Poems on Several Occasions :: :: University of Virginia Library

High o'er the rest, and of majestic Mien,
In comely Pride appear the King and Queen.
Aloft, conspicuous from afar He stands,
Like Saul, superior o'er his pigmy bands.
Vainly, alas! in outward Form we trust;
How seldom Nature is to Beauty just!
Unactive, slothful is the Monarch's Mind,
Like Persian kings, to shameful ease inclin'd.

But wond'rous well is that defect supply'd
By more than common Virtues in his Bride;
Fearless, alone she tempts the fatal Field,
Alike regardless of the spear or shield,
Invites the foe, amongst the foremost fights,
Insults o'er Bishops, or encounters Knights;
Their Annals tell, if Annals may have weight,
Her single Force has sav'd the sinking State;
Triumphant to the adverse Palace flown,
And brav'd the lazy Monarch on his Throne.

The Bishops next, a venerable train,
The highest Order of the Field maintain;
These, much esteem'd the Nation's chief Support,
Despise the tinsel pleasures of a Court;
Fearless, unhurt, thro' hostile files they go,
And rush like Lightning on the distant foe;
Swift o'er the plain pursue their fatal Way,
And seize secure the meditated prey.
This to their praise, and would to this were join'd
The sweet concurrence of a Friendly Mind:
Yet blame we not themselves, but partial Fate;
For sure by strong Antipathy they hate:
In fighting fields thro' different paths they move,
How much unconscious of fraternal Love!
In heat of War no mutual Succour lend,
Tho' each to all but to his Brother, Friend.
From this plain Truth one Moral I infer,
That Man is frail, and Priests themselves may err.

To these the Knights succeed, a lawless train,
Inur'd to plunder and illegal gain.
No glorious dangers in the camp they share,
A band unworthy of the Name they bear.
Not hand to hand they aim the forceful blow,
But wheel obliquely on the heedless Foe.

So Homer's Lycian hid his coward head,
Then aim'd the weapon, and Tydides bled.

In Fields ungenerous, in the Presence rude,
By Title rais'd above the multitude;
Nor Orders they, nor Dignity esteem,
Degrees and Ages are alike to them.
Oft have I seen them, when a Priest was near,
Insult with taunts the Venerable Seer,
Press roughly on, devoid of shame or dread,
And leap exulting o'er the Mitred Head.
May no such Knights to croud our Circle come;
How much unlike our gentle Knights at home!

The Rooks are next, a hardy band, and true,
Who think their lives are but their Country's due.
These, when their King, at some important post,
Stands round encompass'd by the hostile host,
From force united bear him safe away,
Content themselves to be the Victor's Prey.
Thus, tho' call'd Rooks (as vulgar Wits will err)
Yet Castles always is their Nom de Guerre.

Thus these. But far advanc'd in foremost fight
The active Pawns exert their infant might.
A gallant race, so puny yet their size
They're scarce apparent to unhealthy eyes.

Bravely they press to conquer, or to die;
Nor ever was it known a Pawn should fly:
Like sons of Lilliput, so small, so bold;
As We believe, and Gulliver has told.

Their Laws, their Orders, and their Manners these,
The rest let Slaughter's tell you if you please.