_Original Power--The ancient Gods--Tyrant-kings--The Apotheosis of James II. in the Chapel Royal--Charles II.--Paternal Government--God prescribed no Rules of Government--Origin of Kings--Saul._ Arise, O Satire!--tune thy useful song, Silence grows criminal, when crimes grow strong; Of meaner vice, and villains, sing no more, But Monsters crown'd, and Crime enrobed with Power! At vice's high Imperial throne begin, Relate the _ancient_ prodigies of sin; With pregnant phrase, and strong impartial verse, The crimes of men, and crimes of Kings rehearse! What though thy labour shall to _us_ be vain, And the World's bondage must _its time_ remain; Let willing slaves in golden fetters lie, There's none can save the men who _will_ to die. {144} Yet some there are that would not tamely bow, Who fain would break their chains, if they knew how; And these, from thy inspired lines, may see, How they choose bondage when they may go free. He that can levy War with all mankind, Retard the day-spring of the human mind; Buy Justice, sell Oppression, bribe the Law, Exalt the Fool, and keep the Wise in awe; With pious Peter, * cant of heaven's commands, Pray with his lips, and murder with his hands; Insult the wretched, trample on the poor, And mock the miseries mankind endure; Can ravage countries, property devour, And trample Law beneath the _feet of Power_; Scorn the restraint of oaths and promised Right, ** And ravel compacts in the people's sight; * Peter the Cruel, King of Caslile He married the daughter of a Duke of Bourbon, whom he divorced, in order to renew his connexion with a former mistress. His excesses occasioned the people to dethrone him. He affected piety, and to govern by divine right!