University of Virginia Library

A Character of the English.

In Allusion to Tacit. de Vit. Agric.

The Free-born English, Generous and Wise,
Hate Chains, but do not Government despise:
Rights of the Crown, Tribute and Taxes, they
When Lawfully Exacted, freely pay.
Force they abhor, and Wrong they scorn to bear,
More guided by their Judgment than their Fear;
Justice with them is never held severe.
Here Power by Tyranny was never got;
Laws may perhaps Ensnare them, Force cannot:
Rash Councils here, have still the same Effect;
The surest way to Reign is to protect.
Kings are least safe in their unbounded Will,
Joyn'd with the Wretch'd Power of doing ill.
Forsaken most when they're most Absolute;
Laws guard the Man, and only bind the Brute:
To Force that Guard, and with the worst to joyn,
Can never be a prudent Kings design;
What King would chuse to be a Cataline?
Break his own Laws, stake an unquestion'd Throne,
Conspire with Vassals to Usurp his own;
'Tis rather some base Favourites Vile pretence,
To Tyrannize at the wrong'd King's expence.
Let France grow Proud, beneath the Tyrants Lust,
While the Rackt People crawl and lick the Dust:
The mighty Genious of this Isle disdains
Ambitious Slavery and Golden Chains.
England to servile Yoke did ne'er bow,
What Conquerours ne'er presum'd, who dares do now.
Roman nor Norman ever could pretend
To have Enslav'd, but made this Isle their Friend.