 | Poems on several occasions |  |
III.—ANSWER TO A COPY OF VERSES,
ENTITLED, “PIIS ET GRATULANTIBUS WHIGGIS RESPONSIO.”
Dear Sam, erewhile you did a copy show,
To which, I find, you've sent an answer now.
The Whiggish knaves, 'gainst whom you write, disown
Their due allegiance to the British throne,
Except when pleased. We honest Tories dare
Be true and just to the worst kings that are.
If a weak prince, by wicked men misled,
Makes subjects bow to gods of wood and bread;
If such, as maggot bites and he sees cause,
Dispenses with the cobwebs of the laws;
Still are we faithful. How much more, when Heaven
A monarch of a different stamp has given!
Who courts his people, who their altars tends;
Mild to his foes, and constant to his friends;
To base revenge and mean resentment blind;
Parent of Britain, friend of human-kind;
Who still his just prerogative avers
Of placing or displacing ministers!
To which, I find, you've sent an answer now.
The Whiggish knaves, 'gainst whom you write, disown
Their due allegiance to the British throne,
Except when pleased. We honest Tories dare
Be true and just to the worst kings that are.
If a weak prince, by wicked men misled,
Makes subjects bow to gods of wood and bread;
If such, as maggot bites and he sees cause,
Dispenses with the cobwebs of the laws;
Still are we faithful. How much more, when Heaven
A monarch of a different stamp has given!
Who courts his people, who their altars tends;
Mild to his foes, and constant to his friends;
529
Parent of Britain, friend of human-kind;
Who still his just prerogative avers
Of placing or displacing ministers!
Even ministers of state (to whom, 'tis true,
There's no submission of allegiance due)
We treat with reverence; nor, like Strafford's foes,
To vulgar rage the envied great expose;
Nor hunt to ruin by the people's breath,
Who yell for justice, and who scream for death.
There's no submission of allegiance due)
We treat with reverence; nor, like Strafford's foes,
To vulgar rage the envied great expose;
Nor hunt to ruin by the people's breath,
Who yell for justice, and who scream for death.
The ills of civil rage so much we dread,
We dare not even in patriots' footsteps tread.
Falkland opposed the court with honest view:
That opposition soon rebellion grew.
Whilst upright hearts redress of grievance meant,
The wily few were on black mischief bent.
Though those “bad ministers” alone decried,
These struck the master through the servants' side.
And if fresh opposition we allow,
There may be Hampdens, Onslows, Bradshaws now.
We dare not even in patriots' footsteps tread.
Falkland opposed the court with honest view:
That opposition soon rebellion grew.
Whilst upright hearts redress of grievance meant,
The wily few were on black mischief bent.
Though those “bad ministers” alone decried,
These struck the master through the servants' side.
And if fresh opposition we allow,
There may be Hampdens, Onslows, Bradshaws now.
Hence we unlimited obedience teach,
And strictly practise what we, ardent, preach.
The Calves'-Head politicians may combine
To father what they will on thee for thine;
Yet I'll be sworn, no verses came from thee
That strike direct at sacred majesty.
Yet even such (or all the world are wrong)
In careless hours slip thy unguarded tongue,
And have in gaiety or heart been sung.
This asks a friend's reproof. It dangerous is,
Since plaguy Whigs have Pains and Penalties;
And it would grieve me much to have it said,
My friend for an old song had lost his bread.
And strictly practise what we, ardent, preach.
The Calves'-Head politicians may combine
To father what they will on thee for thine;
Yet I'll be sworn, no verses came from thee
That strike direct at sacred majesty.
Yet even such (or all the world are wrong)
In careless hours slip thy unguarded tongue,
And have in gaiety or heart been sung.
530
Since plaguy Whigs have Pains and Penalties;
And it would grieve me much to have it said,
My friend for an old song had lost his bread.
I take the liberty to thus reprove
This and one other word in him I love:
The name of “saviour” I must frankly own
Too big for jest, sacred to Him alone
Who “Like for like” forbids, revenge denies
To basest men and blackest enemies;
“Makes prayers and tears his church's sole defence,
Nor suffers factious pens to strengthen Providence.”
This and one other word in him I love:
The name of “saviour” I must frankly own
Too big for jest, sacred to Him alone
Who “Like for like” forbids, revenge denies
To basest men and blackest enemies;
“Makes prayers and tears his church's sole defence,
Nor suffers factious pens to strengthen Providence.”
| Poems on several occasions | |