Have been permitted to resume awhile Long time had Satan view'd with envious eye, 15 20 25 30 markable, indeed, that the celebrated duke of Manchester applied this very passage to those evil counsellors whose rash and headstrong politics caused that fatal war which is the subject of the present poem; but the enlightened reader needs not be told that, how evil soever the poet may believe such counsels to have been, his whole object in introducing his machinery is purely allegorical. Lords' Debates, March 5, 1776, v. p. 189. Almon. 30. a mean rebel-As the direct tendency of superfluous wealth, particularly in the earlier period of life, is to enervate the human mind, pointing out only quò ducit gula, it is not much to be wondered at that many of the greatest characters of the world should have arisen from humble stations. "Washington's patrimonial estate was by no means considerable; his youth was employed in useful industry-in the practice of his profession as a surveyor." And if the reader will take the pains to inquire into the origin of the various administrators (for I speak not of emperors and kings) of the European governments, either at the present, or in former times, he will find it not unfrequently obscure and humble. See Marshall's Life of Washington, ii. p. 2, 8vo. Phillips, 1804. Our fruitful crops of ignorance and power? 35 Heard ye that shout? All heaven, and earth, and hell, Chaos, and night reverberate the sound; 'T was to seraphick Liberty. E'en now, 40 Now while we thus deliberation hold, Whence we have hop'd, as from an earthly throne, 45 Future oppression, civil wars, and strife; Forebodes some dire misfortune to my throne, 44. Whence we have hop'd,-If the efforts of the British ministry to subjugate America had been crowned with success, it is hardly possible to doubt the consequences that would have ensued: either terms must have been granted to her equivalent to independence, or else a perpetual cause of war would have remained." Other nations must have suffered by these conflicts with America, as they are now benefited by the establishment of her independence. Upon this subject the reader may consult the advertisement prefixed to Ramsay's History; and the Appendix, No. IV. 8vo. Stockdale, 1793. Some speedy dissolution. Brave compeers! Now give your best advice; and thou, whose gold Some new unbroken treasure, for great need 70 Rouse, rouse your energies! For shame, ye chiefs! 75 The reign of peace and charity to man? So spake the archfiend: indignant Moloch rose, And with fell fury struggling, and with words In doubtful war on either side of heaven? Did Moloch sleep when the uprooted hills, 90 Torn from their base, with all their ponderous loads, When the dread Thunderer drove his rapid car O'er fallen millions, and the forked light Hurl'd us down headlong from the gates of heaven? I never bid annihilation hail; I tremble not because seraphick light Hath halted over York-town. If it have, 100 105 He said, and swore a Stygian oath that shook E'en Satan's haughty soul; then seiz'd his arms, 110 While quivering horrour sat upon his lips. To them rose Beelzebub, than whom in hell stores, And thus with soothing words the chiefs address'd; "Whence this dire discord midst immortal spirits? Is 't not enough that heaven and earth combine 116 To undermine our cause, but must ourselves Accelerate our downfall, and become The scorn and ridicule of all our foes?· What joy in heaven to see the chiefs of hell 120 Check then this rising wrath, lest punishment 125 Bring with it late repentance, and that portent, Which not our prince alone, but all, e'en thou, Brave Moloch! not unmov'd have seen, o'erwhelm Us all in one inextricable fate." To him thus Moloch temperate replied; "Thy wisdom, Beelzebub! hath set my fault In clear and open view before my eyes. 130 Moloch's ungovern'd haste shall ne'er be said To have endanger'd hell; my hate to heaven, 135 Full well ye all do know, is rooted deep; 140 |