Poems upon several Occasions :: :: University of Virginia Library

From Senates Heav'n defend us;
Our Trebles, and our Tenors,
These Per'llous Times,
May be Su'd for High Crimes,
And Impeach'd for Misdemeanors.

III

But wou'd you know the Reason
Of this their sad Condition?
All his Diocess round,
Old Proph. against Sound
Had issu'd a Prohibition.

From Senates, &c.

263

IV

No Church, no Tow'r, or Steeple
Was from his Wrath defended,
The Bells High, and Low,
Ab Offi—ci—o,
Were doubly now suspended.

From Senates, &c.

V

Thus Bellfreys all were silenc'd;
But what more new and strange is,
No Allowance was found,
For the Bells to ring round,
For fear of sudden Changes.

From Senates, &c.

264

VI

Those brazen Mouths that bellow
When Fate, and Death defeat us,
Now think it full hard,
They shou'd be debarr'd
From Ringing their own Quietus.

From Senates, &c.

VII

But, since they all lay speechless,
A Spirit so discerning,
By his parlous Wit,
Presum'd it was fit
The Clappers shou'd put on Mourning.

From Senates, &c.

265

VIII

True to the Churches Int'rest,
And of all Metals sparing,
Good Man he much fear'd,
If the Clappers were hear'd,
The Bells might be worse for wearing.

From Senates, &c.

IX

But Whiggs now, and False Brethren,
Bilk'd of Election-Money,
Will order, no doubt,
The Bells to ring out
For the Death of Old Volpone.

From Senates, &c.

266

X

You've heard of Fryar Bacon,
In good Time be it spoken,
For Speeches too proud,
And Ringing too loud,
His Brazen Head was broken.

From Senates, &c.

XI

Prophetically Peals were
Deny'd to Man of Prayer,
Since once, as Fame tells,
The Ringing of Bells
Made Whittington Lord Mayor.

From Senates, &c.

267

XII

Our Seer then with good Reason
Made Sexton shut up his Shop;
For if Bells cou'd afford
To make City Lord,
They may as well—Lord Bishop.

From Senates, &c.

XIII

As when Disciple sullen
Won't tell what Part of Speech 'tis,
Persists in the Wrong,
But recovers his Tongue,
By letting down his Breeches.

From Senates, &c.

268

XIV

So Metals, ne're so sturdy,
At Hammer's Provocation,
From Silence were found
To wake into Sound,
And chime out a Recantation.

From Senates, &c.

XV

Compell'd to Non-Resistance,
And Sov'raign Mob's Allegiance,
Prohibited Bells
Were bang'd into Peals,
And thump'd into Obedience.

From Senates, &c.

269

XVI

I mean Obedience Passive,
A Duty which in fact is
Of Force with us still,
(So says Prelate Will:)
But Occasional as to Practice.

From Senates, &c.

XVII

But O these woful Tonies,
And Politicians awkward!
By Incendiary fir'd,
The Nation requir'd
At least to ring 'em backward.

From Senates, &c.

270

XVIII

Old England, I bemoan thee,
How sorrowful thy Case is!
Church Clappers deny'd,
While the Tongues are unti'd
Of Prophet Balaam's Asses.

From Senates, &c.

XIX

The Nation sure must thrive well
Under such able Teachers,
Where Bishops set Spells
To silence our Bells,
State-Ministers our Preachers.

From Senates, &c.

271

XX

Yet Bellfreys, spite of Party,
And to the Whiggs Confusion,
Will soon, we have Hopes,
Find Clappers, and Ropes
To ring at their Dissolution.

From Senates, &c.

Grand CHORUS.

God save our Glorious ANNA,
Our Churches Great Defender;
Heav'n send us a Peace,
And a speedy Release
Of our Gracious Queen from Bender.