 | The Sad Condition of a Distracted Kingdome |  |
“You Citizens of Sion, and blest Lords
“Constant possessours of that Grace and roome,
“VVhich we have lost by Heavens severest doome.
“You much deliberate; and of your Consults,
“VVhat other benefit, but delay results?
“Have you resolved that the Brittish Land
“Merits chastisement? Does your pleasure stand,
“It shall be punisht? Leave the manner how
“And meanes to me; only doe you allow.
“Nor sword, nor plague, nor famine, but all these
“By my invention shall bring miseries
“More then enough upon this Isle; I aske
“Commission: grant it; then be it my taske
“To act the Minister of Vengeance. VVayes
“I have innumerable: since Adams dayes
“I have conversed with his Of-spring: can
“Tell Arts, how to inveigle foolish Man,
“Make him trrnsgresse the precepts of his God;
“Violate all Lawes, then whip him with a Rod
“Sharper then Scorpions: bound up by himselfe,
The Court amaz'd at what the Stygian Elfe
Had boasted, bid him tell the manner how
Hee'd act it: they would his designes allow.
Nor should he doubt of their most firm assent
It should be voted in the Parliament.
Hell and the Devils capred at these words,
And with a hushing murmure thankt the Lords.
The Fiend erected with such ample leave,
Vnfolds how he would his inventions weave.
“Constant possessours of that Grace and roome,
“VVhich we have lost by Heavens severest doome.
“You much deliberate; and of your Consults,
“VVhat other benefit, but delay results?
“Have you resolved that the Brittish Land
“Merits chastisement? Does your pleasure stand,
“It shall be punisht? Leave the manner how
“And meanes to me; only doe you allow.
“Nor sword, nor plague, nor famine, but all these
“By my invention shall bring miseries
“More then enough upon this Isle; I aske
“Commission: grant it; then be it my taske
“To act the Minister of Vengeance. VVayes
“I have innumerable: since Adams dayes
“I have conversed with his Of-spring: can
“Tell Arts, how to inveigle foolish Man,
“Make him trrnsgresse the precepts of his God;
“Violate all Lawes, then whip him with a Rod
13
The Court amaz'd at what the Stygian Elfe
Had boasted, bid him tell the manner how
Hee'd act it: they would his designes allow.
Nor should he doubt of their most firm assent
It should be voted in the Parliament.
Hell and the Devils capred at these words,
And with a hushing murmure thankt the Lords.
The Fiend erected with such ample leave,
Vnfolds how he would his inventions weave.
| The Sad Condition of a Distracted Kingdome | |