native free
To hazard all to curb French Tyranny.
Thus wanting neither Mony, Men nor Will,
The faithless French to conquer, or to kill;
But all things made a kind auspicious show,
And look'd more fortunate by much than now:
Threat'ning our miscall'd cow'rdly Enemy,
With sad Destruction both by Land and Sea.
What then obstructed the Designs we laid,
That our great Hopes no better Issue had?
What hinder'd us we humbl'd not our Foes,
Nor then effected what we now propose?
When the whole Kingdom richer was by far,
And ev'ry Genius well inclin'd to War.
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What then obstructed our desir'd Success,
But some Misconducts we may now redress?
What made our long expensive Wars prove vain,
And leave us worse than if they'd ne'er began?
What made us give the Gallick Tyrant Breath,
To gain his Ends by Ferdinando's Death?
Thus by a Peace mis-tim'd we sooth'd our Fate,
And made th'aspiring Foe just twice as Great.
What made our Taxes, tho profusely large,
Always too slender to support the Charge?
But some Misconducts we may now redress?
What made our long expensive Wars prove vain,
And leave us worse than if they'd ne'er began?
What made us give the Gallick Tyrant Breath,
To gain his Ends by Ferdinando's Death?
Thus by a Peace mis-tim'd we sooth'd our Fate,
And made th'aspiring Foe just twice as Great.
What made our Taxes, tho profusely large,
Always too slender to support the Charge?
Such worthless Numbers gleaning from our Funds
Private Rewards, the Publick Int'rest wounds.
Some climb to Posts of Profit misbestow'd,
And, hasty to be Great, grow rich by Fraud:
Others by begging private Boons and Grants,
Swallow what should relieve the Nation's Wants.
Thus from small Merits make a wondrous Rise,
And become huge State-Monsters in a trice:
Hatch'd up and fledg'd beneath a bounteous Throne,
From callow Wrens to mighty Eagles grown:
Having no Herald their Deserts to prove,
But the large Badges of Imperial Love.
Such Men as these the Nation's Wealth ingross,
Gaining vast Riches by the Kingdom's Loss.
Private Rewards, the Publick Int'rest wounds.
Some climb to Posts of Profit misbestow'd,
And, hasty to be Great, grow rich by Fraud:
Others by begging private Boons and Grants,
Swallow what should relieve the Nation's Wants.
Thus from small Merits make a wondrous Rise,
And become huge State-Monsters in a trice:
Hatch'd up and fledg'd beneath a bounteous Throne,
From callow Wrens to mighty Eagles grown:
Having no Herald their Deserts to prove,
But the large Badges of Imperial Love.
Such Men as these the Nation's Wealth ingross,
Gaining vast Riches by the Kingdom's Loss.
And shall we now a War like Madmen make,
With these Domestick Dangers at our Back?
Shall mercenary Tools in Trust remain,
To cheat the Kingdom o'er and o'er again?
Must we run headlong to a dubious War,
To make rich Minions, and our Country poor?
And ne'er look back on those Enormities
That caus'd our Debts, and our Deficiencies?
Which did our Arms obstruct, our Measures break,
When we were stronger, and our Foes more weak?
Pray, What Success can we in War expect,
If we those Ills as frivolous reject,
Which stain'd our Conduct, & our Arms disgrac'd,
By rend'ring us succesless in the last?
With these Domestick Dangers at our Back?
Shall mercenary Tools in Trust remain,
To cheat the Kingdom o'er and o'er again?
Must we run headlong to a dubious War,
To make rich Minions, and our Country poor?
And ne'er look back on those Enormities
That caus'd our Debts, and our Deficiencies?
Which did our Arms obstruct, our Measures break,
When we were stronger, and our Foes more weak?
Pray, What Success can we in War expect,
If we those Ills as frivolous reject,
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By rend'ring us succesless in the last?
One Cause of these did our late Ends prevent,
Our Foes great Strength, or our Mismanagement:
If our Misconduct, we should then take care
To mend our Faults before we make the War;
Remove those selfish mercenary Props
That stop'd our Speed, and mar'd our mighty Hopes.
Or when our Swords shall for the Laurel strive,
What Prospect can unbiass'd Reason give,
That England with her Arms shall now do more,
And finish what she left undone before?
No, we must first those Obstacles remove,
That made our late long Contest fruitless prove.
Our Foes great Strength, or our Mismanagement:
If our Misconduct, we should then take care
To mend our Faults before we make the War;
Remove those selfish mercenary Props
That stop'd our Speed, and mar'd our mighty Hopes.
Or when our Swords shall for the Laurel strive,
What Prospect can unbiass'd Reason give,
That England with her Arms shall now do more,
And finish what she left undone before?
No, we must first those Obstacles remove,
That made our late long Contest fruitless prove.
If our Foes Strength superior was to ours,
And stem'd the Force of our United Pow'rs;
And we too feeble for our great Design,
When we abounded most in Men and Coin;
And France, as 'tis believ'd, now stronger grown,
By its late Union with the Spanish Throne:
'Tis then high time our Fury should abate,
For no Success on our Attempts can wait,
Except kind Providence proves our Confederate.
And stem'd the Force of our United Pow'rs;
And we too feeble for our great Design,
When we abounded most in Men and Coin;
And France, as 'tis believ'd, now stronger grown,
By its late Union with the Spanish Throne:
'Tis then high time our Fury should abate,
For no Success on our Attempts can wait,
Except kind Providence proves our Confederate.
The Coffee-Politician, grave and wise,
To this objects, and warmly thus replys:
What if the French by Spain are stronger made,
We're still superior by the German Aid!
And if but England, with a gen'rous Heart,
Would at one push her utmost Strength exert,
We might o'er France be Conquerors with ease,
And make the Tyrant truckle as we please.
To this objects, and warmly thus replys:
What if the French by Spain are stronger made,
We're still superior by the German Aid!
And if but England, with a gen'rous Heart,
Would at one push her utmost Strength exert,
We might o'er France be Conquerors with ease,
And make the Tyrant truckle as we please.
But should the Nation this Advice receive,
And yield the utmost she at once could give,
Yet not accomplish what we now project,
And humble France so soon as we expect,
But further Strength, and more Supplies shall need,
Than we can raise t'effect the Glorious Deed;
What Mis'ries must our vain Attempts attend,
If Fortune crown not with Success the End?
Into what Slav'ry must the Nation fall,
If to no purpose we should spend our All?
Contempt and Poverty we then should find,
Instead of Spoils and Trophies we design'd.
Then our long Contest for a time must cease,
And fruitless end in an Inglorious Peace.
Who first want Mony, first must sheath their Swords,
For War no Forma Pauperis affords:
Therefore let's think of Means, e'er we proceed
To raise Supplies so great a War must need.
And yield the utmost she at once could give,
Yet not accomplish what we now project,
And humble France so soon as we expect,
But further Strength, and more Supplies shall need,
Than we can raise t'effect the Glorious Deed;
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If Fortune crown not with Success the End?
Into what Slav'ry must the Nation fall,
If to no purpose we should spend our All?
Contempt and Poverty we then should find,
Instead of Spoils and Trophies we design'd.
Then our long Contest for a time must cease,
And fruitless end in an Inglorious Peace.
Who first want Mony, first must sheath their Swords,
For War no Forma Pauperis affords:
Therefore let's think of Means, e'er we proceed
To raise Supplies so great a War must need.
One pow'rful Party has declar'd for Arms,
And ev'ry Factious Pamphlet sounds Alarms:
But above all, they show the greatest hast,
Who by foul Dealings prosper'd in the last,
And would involve us headlong in a War,
To thrive by Crimes which yet unpunish'd are;
Who furnish'd France in the late Wars with Lead
For Ball, to knock our Army on the head:
Thus rais'd vast Riches by such Ills as these,
And dealt, unpunish'd, with our Enemies.
These are the Wolves who so impatient are,
And such a hideous howling keep for War;
Stretching their noisy Throats where e'er they run,
Crying Arm, Arm, or England thou'rt undone.
And ev'ry Factious Pamphlet sounds Alarms:
But above all, they show the greatest hast,
Who by foul Dealings prosper'd in the last,
And would involve us headlong in a War,
To thrive by Crimes which yet unpunish'd are;
Who furnish'd France in the late Wars with Lead
For Ball, to knock our Army on the head:
Thus rais'd vast Riches by such Ills as these,
And dealt, unpunish'd, with our Enemies.
These are the Wolves who so impatient are,
And such a hideous howling keep for War;
Stretching their noisy Throats where e'er they run,
Crying Arm, Arm, or England thou'rt undone.
Thus a Necessity they strongly plead,
To break that Peace so lately we agreed;
Which if delay'd had strengthen'd our Allies,
Show'd France less Pow'rful, & our selves more Wise.
By Arms prevented what without prevail'd,
And stop'd that War for Ages now intail'd.
Europe has long her Observation made,
Of what Designs her prosp'rous Foe has laid:
Our present State might eas'ly be foreseen,
And by right Measures might have hindred been.
The fatal Union should have prov'd but weak,
Which now requires a vigorous War to break.
To break that Peace so lately we agreed;
Which if delay'd had strengthen'd our Allies,
Show'd France less Pow'rful, & our selves more Wise.
By Arms prevented what without prevail'd,
And stop'd that War for Ages now intail'd.
Europe has long her Observation made,
Of what Designs her prosp'rous Foe has laid:
Our present State might eas'ly be foreseen,
And by right Measures might have hindred been.
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Which now requires a vigorous War to break.
But since our Foes to such a height are grown,
From our Neglect, or Conduct of their own;
No matter which or whether made thus great,
By Chance, Industry, or Decree of Fate:
Yet from the Danger of their Pride and Pow'r
We're farthest off, and stand the most secure;
And therefore should be careful how we run
Rashly to meet those Mischiefs we may shun;
But with due Patience and Discretion wait
Till our Rich Neighbours, more expos'd to Fate,
Shall crave our Aid, to free them from their Fears,
On the same Terms they lately gave us theirs.
We were the Suff'rers, they Advantage made,
And little less than all the Charge we paid,
Besides a liberal Present for their useless Aid.
Which in their Bank, Rich as an Indian Mine,
Lies bag'd and bury'd close in English Coin.
From our Neglect, or Conduct of their own;
No matter which or whether made thus great,
By Chance, Industry, or Decree of Fate:
Yet from the Danger of their Pride and Pow'r
We're farthest off, and stand the most secure;
And therefore should be careful how we run
Rashly to meet those Mischiefs we may shun;
But with due Patience and Discretion wait
Till our Rich Neighbours, more expos'd to Fate,
Shall crave our Aid, to free them from their Fears,
On the same Terms they lately gave us theirs.
We were the Suff'rers, they Advantage made,
And little less than all the Charge we paid,
Besides a liberal Present for their useless Aid.
Which in their Bank, Rich as an Indian Mine,
Lies bag'd and bury'd close in English Coin.
England be wise, and make thy self amends,
Return the costly Favours of thy Friends;
Let now thy Justice to thy Self be seen,
And be as kind as they to Us have been;
Neither be aw'd, or yet by Flatt'ries drawn,
Tho our Foes threaten, and our Neighbours fawn,
To call a distant Evil on our Heads,
And take upon our selves what Holland dreads:
But make the Charge, e'er we the War begin,
Just equal to the Danger we are in;
And if assist our Friends with further Aid,
To be allow'd, and that Expence repay'd.
For why should we, that have least Cause to fear,
Defend a Neighbour whom the Danger's near;
And we endure the Toil, and pay the Cost,
When they, without our Help, must needs be lost?
Return the costly Favours of thy Friends;
Let now thy Justice to thy Self be seen,
And be as kind as they to Us have been;
Neither be aw'd, or yet by Flatt'ries drawn,
Tho our Foes threaten, and our Neighbours fawn,
To call a distant Evil on our Heads,
And take upon our selves what Holland dreads:
But make the Charge, e'er we the War begin,
Just equal to the Danger we are in;
And if assist our Friends with further Aid,
To be allow'd, and that Expence repay'd.
For why should we, that have least Cause to fear,
Defend a Neighbour whom the Danger's near;
And we endure the Toil, and pay the Cost,
When they, without our Help, must needs be lost?
First pay our Debts, and we shall see how far
We're able to maintain a vig'rous War,
And ev'ry fatal Obstacle remove,
That made our Taxes so deficient prove;
Or we shall toil beneath a tiresom Weight,
And but with half our English Courage fight,
Like Tinkers Dogs, with Budgets on their Backs,
Or Carriers Horses laden with their Packs.
Oppressions unforeseen we soon shall feel,
And with hard Dealers we shall hardly deal:
Weary of War repent our lavish'd Pounds,
And court Balsamick Peace to heal our Wounds.
We're able to maintain a vig'rous War,
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That made our Taxes so deficient prove;
Or we shall toil beneath a tiresom Weight,
And but with half our English Courage fight,
Like Tinkers Dogs, with Budgets on their Backs,
Or Carriers Horses laden with their Packs.
Oppressions unforeseen we soon shall feel,
And with hard Dealers we shall hardly deal:
Weary of War repent our lavish'd Pounds,
And court Balsamick Peace to heal our Wounds.
But since such Motives of a speedy War,
On every side engagingly appear,
That as our fierce impatient Heroes say,
Both Shame and Danger must attend Delay;
Our forward Nation no Expence must grudg,
To save our wiser kind Allies the Dutch;
And next revenge the great Dishonour done
By the French Tyrant to the English Throne:
Therefore, good People, since for cause well known,
England's sharp Sword a second time is drawn,
'Tis dangerous now to dote upon your Coin,
Your love of Wealth may baulk the great Design.
Millions are Sinews that exert the Sword,
Therefore Supplies without regret afford;
Bullet in War is grown a Modern Cheat,
Silver, not Lead, must do the mighty Feat,
Mony must bless our Arms, and our Success compleat.
Therefore your Aid most willingly impart,
And draw your Pursestrings with a gen'rous Heart.
What you're assess'd with chearful Spirits give,
Good Will makes every thing the better thrive.
On every side engagingly appear,
That as our fierce impatient Heroes say,
Both Shame and Danger must attend Delay;
Our forward Nation no Expence must grudg,
To save our wiser kind Allies the Dutch;
And next revenge the great Dishonour done
By the French Tyrant to the English Throne:
Therefore, good People, since for cause well known,
England's sharp Sword a second time is drawn,
'Tis dangerous now to dote upon your Coin,
Your love of Wealth may baulk the great Design.
Millions are Sinews that exert the Sword,
Therefore Supplies without regret afford;
Bullet in War is grown a Modern Cheat,
Silver, not Lead, must do the mighty Feat,
Mony must bless our Arms, and our Success compleat.
Therefore your Aid most willingly impart,
And draw your Pursestrings with a gen'rous Heart.
What you're assess'd with chearful Spirits give,
Good Will makes every thing the better thrive.
Besides, consider, tho the Tax runs high,
Just at this Juncture for a large Supply;
War cannot always last, 'twill one day cease,
And if not end in Conquest, 'twill in Peace;
And Peace alone in ev'ry good Man's Sense,
Is held a Blessing worth a War's Expence.
What Niggard then can at a War repine,
Carr'd on with such a peaceable Design?
Besides, what Albumazar can foresee,
What the blest Issue of our Arms may be?
Who knows but we may force aspiring France
To low'r the Prizes of her Cordial Nants,
And cause French Claret to become less dear
In England, than our home-brew'd Ale and Beer?
For certain ev'ry Englishman 'twould please,
To see our Quarrels end in such a Peace,
That would produce at last such glorious Days as these.
Just at this Juncture for a large Supply;
War cannot always last, 'twill one day cease,
And if not end in Conquest, 'twill in Peace;
And Peace alone in ev'ry good Man's Sense,
Is held a Blessing worth a War's Expence.
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Carr'd on with such a peaceable Design?
Besides, what Albumazar can foresee,
What the blest Issue of our Arms may be?
Who knows but we may force aspiring France
To low'r the Prizes of her Cordial Nants,
And cause French Claret to become less dear
In England, than our home-brew'd Ale and Beer?
For certain ev'ry Englishman 'twould please,
To see our Quarrels end in such a Peace,
That would produce at last such glorious Days as these.
| Poems on Affairs of State | |