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238
1712
The Land-Leviathan; or, Modern Hydra: in Burlesque Verse, By way of Letter to a Friend. [Motto] Quae Genus. London: Printed for John Morphew near Stationers-Hall. 1712. Price 3d. [Bodl.]
pp. 3-24. o.c.
Hudibrastic.
The "Land-Monster" which the poet attacks is named
both
"Antimonarchist" and "Anarchy," and it
consists of
those several elements in his society which resist "Government." The
discursive satire includes many groups, but inevitably concentrates on
nonconformists and whigs:
These all conjoin'd, as if One Man,
Compose this vast Leviathan;
And wou'd with Gospel Texts dispense,
As Stumbling-Blocks of great Offence;
Because the Holy Pen-Men lay
No Shackles on the Word Obey;
(Word to two sorts of Folks abomin-Able,
to Whigs and Married-Women;)
But Part with Passive Levites take,
Who Suff'ring preach for Conscience-sake.
That Modern Saints will do or act
For Conscience-sake, is true in Fact;
Down Scruples, when the Zealot warm is,
He'll act for Conscience Vi et Armis,
Who-e'er forbids; but Suffering
For Conscience-sake's another thing,
A Case in which (their Due to render)
Their Consciences are truly tender: . . . [pp. 8-9]
These all conjoin'd, as if One Man,
Compose this vast Leviathan;
And wou'd with Gospel Texts dispense,
As Stumbling-Blocks of great Offence;
Because the Holy Pen-Men lay
No Shackles on the Word Obey;
(Word to two sorts of Folks abomin-Able,
to Whigs and Married-Women;)
But Part with Passive Levites take,
Who Suff'ring preach for Conscience-sake.
That Modern Saints will do or act
For Conscience-sake, is true in Fact;
Down Scruples, when the Zealot warm is,
He'll act for Conscience Vi et Armis,
Who-e'er forbids; but Suffering
For Conscience-sake's another thing,
A Case in which (their Due to render)
Their Consciences are truly tender: . . . [pp. 8-9]
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