A Journey to Hell or, a Visit Paid to the Devil. A Poem [by Edward Ward] |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. | CANTO IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
 | A Journey to Hell |  |
17
CANTO IV.
A Train of vicious Priests did first draw near,
Guarded as Culprits to a Sessions-Bar;
Some in long Cloaks, and Gowns, great Coats and Bands,
With brainless Heads, grave Looks, and close clinch'd Hands.
For Spirits, by report of old, appear
In the same Shape they did, when living were:
Or else when Goblings, being vex'd and crost,
At Midnight rove from Pillar unto Post,
How should the frighted Bumpkin know his Neighbour's Ghost?
A pratling Devil rises, and at large,
Opens before the Court this following Charge.
Guarded as Culprits to a Sessions-Bar;
Some in long Cloaks, and Gowns, great Coats and Bands,
With brainless Heads, grave Looks, and close clinch'd Hands.
For Spirits, by report of old, appear
In the same Shape they did, when living were:
Or else when Goblings, being vex'd and crost,
At Midnight rove from Pillar unto Post,
How should the frighted Bumpkin know his Neighbour's Ghost?
A pratling Devil rises, and at large,
Opens before the Court this following Charge.
The Pris'ners at the Bar, nor learn'd, nor wise,
Nor having Grace of Heaven before their Eyes,
Have with a carnal Weapon, call'd the Tongue,
Abus'd what's Righteous, and maintain'd what's Wrong;
Wounding Religion, and oppos'd the Truth,
And with their Whimsies maim'd and crippl'd both.
Also by Laziness and Looseness shew,
They ne'er would practice what they taught or knew;
But by their Lives on Earth made Mortals think,
Their only Duty was to Eat and Drink.
On Pigs and Geese luxuriously they fed,
By humble Peasants at their Groundcel's laid;
Who were themselves content with Bread and Cheese,
Small-Beer, Skim-Milk, and such like things as these,
Yet labour'd hard to keep their wanton Guides in Ease.
Whilst they Carous'd, and did on Dainties Dine,
Squeesing each Bigots Cupboard, and his Vine,
As if their God was Meat, and Paradise was Wine.
And when they'd rais'd their Lust by luscious Food,
To bless with more encrease the Pious Brood,
And kiss the Godly Dame was held divinely Good.
Further they would with Things unjust comply
For Gain, and ask no other reason why:
Preach Pro and Con, with any Faction side,
To gain their Ends, and gratifie their Pride;
Yet made the Ign'rant by their Cant believe,
They could assurance of Salvation give,
To all that pin'd their Faith upon their Pastor's Sleeve:
The Laws they taught their very Lives defy'd,
Enjoying all to others they deny'd.
The Rich they envy'd and the Poor abus'd,
Extolling Charity, but none they us'd:
Rail'd at the Miser, and his rusty hoard,
Declar'd how Charity's in Heaven stor'd,
Yet never lent themselves one Peny to the Lord,
But did in riotous Excesses live,
Coveting all things, yet would nothing give.
Nor having Grace of Heaven before their Eyes,
Have with a carnal Weapon, call'd the Tongue,
Abus'd what's Righteous, and maintain'd what's Wrong;
Wounding Religion, and oppos'd the Truth,
And with their Whimsies maim'd and crippl'd both.
Also by Laziness and Looseness shew,
They ne'er would practice what they taught or knew;
But by their Lives on Earth made Mortals think,
Their only Duty was to Eat and Drink.
On Pigs and Geese luxuriously they fed,
By humble Peasants at their Groundcel's laid;
Who were themselves content with Bread and Cheese,
Small-Beer, Skim-Milk, and such like things as these,
Yet labour'd hard to keep their wanton Guides in Ease.
18
Squeesing each Bigots Cupboard, and his Vine,
As if their God was Meat, and Paradise was Wine.
And when they'd rais'd their Lust by luscious Food,
To bless with more encrease the Pious Brood,
And kiss the Godly Dame was held divinely Good.
Further they would with Things unjust comply
For Gain, and ask no other reason why:
Preach Pro and Con, with any Faction side,
To gain their Ends, and gratifie their Pride;
Yet made the Ign'rant by their Cant believe,
They could assurance of Salvation give,
To all that pin'd their Faith upon their Pastor's Sleeve:
The Laws they taught their very Lives defy'd,
Enjoying all to others they deny'd.
The Rich they envy'd and the Poor abus'd,
Extolling Charity, but none they us'd:
Rail'd at the Miser, and his rusty hoard,
Declar'd how Charity's in Heaven stor'd,
Yet never lent themselves one Peny to the Lord,
But did in riotous Excesses live,
Coveting all things, yet would nothing give.
As walking in the upper World one Day,
A Lame poor Wretch stood begging in their way;
Great were his Wants, but their Neglects were such,
He noch'd down nineteen Teachers on his Crutch,
On whom thro' Heav'n he did for succour call,
But got not one small Alms amongst 'em all.
The Cripple turn'd to's mumping Mate, says he;
If Charity, alas, be Heaven's Key,
How will these sable Souls admittance get,
From whom we ne'er obtain'd one Farthing yet.
Poh, says the other, I have beg'd of many,
When young I was, but never got one Peny;
And now I've learn'd more Wit than e'er to beg of any.
A Lame poor Wretch stood begging in their way;
Great were his Wants, but their Neglects were such,
He noch'd down nineteen Teachers on his Crutch,
On whom thro' Heav'n he did for succour call,
But got not one small Alms amongst 'em all.
19
If Charity, alas, be Heaven's Key,
How will these sable Souls admittance get,
From whom we ne'er obtain'd one Farthing yet.
Poh, says the other, I have beg'd of many,
When young I was, but never got one Peny;
And now I've learn'd more Wit than e'er to beg of any.
The Hypocrite they damn'd, and set at nought,
Yet play'd the same thro' ev'ry Hour they taught;
With Eyes turn'd up, as a Religious Grace,
They daily flatter'd Heaven to its Face;
And ev'ry Name of Lord they bawl'd aloud,
More to amuse, than to instruct the Crowd.
When all their thoughtless Nonsence spoke beside,
If by the touch of common Reason try'd,
Was something that just nothing signify'd,
The Doctrine of Forgiveness would they give;
But injur'd once, revenge it whilst they live:
Many commit, but no Affronts would bear;
And when provok'd, they so Contentious were,
That with Stiff-Necks, and Hearts as hard as Rocks,
Rather than lose an Egg, they'd spend an Ox.
Deliv'ring each poor En'my, to the Jaws
Of that wild Monster the devouring Laws:
Where Justice is too oft so dearly bought,
The Wrong's most cheap where Justice ne'er is sought.
These are the Ills for which they're hither sent,
By Heav'ns Decree to receive Punishment;
Therefore, my Lord, what now remains for you,
Is to award such Pains as are their due.
Yet play'd the same thro' ev'ry Hour they taught;
With Eyes turn'd up, as a Religious Grace,
They daily flatter'd Heaven to its Face;
And ev'ry Name of Lord they bawl'd aloud,
More to amuse, than to instruct the Crowd.
When all their thoughtless Nonsence spoke beside,
If by the touch of common Reason try'd,
Was something that just nothing signify'd,
The Doctrine of Forgiveness would they give;
But injur'd once, revenge it whilst they live:
Many commit, but no Affronts would bear;
And when provok'd, they so Contentious were,
That with Stiff-Necks, and Hearts as hard as Rocks,
Rather than lose an Egg, they'd spend an Ox.
Deliv'ring each poor En'my, to the Jaws
Of that wild Monster the devouring Laws:
Where Justice is too oft so dearly bought,
The Wrong's most cheap where Justice ne'er is sought.
These are the Ills for which they're hither sent,
By Heav'ns Decree to receive Punishment;
Therefore, my Lord, what now remains for you,
Is to award such Pains as are their due.
20
The Judge arising did his Task assume,
And gravely standing thus pronounc'd their Doom:
Altho', says he, in diff'rent Robes you came,
I find your Ills are equally the same:
I decree therefore you alike shall feel,
A Tythe of all the Punishments in Hell.
And as you, when you did on Earth reside,
The Poor neglected, who on Alms rely'd,
So shall you Mercy crave, but always be deny'd.
They nothing had on their behalfs to say,
But whimper'd, and by Fiends were drag'd away.
And gravely standing thus pronounc'd their Doom:
Altho', says he, in diff'rent Robes you came,
I find your Ills are equally the same:
I decree therefore you alike shall feel,
A Tythe of all the Punishments in Hell.
And as you, when you did on Earth reside,
The Poor neglected, who on Alms rely'd,
So shall you Mercy crave, but always be deny'd.
They nothing had on their behalfs to say,
But whimper'd, and by Fiends were drag'd away.
| A Journey to Hell | |