Without a vision poets can foreshow What all but fools by common sense may know: If true succession from our isle should fail, And crowds profane with impious arms prevail, 290 Not thou, nor those thy factious arts engage, Shall reap that harvest of rebellious rage, With which thou flatterest thy decrepit age. The swelling poison of the several sects, Which, wanting vent, the nation's health infects, Shall burst its bag; and, fighting out their way, The various venoms on each other prey. The presbyter, puff'd up with spiritual pride, Shall on the necks of the lewd nobles ride: His brethren damn, the civil power defy; 300 And parcel out republic prelacy. But short shall be his reign: his rigid yoke And tyrant power will puny sects provoke; And frogs and toads, and all the tadpole train, Will croak to heaven for help, from this devouring crane. The cut-throat sword and clamorous gown shall jar, In sharing their ill-gotten spoils of war: Chiefs shall be grudged the part which they pretend; Lords envy lords, and friends with every friend About their impious merit shall contend. 310 The surly commons shall respect deny, And justle peerage out with property. Their general either shall his trust betray, And force the crowd to arbitrary sway; Or they, suspecting his ambitious aim, In hate of kings shall cast anew the frame; And thrust out Collatine that bore their name. Thus inborn broils the factions would engage, Or wars of exiled heirs, or foreign rage, Till halting vengeance overtook our age: 320 And our wild labours, wearied into rest, Reclined us on a rightful monarch's breast. --"Pudet hæc opprobria, vobis Et dici potuisse, et non potuisse refelli." * * * * * FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 76: 'The Medal:' see 'Life.'] [Footnote 77: A pamphlet vindicating Lord Shaftesbury from being concerned in any plotting designs against the King. Wood says, the general report was, that it was written by the earl himself.] [Footnote 78: When England, in the sixteenth century, was supposed in danger from the designs of Spain, the principal people, with the queen at their head, entered into an association for the defence of their country, and of the Protestant religion, against Popery, invasion, and innovation.] [Footnote 79: 'Brother:' George Cooper, Esq., brother to the Earl of Shaftesbury, was married to a daughter of Alderman Oldfield; and, being settled in the city, became a great man among the Whigs and fanatics.] [Footnote 80: 'Polish:' Shaftesbury was said to have entertained hopes of the crown of Poland.] [Footnote 81: 'White witches:' who wrought good ends by infernal means.] [Footnote 82: 'Loosed our triple hold:' our breaking the alliance with Holland and Sweden, was owing to the Earl of Shaftesbury's advice.]