 | Poems Upon Several Occasions |  |
35
A Dialogue between Reason and the Inferior Powers.
[_]
Speakers' names have been abbreviated in this text. The abbreviations used for major characters are as follows:
- For Infe. read Inferior Powers
- For Reas. read Reason
What Tumult's here within? what Storms are these?
I fear they are my home-bread Enemies
I scarce have leasure to bewail my Fate,
Th' unruly Faction presses on the Gate:
Was ever Monarch so disturb'd as I?
My Thoughts so dark, I'm sure some Storm is nigh;
What Rebel leads this stubborn Faction on,
Guards, Guards, or else I'm lost and quite undone?
Where's Man's Prerogative? his best defence,
Alas, must truckle to the sway of sence;
I'm like a Captive Monarch bound in Chains,
I bear the Title, but the People reigns.
Infe.
If you're unhappy, overcharg'd with Woe,
Blame your own Choice, not us, that made you so;
36
You rob your self of your undoubted Right;
If you with Prudence would your Pow'r maintain,
We should live happy, and you happy reign:
But you dissolv'd, melting in Pleasures lie,
And like the Phœnix in your Spices fry;
On your account our State to Ruine goes,
And sinks much faster than it ever rose.
Reas.
Alas! Suppose I have not govern'd well,
Must you on that take Arms, and then rebel?
Princes are not consin'd to Laws, not I
For ev'ry thing I do shall tell you why;
My Pow'r is from Jove's transcendent Throne,
My Patent's good; I'll rule and act alone.
Infe.
See how the haughty Monarch swells with Pride
Thinking all Power to his Crown's ally'd;
Nay, we our selves, and our Commission too
Derive our Power from Heav'n as well as you
37
Yet we are Brothers of that Family,
And when the Elder's mad, or proves a Drone,
'Tis fit that we should step into his Throne.
Reas.
I'm now well satisfied why you complain,
You think you're injur'd cause you cannot reign:
You're only envious at the Crown I wear,
You fain would revel in a higher Sphere:
But I'm resolv'd I'll curb your Faction so,
Like Joseph's Slaves hereafter you shall bow;
And where so e'er my Man of War you see,
Be sure you lowre your bending Flag to me.
| Poems Upon Several Occasions | |