But not to pass the Pigeons' Rubicon. Here ends the reign of this pretended Dove;} All prophecies accomplished from above, } For Shiloh comes the sceptre to remove. } Reduced from her imperial high abode, Like Dionysius to a private rod,[260] The passive church, that with pretended grace} Did her distinctive mark in duty place, } Now touched, reviles her Maker to his face. } What after happened is not hard to guess; } The small beginnings had a large increase, } And arts and wealth succeed the secret spoils of peace.} 'Tis said, the Doves repented, though too late, Become the smiths of their own foolish fate:[261] Nor did their owner hasten their ill hour, But, sunk in credit, they decreased in power; Like snows in warmth that mildly pass away, Dissolving in the silence of decay.[262] The Buzzard, not content with equal place, Invites the feathered Nimrods of his race, To hide the thinness of their flock from sight, And all together make a seeming goodly flight: But each have separate interests of their own; Two Czars are one too many for a throne. Nor can the usurper long abstain from food; Already he has tasted Pigeon's blood, And may be tempted to his former fare,[263] When this indulgent lord shall late to heaven repair. Bare benting times, and moulting months may come, When, lagging late, they cannot reach their home; Or rent in schism, (for so their fate decrees,) Like the tumultuous college of the bees, They fight their quarrel, by themselves opprest, The tyrant smiles below, and waits the falling feast.-- Thus did the gentle Hind her fable end, Nor would the Panther blame it, nor commend; But, with affected yawnings at the close, Seemed to require her natural repose; For now the streaky light began to peep, And setting stars admonished both to sleep. The Dame withdrew, and, wishing to her guest The peace of heaven, betook herself to rest: Ten thousand angels on her slumbers wait, With glorious visions of her future state. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 184: Note I.] [Footnote 185: The Declaration of Indulgence.] [Footnote 186: The Convocation.] [Footnote 187: The adherence of the church of England to the interests of James, while he was an exile at Brussels, and the Bill of Exclusion against him was in dependence, is here, as in other places, made the subject of panegyric. Had the church joined with the sectaries, the destruction of the Catholics, at the time of the plot, would have been inevitable.] [Footnote 188: The church of England complained, with great reason, of the coldness which they experienced from James, in whose behalf they had exerted themselves so successfully.] [Footnote 189: An old sea-term, signifying to run before the wind.]