 | A Collection of Poems on Various Subjects |  |
The bleating Sheep;
or the Flock's Complaint of their Shepherds.
Woe to the Shepherds of Israel that do seed themselves—
Ye feed not the Flock — but with Force and with
Cruelty have ruled them.—Therefore, thus saith the
Lord, Behold I am against the Shepherds, I will
require my Flock at their hand.
Ezek. xxxiv. 2, 3,
4, 10.
In elder Times, e'er Shepherds were so great,
So Arch so Lordly, so ambitious grown;
Long time before the Pontificial Seat,
Wherewith the World has been so plagu'd, was known;
So Arch so Lordly, so ambitious grown;
Long time before the Pontificial Seat,
Wherewith the World has been so plagu'd, was known;
35
Before that Voice was heard, which Stories say,
Was spoke from Heaven by an Angel's Tongue,
[Poison is pour'd into the Church this Day]
When Constantine his great Revenues flung
Was spoke from Heaven by an Angel's Tongue,
[Poison is pour'd into the Church this Day]
When Constantine his great Revenues flung
Amongst the gaping Shepherds, e'er much Wealth,
Had made them proud and lazy; long e'er this,
While they their Conventicles had by Stealth,
And glad were when Informers they could miss.
Had made them proud and lazy; long e'er this,
While they their Conventicles had by Stealth,
And glad were when Informers they could miss.
How honourable was the Shepherd's Trade
In those blest Times! how much to be desir'd,
When none unto himself Advantage made
O' th' Flock, when none to lordly Rule aspir'd.
In those blest Times! how much to be desir'd,
When none unto himself Advantage made
O' th' Flock, when none to lordly Rule aspir'd.
Not seeking theirs but them; content to live
(And living well thereon, 'cause therein blest)
Upon the Milk the Sheep did freely give;
Thus were the Shepherds fed, Sheep not opprest.
(And living well thereon, 'cause therein blest)
Upon the Milk the Sheep did freely give;
Thus were the Shepherds fed, Sheep not opprest.
Nor were, mean while, the fleecy Flock ingrate,
But right regardful of their Pastor's Pains,
With chearful Hearts they did communicate
Of each good Thing, that human Life sustains.
But right regardful of their Pastor's Pains,
With chearful Hearts they did communicate
Of each good Thing, that human Life sustains.
36
In sweet Communion thus they walk'd together,
And mutual Comfort in each other had,
What was a Grief to one, was Grief to either,
And what made one rejoice, made t'other glad.
And mutual Comfort in each other had,
What was a Grief to one, was Grief to either,
And what made one rejoice, made t'other glad.
The Shepherds for the Sheep no Pains did spare,
But for their Safety labour'd, watch'd and pray'd;
The Sheep were conscious of the Shepherds Care,
And unto them a due Observance paid:
But for their Safety labour'd, watch'd and pray'd;
The Sheep were conscious of the Shepherds Care,
And unto them a due Observance paid:
And both the Shepherds and the Sheep did aim,
In all they undertook, with Heart and Tongue,
To magnify the supreme Shepherd's Name,
To whom both Sheep and Shepherds did belong.
In all they undertook, with Heart and Tongue,
To magnify the supreme Shepherd's Name,
To whom both Sheep and Shepherds did belong.
Thus was it in the Morning of that Day,
Which on the Heathen World long since did break,
And thus it held, while simple Truth bore Sway,
As Stories sacred and prophane do speak.
Which on the Heathen World long since did break,
And thus it held, while simple Truth bore Sway,
As Stories sacred and prophane do speak.
But ah! how short a Time that Day did last,
How soon eclipsed was that glorious Light!
How quickly was its Brightness overcast,
And buried in the Grave of dusky Night!
How soon eclipsed was that glorious Light!
How quickly was its Brightness overcast,
And buried in the Grave of dusky Night!
37
Which ne'er to be enough lamented Loss,
The Ruin of so excellent a State,
By what unhappy Means it came to pass,
My Muse will in the following Lines relate.
The Ruin of so excellent a State,
By what unhappy Means it came to pass,
My Muse will in the following Lines relate.
Blest with a peaceful Time, the fruitful Flock
Grew num'rous, fat, and with fair Fleeces clad,
After they had sustained many a Shock
From Wolves, Bears, Tigres, and from Dogs run mad.
Grew num'rous, fat, and with fair Fleeces clad,
After they had sustained many a Shock
From Wolves, Bears, Tigres, and from Dogs run mad.
Enrich'd with Plenty by the bounteous Hand
Of the great Shepherd, whose indulgent Care
Over His Flock, His Treasures did expand,
And all good Things did for His Sheep prepare.
Of the great Shepherd, whose indulgent Care
Over His Flock, His Treasures did expand,
And all good Things did for His Sheep prepare.
The grateful Flock, of Quiet thus possest,
And having now of worldly Wealth good Store,
Remember'd, with a right regardful Breast,
The Sufferings of their Pastors heretofore.
And having now of worldly Wealth good Store,
Remember'd, with a right regardful Breast,
The Sufferings of their Pastors heretofore.
With open Hand, and with enlarged Heart,
(Such is the Nature of a bounteous Mind)
They to their Pastors did their Wealth impart,
Each striving how to leave the Rest behind.
(Such is the Nature of a bounteous Mind)
They to their Pastors did their Wealth impart,
Each striving how to leave the Rest behind.
38
None thought he gave enough, all studied how
They to their Shepherds might their Love express,
Each seem'd to vie, which should the Church endow,
Most amply with the Goods he did possess.
They to their Shepherds might their Love express,
Each seem'd to vie, which should the Church endow,
Most amply with the Goods he did possess.
Thus they went on a while; but e'er 'twas long,
The Glew of Gold to pastoral Fingers stuck,
Th' attractive Pow'r of Riches was so strong,
It did them from their honest Labours pluck.
The Glew of Gold to pastoral Fingers stuck,
Th' attractive Pow'r of Riches was so strong,
It did them from their honest Labours pluck.
The Phrygian Fabler tells us of a Hen,
That one Egg daily added to the Store,
Until her Dame her over-fed, and then
She grew so over-fat, she laid no more.
That one Egg daily added to the Store,
Until her Dame her over-fed, and then
She grew so over-fat, she laid no more.
So did it with these antient Shepherds fare,
Who while a spare and temp'rate Life they led,
Upon their Flock, nor Care nor Pains did spare;
What Pity 'twas they e'er were over-fed.
Who while a spare and temp'rate Life they led,
Upon their Flock, nor Care nor Pains did spare;
What Pity 'twas they e'er were over-fed.
For after that, thro' too indulgent Love,
And injudicious Zeal, the well-fleec'd sheep,
Upon their Shepherds (who had learnt t' improve
Their Bounty) did un-needed Riches heap.
And injudicious Zeal, the well-fleec'd sheep,
Upon their Shepherds (who had learnt t' improve
Their Bounty) did un-needed Riches heap.
39
The Shepherds who, by that Time were become,
(Not better, but) more greedy than before,
The more they in superfluous Plenty swam,
The more they wanted, and still crav'd the more.
(Not better, but) more greedy than before,
The more they in superfluous Plenty swam,
The more they wanted, and still crav'd the more.
The Sheep, by blind Devotion led, still give,
In hopes at length the Shepherds Mouths to fill,
Scarce leaving to themselves whereon to live,
And yet the gaping Shepherds craved still.
In hopes at length the Shepherds Mouths to fill,
Scarce leaving to themselves whereon to live,
And yet the gaping Shepherds craved still.
At length the Shepherds, in some grand Offence,
Some of the chief Bell-weathers having caught,
Wrang from them great Endowments on pretence,
Large Gifts to them, would expiate the Fau't.
Some of the chief Bell-weathers having caught,
Wrang from them great Endowments on pretence,
Large Gifts to them, would expiate the Fau't.
By various Arts the wily Shepherds get,
From the unthinking Sheep, still more and more,
And what at first was Gift, they now call Debt,
The Sheep must now pay, what they gave before.
From the unthinking Sheep, still more and more,
And what at first was Gift, they now call Debt,
The Sheep must now pay, what they gave before.
Full-fed, the Shepherds quickly idle grew,
Betook themselves to a voluptuous Ease,
Their due Attendance on the Flock withdrew,
And studied chiefly how themselves to please.
Betook themselves to a voluptuous Ease,
Their due Attendance on the Flock withdrew,
And studied chiefly how themselves to please.
40
Then Discord rose among them, how to part
Their ill-got Wealth; they could not well agree,
Only in this they all were of one Heart,
That by them all the Flock should fleeced be.
Their ill-got Wealth; they could not well agree,
Only in this they all were of one Heart,
That by them all the Flock should fleeced be.
Themselves they therefore into Cycles cast,
Some small, some great, some low, some too too high,
And that the Model might the better last,
They gave their Plan the Name of Hierarchy.
Some small, some great, some low, some too too high,
And that the Model might the better last,
They gave their Plan the Name of Hierarchy.
The higher Orbs the sturdier Shepherds take,
And thereof, as their own, themselves possess,
Where fair Provisions for themselves they make,
Leaving the lower Circles to the less.
And thereof, as their own, themselves possess,
Where fair Provisions for themselves they make,
Leaving the lower Circles to the less.
Those Under-Shepherds, Servants to the rest,
Thus left to scramble for what t'others left,
Each carved for himself as he thought best,
So parting, tho' unequally, their Theft.
Thus left to scramble for what t'others left,
Each carved for himself as he thought best,
So parting, tho' unequally, their Theft.
To these the Master-Shepherds did commit
The Flock (which was before their common Care)
Who fed them once or twice a Week a-bit,
And that too with but dry and feeble Fare.
The Flock (which was before their common Care)
Who fed them once or twice a Week a-bit,
And that too with but dry and feeble Fare.
41
The Master-Shepherds having thus devolv'd,
Upon their Journey-men, the working Part,
Their Genius wholly to indulge resolv'd,
And with soft Pleasures satiate their Heart.
Upon their Journey-men, the working Part,
Their Genius wholly to indulge resolv'd,
And with soft Pleasures satiate their Heart.
For Palaces and lofty Seats they build,
Wherein they live in most resplendent State,
Supply'd with all things that Delight may yield
To wanton Sense, and Nature captivate.
Wherein they live in most resplendent State,
Supply'd with all things that Delight may yield
To wanton Sense, and Nature captivate.
Ambition now prevails to swilling Pride
And portly Pomp; they now let loose the Rein,
Drawn in their Coach and six, abroad they ride,
Attended with a great and splendid Train.
And portly Pomp; they now let loose the Rein,
Drawn in their Coach and six, abroad they ride,
Attended with a great and splendid Train.
Of the Chief-weathers, these Precedence claim,
In State Conventions are above them plac'd,
Most of them Arch by Nature are; by Name,
Two always with the Stile of Arch are grac'd.
In State Conventions are above them plac'd,
Most of them Arch by Nature are; by Name,
Two always with the Stile of Arch are grac'd.
High Titles they ambitiously affect,
Sure Token of foul Arrogance and Pride,
And to be call'd, My Lord, Your Grace, expect,
For which judicious Sheep do them deride.
Sure Token of foul Arrogance and Pride,
And to be call'd, My Lord, Your Grace, expect,
For which judicious Sheep do them deride.
42
A common Sheep, being by Chance in Place,
Where he an Under-shepherd heard e'er while
Saying to one of these, May't please your Grace;
Wish'd him more Grace in Heart, tho' less in Stile:
Where he an Under-shepherd heard e'er while
Saying to one of these, May't please your Grace;
Wish'd him more Grace in Heart, tho' less in Stile:
Yet the bare Name of Lordship will not do,
They Lordship love, and will Dominion have
O'er both the Sheep, and Under-shepherds too,
Who at their Graces Hands for Grace must crave.
They Lordship love, and will Dominion have
O'er both the Sheep, and Under-shepherds too,
Who at their Graces Hands for Grace must crave.
To these the Under-shepherds Tribute pay,
Which doth them in a poor Condition keep,
And makes them with a sharper Hunger prey,
Upon the harmless and poor helpless Sheep:
Which doth them in a poor Condition keep,
And makes them with a sharper Hunger prey,
Upon the harmless and poor helpless Sheep:
Wherein the Master-shepherds them support,
Not only with their Countenance, but Pow'r,
That by the Assistance of their Shepherd's Court,
They may the Sheep, and what they have devour.
Not only with their Countenance, but Pow'r,
That by the Assistance of their Shepherd's Court,
They may the Sheep, and what they have devour.
And they so many Ways have found to pull,
Lock after Lock from the deluded Sheep,
That they scarce leave the Sheep enough of Wool,
Them from the Blasts of Poverty to keep.
Lock after Lock from the deluded Sheep,
That they scarce leave the Sheep enough of Wool,
Them from the Blasts of Poverty to keep.
43
Besides the gen'ral Tax they on them lay,
Whereby the Flock they Yearly decimate;
For ev'ry little Chear, they make them pay,
And oft too at unconscionable Rate.
Whereby the Flock they Yearly decimate;
For ev'ry little Chear, they make them pay,
And oft too at unconscionable Rate.
A Ram and Ewe may not with nuptial Rite
Together join, but there must present be
Some one of these, who to them must recite
The spousal Words, for which he claims a Fee.
Together join, but there must present be
Some one of these, who to them must recite
The spousal Words, for which he claims a Fee.
And when the pregnant Ewe her Lamb doth yean,
The Shepherd will another Tag-lock get,
By telling them, that now the Ewe is clean,
And may again among the Flock be set.
The Shepherd will another Tag-lock get,
By telling them, that now the Ewe is clean,
And may again among the Flock be set.
Some certain Rites too must performed be,
To give the Lamb Admittance to the Fold,
For which the Shepherd claims another Fee;
And thus the Sheep both old and young are poll'd.
To give the Lamb Admittance to the Fold,
For which the Shepherd claims another Fee;
And thus the Sheep both old and young are poll'd.
When a Sheep dies, the Shepherd
Dirge must say
Over the Corps, when to the Grave 'tis brought,
For which he will be sure to have his Fee,
And Mortuary, if the Sheep left ought.
Over the Corps, when to the Grave 'tis brought,
For which he will be sure to have his Fee,
And Mortuary, if the Sheep left ought.
44
Thus the poor Sheep the Shepherds do oppress,
And with Exactions peel on ev'ry hand,
Nor can the Sheep expect to find Redress,
While they must to th' Oppressors Judgment stand:
And with Exactions peel on ev'ry hand,
Nor can the Sheep expect to find Redress,
While they must to th' Oppressors Judgment stand:
For in the Shepherds Courts these Pleas are try'd,
If any hardy Sheep to pay refuse,
Where Shepherds, or their Creatures, still preside,
Who serve such Sheep, as Christ was serv'd by Jews.
If any hardy Sheep to pay refuse,
Where Shepherds, or their Creatures, still preside,
Who serve such Sheep, as Christ was serv'd by Jews.
For having there contemn'd them, right or wrong,
They over to the sec'lar Pow'r are turn'd,
To be in Prison cast amongst a Throng
Of Criminals, and in some Countries burn'd.
They over to the sec'lar Pow'r are turn'd,
To be in Prison cast amongst a Throng
Of Criminals, and in some Countries burn'd.
These are the Courts, from which the Sheep fustain,
By Shepherds who them cruelly intreat,
Such Hardships as enforce them to complain,
And vent their Sorrows with a mournful Bleat.
By Shepherds who them cruelly intreat,
Such Hardships as enforce them to complain,
And vent their Sorrows with a mournful Bleat.
Ah! who can without Indignation hear,
How Shepherds do the Sheep in Bondage keep!
Who can from shedding Show'rs of Tears forbear,
At the Bemoanings of the bleating Sheep!
How Shepherds do the Sheep in Bondage keep!
Who can from shedding Show'rs of Tears forbear,
At the Bemoanings of the bleating Sheep!
| A Collection of Poems on Various Subjects | |