From priests he turn’d to canons, creeds, and prayers, Rubrics and rules, and all our church affairs; Churches themselves, desk, pulpit, altar, all The Justice reverenced--and pronounced their fall. Then from religion Hammond turn’d his view, To give our rulers the correction due; Not one wise action had these triflers plann’d; There was, it seem’d, no wisdom in the land; Save in this patriot tribe, who meet at times To show the statesman’s errors and his crimes. 190 Now here was Justice Bolt compell’d to sit, To hear the deist’s scorn, the rebel’s wit; The fact mis-stated, the envenom’d lie, And staring, spell-bound, made not one reply. Then were our laws abused--and with the laws, All who prepare, defend, or judge a cause: “We have no lawyer whom a man can trust,” Proceeded Hammond--“if the laws were just; But they are evil; ’tis the savage state Is only good, and ours sophisticate! 200 See! the free creatures in their woods and plains, Where without laws each happy monarch reigns, King of himself--while we a number dread, By slaves commanded and by dunces led; Oh, let the name with either state agree-- Savage our own we’ll name, and civil theirs shall be.” The silent Justice still astonish’d sate, And wonder’d much whom he was gazing at; Twice he essay’d to speak--but in a cough The faint, indignant, dying speech went off: 210 “But who is this?” thought he--“a dæmon vile, With wicked meaning and a vulgar style: Hammond they call him; they can give the name Of man to devils.--Why am I so tame? Why crush I not the viper?”--Fear replied, “Watch him awhile, and let his strength be tried; He will be foil’d, if man; but if his aid Be from beneath, ’tis well to be afraid.” “We are call’d free!” said Hammond--“doleful times When rulers add their insult to their crimes; 220 For, should our scorn expose each powerful vice, It would be libel, and we pay the price.” Thus with licentious words the man went on, Proving that liberty of speech was gone; That all were slaves--nor had we better chance For better times than as allies to France. Loud groan’d the stranger--Why, he must relate, And own’d, “In sorrow for his country’s fate.” “Nay, she were safe,” the ready man replied, “Might patriots rule her, and could reasoners guide; 230 When all to vote, to speak, to teach, are free, Whate’er their creeds or their opinions be; When books of statutes are consumed in flames, And courts and copyholds are empty names; Then will be times of joy--but ere they come, Havock, and war, and blood must be our doom.” The man here paused--then loudly for reform He call’d, and hail’d the prospect of the storm; The wholesome blast, the fertilizing flood--