_Plu._ I wondered how of late our Acherontic shore Grew thin, and hell unpeopled of her store; Charon, for want of use, forgot his oar. The souls of bodies dead flew all sublime, And hither none returned to purge a crime: But now I see, since Albion is restored, Death has no business, nor the vengeful sword. 'Tis too, too much that here I lie From glorious empire hurled; By Jove excluded from the sky; By Albion from the world. _Dem._ Were common-wealth restored again, Thou shouldst have millions of the slain To fill thy dark abode. _Zel._ For he a race of rebels sends, And Zeal the path of heaven pretends, But still mistakes the road. _Plu._ My labouring thought At length hath wrought A bravely bold design, In which you both shall join. In borrowed shapes to earth return; Thou, Common-wealth, a Patriot seem, Thou, Zeal, like true Religion burn, To gain the giddy crowd's esteem.-- Alecto, thou to fair Augusta go, And all thy snakes into her bosom throw. _Dem._ Spare some, to fling Where they may sting The breast of Albion's king. _Zel._ Let jealousies so well be mixed, That great Albanius be unfixed. _Plu._ Forbear your vain attempts, forbear: Hell can have no admittance there; The people's fear will serve as well, Make him suspected, them rebel. _Zel._ You've all forgot To forge a plot, In seeming care of Albion's life; Inspire the crowd With clamours loud, To involve his brother and his wife. _Alec._ Take, of a thousand souls at thy command, The basest, blackest of the Stygian band, One, that will swear to all they can invent, So thoroughly damned, that he can ne'er repent: One, often sent to earth, And still at every birth He took a deeper stain: One, that in Adam's time was Cain; One, that was burnt in Sodom's flame, For crimes even here too black to name: One, who through every form of ill has run: One, who in Naboth's days was Belial's son; One, who has gained a body fit for sin; Where all his crimes Of former times Lie crowded in a skin[2]. _Plu._ Take him, Make him What you please; For he can be A rogue with ease. One for mighty mischief born; He can swear, and be forsworn. _Plu._ and _Alect._ Take him, make him what you please; For he can be a rogue with ease. _Plu._ Let us laugh, let us laugh, let us laugh at our woes, The wretch that is damned has nothing to lose.-- Ye furies, advance With the ghosts in a dance. 'Tis a jubilee when the world is in trouble; When people rebel, We frolic in hell; But when the king falls, the pleasure is double. [_A single entry of a Devil, followed by an entry of twelve Devils._ _Chorus._ Let us laugh, let us laugh, let us laugh at our woes, The wretch that is damned hath nothing to lose.