 | Miscellany Poems |  |
On the Crocodile.
I
I am the Terrour of the Sea,Proud Nile's chief Glory and his Fear:
From far I dart upon my Prey,
Which to my watry Hold I bear.
Dogs dare not drink for doubt of Me,
Thô they 'gainst Bulls and Lyons dare.
I am chief Instrument of Fate;
Two Elements upon me wait;
Water and Land conspire to make me great.
II
Of food I no Distinction make,But in my Cruelty am Just:
Of Man and Beast alike I take,
And eat them both with equal Gust.
With Draughts of Gore my thirst I slake,
And Flesh I down my throat do thrust.
Fear gave rise to Divinity;
And Gods haue rose from Cruelty:
Wise Ægypt showd so; when She worship'd me.
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III
The Indians kill me for their Food,And say, I am Delicious meat:
They drink of their Relations Blood,
And eat, what did their Fathers eat.
In me they injure their own Brood,
Their Malice doth their Judgment cheat
But I may yet a Question make,
Whether when Me they hunt and take,
They think their Hunger or Revenge to slake.
IV
No Creature can my Power withstand:Yet to that power Deceit I tie:
And by this Double Gordian band
Secure my hungry Tyranny;
The Terrour of the Sea and Land
In ambush on the Sands I lie.
What e're I take I do devour,
Yet o're the Head I tears do shower,
And weep and grieve,—because I have no more.
V
Men me Abhor, yet Imitate;Like Falshood use without all Shame:
As Lawless Power, as deep Deceit
Doth Christian under Christian tame:
I live i'th' Actions of the Great;
What they're to Others, to them I am.
Would you then Power and Cunning see
Mixed with deep Hypocrisie?
They are conjoyn'd in Man, as well as Me!
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