 | An Elegy to the infamous memory of Sr. F--- B--- |  |
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AN Elegy, &c.
Not the harsh Threats of Tyrants bearing Rule,
Nor Cattle-cloak'd Meekness of each cringing Fool
Shall shake Our Firmness, or divide That Love
Which the strong Ties of social Friendship prove.
Nor Cattle-cloak'd Meekness of each cringing Fool
Shall shake Our Firmness, or divide That Love
Which the strong Ties of social Friendship prove.
TO John Dickinson, Esq THE INCINIOUS AND LEARNED AUTHOR OF THE FARMER'S LETTERS, This Elegy is humbly Dedicated; As a sincere Testimony of the Author's Esteem and Respect for the MAN, Who has gloriously distinguished HIMSELF; By asserting the Rights and Liberties of AMERICA, In a Manner, that renders HIM an Honour to his Education, A Publick Blessing to his Country And will immortalize his Name with Renown, to the latest Ages of Time.
I.
When the high Insults of a T---t's Law,All Rules of Truth and Equity o'ersway:
With Hopes to keep in Slavery and Awe,
A People known too virtuous to obey.
II.
When Subjects griev'd petition for Redress,But find no Access to the R---l Ear:
Since Pimps destroy their Wishes of Success
And false, deceive, though Reason would appear.
III.
When Pride, Ambition, with the Stain of Lust,Base, flattering Idols of a transient Hour!
Strive to o'erwhelm a civil State, and burst
With bestial Gluts of Vanity and Power:
IV.
When Independents with deceitful Voice,To neighboring Christians meek Submission teach:
it REBELLION, that mankind rejoice,
To prostitute such doctrines as THEY preach?
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V.
When sordid Lust that Concubine of Power,Who deeply rowls in Luxury and Pride,
Impatient, grasps thus greedy to devour
The Life of FREEDOM, and in triumph ride
VI.
But when some base contaminated SoulFar worse than Brute in Nature or in Heart
Gives up the Truth to impious Controul,
And prides to act so scandalous a Part.
VII.
Shall then no just, no mediating Plan,Be form'd against such desolating Scheme:
To foil the Project, or condemn the Man,
Whose Country's Ruin is his greatest Aim!
VIII.
Who, but such Villain's Favourite or Friend,Would ere his well known Wickedness conceal?
The more his basest Actions they defend,
They still more secret Infamy reveal.
IX.
Lust to all Sense of Honour and Contempt,Proof against fears of aggravating Shame!
Though deep in Guilt, they daringly attempt
To wipe away its Consciousness and Stain.
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X.
But when the Guilt of Scandal and Disgrace,Blocks up the glorious Avenue to FAME:
It leaves eternal Misery on a Race,
Who bear their scornful Memory or Name.
XI.
O B---! great thy Villainy has been!Schem'd to destroy our Liberty and Peace:
The publick Eye attentively has seen
Thy base Endeavours, and has watch'd our Ease
XII.
Thou, wean'd from Love to every Thing humane,From honest Rules ingratefully dost swerve,
And thinking Truth thy Infamy or Bane,
Dost cheat a Sov'reign whom you're sworn to serve.
XIII.
Misguided thus by Villainy and Lyes,Those Seeds of Discord, Hatred, and Revenge!
Thou base, oblig'd our Sov'reign to despise
His loyal Subjects, and in Wrath avenge.
XIV.
Rais'd from low State a BEGGAR on the Earth,Thy Name through Life is tainted with Disgrace
Rever'd by Few for Eminence or Worth!
Despis'd by MOST, a Scandal to the Race!
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XV.
Though in this mean and despicable StateReserv'd, nor fit for Statesman or a Guide!
O strange Reserve! O Miracle of Fate!
That thou o'er free-born People should preside.
XVI.
That People too, whose Loyalty and Love,Stand high in ancient Memory of Time;
'Gainst whom, thou joy'st so tyrannous to prove,
Will with Contempt perpetuate thy Crime.
XVII.
Pleas'd with the Sound of baronetted Fame,Thou scarce can bear Mortality in View:
Nor think that injur'd LIBERTY will claim
Severest Justice, as a Villain's due.
XVIII.
But know vain Fool! that Title's a Disgrace,When inbred Vice the Conscience does controul,
Thy Country's Wrath thy Punishment shall raise,
Since thou hast dar'd to sacrifice the Whole
XIX.
Sworn to strict Union in fraternal LOVE,Resolv'd no Frowns shall drive US to OBEY:
No guileful Arts of Tyranny shall move
Out came Submission to its lawless Sway.
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XX.
Thou, Old in Sin! the vilest Course didst take,But Truth much wrong'd constrain'd thee to forbear;
And conquer'd all thy vain Attempts to break
The CHAIN which links our Unity and Care.
XXI.
So, when soul Minds degenerate by Use,They catch each Form of Malice in Disguise;
Conviction springs from Infamous Abuse,
And 'gainst Free States their Stratagems devise.
XXII.
Thou in thy Course too rapidly hast run,And didst a Gracious Sovereign deceive,
But now ere half thy cursed Work is done
Hast found him grown too jealous to believe.
XXIII.
Since thou must cease in Tyranny to reign,Say, does not Conscience sting thee with her Dart?
Whilst keen Remorses aggravate thy Pain,
And brood fresh Horrors round thy flinty Heart.
XXIV.
Such Minds in Life no Comfort can possess:Say, if when Pangs of Sorrow interpose,
Despair, Companion of the troubled breast
Has not intruded on thy soft Repose?
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XXV.
Bewail, vile Wretch! in penitential Tears,Past Time mispent to ruminate on Sin!
A Sinner's thought most horrible appears
When Guilt, like Snakes, lies gnawing him within.
XXVI.
Though, for Self Ends, the Baseness of thy Crime,A while lay dormant, and but known in Part,
Till Truth emerging from the Womb of Time
Betray'd the Malice of thy Brutal Heart.
XXVII.
What now avail thy Subtilty or Pride,Thy secret Friends to counsel or advise?
No Mediums false plain Enmity can hide,
Thy Love's but bare Profession in Disguise.
XXVIII.
Degraded Worth soon dwindles to Disgrace,When the Soul's meanness forwards such attempt:
No “Mask of Zeal” will Turpitude deface,
Or guard thy Name from popular Contempt.
XXIX.
Go thou but dare not with a LYE deceive,This thou hast try'd, but shamefully hast fail'd
For None mistrustful Credit will believe,
Since Vice seems on thy Character entail'd.
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XXX.
Go! then, entreat thy Sovereign to be kind,Or Death to snatch from temporary Woe
A Wretch, for Life most properly consign'd,
To constant Shame and Misery below!
XXXI.
If Justice should thy Wickedness connive,And banish thee, Disturber of our Ease!
Where, thou unhurt, thy Baseness may revive,
Go! welcom'd Exile from a Land of Peace!
XXXII.
Go! where Slave born Mahometans do dwell,Whose menial Souls in Servitude delight:
Then thou, (if Pleas of Ignorance prevail)
Base minded Man, may sacrifice their Right.
XXXIII.
But if rash Fate in Justice has reserv'd,Some secret Curse, thy Title to inherit
Be thou for this due Punishment preserv'd,
To beg thy Bread, as thou hast beg'd thy Merit
XXXIV.
Go! loaded deep with Curses on thy Head!To some dark Corner of the World repair,
Where the bright Sun no pleasant Beams can shed,
And speed thy Life in Horror and Despair.
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XXXV.
Implore Forgiveness of indulgent Heaven,Unless Delay this Favour has impair'd
By Sin, to which thou knowingly art given,
Almighty Vengeance thou hast boldly dar'd.
XXXVI.
Fly! to some distant Assylum or Clime,Far from the Sight of Christians or of Men!
Where Fame, unnotic'd like the Wastes of Time,
In the poor Praises of thy self must end.
XXXVII.
If thou canst find some secret Place below,Go where thy Meanness never has been known!
Retreat with all those Parasites you know,
And there erect in Majesty thy Throne.
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XXXVIII.
Lost in thy Sway of Avarice and Pride,Dependant Tools subservient to thy Laws:
Shall joy with thee ingloriously to hide
Truth, which was deem'd injurious to thy Cause:
XXXIX.
Through every Scene we ey'd each treacherous DeedSprung from the foul Contagion of Advice!
No more thy useless Proselytes we need
To mend an Act corrupted by thy Vice.
XL.
When publick Fame degenerates in Men,Whom sordid Views most sottishly beguile:
No Glimpse of Worth such Characters attend
Which the base Morals of their Life defile.
XLI.
When Conscience yielding to the tinsel Mind,All cursed Arts doth shamefully employ:
Improv'd in Sin, thus naturally inclin'd,
Our sacred Rights shall threaten to destroy.
XLII.
Rous'd by such Fears, ill Omens of Distress!Fair FREEDOM's Sons too jealous of her Foes:
Proud that her Cause shoul'd animate their Breast,
Unaw'd by thee, thy daring Threats oppose.
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XLIII.
May thou, vile Traytor to thy Country's Good!Whose Heart no Thoughts of Gratitude can bear:
When thou Life's doom'd Afflictions hast withstood,
In REALMS below the Lyar's portion share.
XLIV.
Pluto, in kindness to an injur'd Land,Pour forth thy Vengeance treasur'd up in Store;
Nor cool in Pity's Stream thy flaming Brand,
When victim'd Tyrants shall the same implore.
FORTY-FIVE.
B---, though thou of titled Fame may boast,Thy Soul shall pass from Memory and Mind:
And like the transient Shadow of a Ghost,
Leave not her Tracks of Infamy behind.
| An Elegy to the infamous memory of Sr. F--- B--- | |