A more auspicious planet may ascend;[228] Good fortune may present some happier time, With means to cancel my unwilling crime; (Unwilling, witness all ye powers above!) To mend my errors, and redeem your love: That little space you safely may allow; Your all-dispensing power protects you now.[229] Hold, said the Hind, 'tis needless to explain; You would postpone me to another reign; Till when, you are content to be unjust: Your part is to possess, and mine to trust; A fair exchange proposed, of future chance For present profit and inheritance. Few words will serve to finish our dispute; Who will not now repeal, would persecute. To ripen green revenge your hopes attend, Wishing that happier planet would ascend.[230] For shame, let Conscience be your plea no more;} To will hereafter, proves she might before; } But she's a bawd to gain, and holds the door. } Your care about your banks infers a fear[231] Of threatening floods and inundations near; If so, a just reprise would only be Of what the land usurped upon the sea; And all your jealousies but serve to show, Your ground is, like your neighbour-nation, low. To intrench in what you grant unrighteous laws, Is to distrust the justice of your cause; And argues, that the true religion lies In those weak adversaries you despise. Tyrannic force is that which least you fear; The sound is frightful in a Christian's ear: Avert it, heaven! nor let that plague be sent To us from the dispeopled continent. But piety commands me to refrain; Those prayers are needless in this monarch's reign. Behold how he protects your friends oppressed, } Receives the banished, succours the distressed![232]} Behold, for you may read an honest open breast. } He stands in day-light, and disdains to hide} An act, to which by honour he is tied, } A generous, laudable, and kingly pride. } Your Test he would repeal, his peers restore; This when he says he means, he means no more. Well, said the Panther, I believe him just, } And yet---- } --And yet, 'tis but because you must; } You would be trusted, but you would not trust.--} The Hind thus briefly; and disdained to enlarge On power of kings, and their superior charge, As heaven's trustees before the people's choice; } Though sure the Panther did not much rejoice } To hear those echoes given of her once loyal voice.} The matron wooed her kindness to the last, But could not win; her hour of grace was past. Whom, thus persisting, when she could not bring To leave the Wolf, and to believe her king, She gave her up, and fairly wished her joy Of her late treaty with her new ally: Which well she hoped would more successful prove,