Ev'n _Gin_ would then be drank without controul, And the poor _civil List_ be ne're _lick'd whole_. Down go all _Pensioners_, all _Placemen_ down. Those lov'd and trusty Servants of the Crown, Who're always ready at their Chief's Command, Would have no _Vote_ to save the _sinking_ Land: Ev'n _Levy_'s Bench might lose it's sacred _Weight_, Remov'd, O _sad Translation_! from the State. Then Pen's like yours would _freely_ vent their Rage, No _License_ on the _Press_, or on the _Stage_; Whilst loyal _Gazetteer_'s, tho' ne're so witty, No more might chasten the Rebellious _City_: No more sage _Freeman_ trumpet out my Fame, Nor _unstamp'd Farthing-Posts_ my worth proclaim. _E. M._ Indeed--such dire _Calamities_ attend! O worse, Sir, worse--Heav'n knows where it might end. Perhaps _Ourself_ and our dear _Brother_ too, No longer might our Country's Business do-- _E. M._ That, Sir, you've done already--rather, then, _Your_ Business would be done. _G. M._ Ungrateful Men! We that have serv'd you at such vast Expence, } And gone thro' thick and thin. _E. M._ There's no Defence, } Would serve your Purpose--Hence, then, good Sirs, Hence; } Fly, for the Evil Days at Hand, Pray fly-- _G. M._ What leave my Country to be _lost_?--Not I; The Danger's yet but in Imagination, I hope one _Seven Years more_ to _save_ the Nation. In vain you Patriot Oafs pronounce my Fall, Like the great LAUREAT, _S'Blood I'll stand you all_. What tho' you've made the _People_ loath my Name, I live not on such slender Food as Fame; And yet that _People_'s _mine_--My Will obey, } Implicit Bow beneath my sovereign Sway, } Whilst these my _Messengers_ prepare my Way; } These all your Slanders will at Sight refute, They're sterling Evidence which none dispute. For these, Content, or to be Damn'd or Sav'd-- _E. M._--Nay if they will, why let 'em be enslav'd: If they will barter all that's Good and Great, For present Pelf, nor Mind their future State; If none Thy baleful Influence will withstand, Go forth, _Corruption_, Lord it o'er the Land; If they are Thine for better and for worse, On Them and on their Children light the Curse. _G. M._ _Corruption_, Sir!--pray use a milder Term; 'Tis only a Memento to be _firm_; The Times are greatly alter'd--Years ago, A Man would blush the World his _Price_ should know: Scruple to own his _Voice_ was to be bought; And meanly minded what the Million thought; Our Age more _Prudent_, and _Sincere_ is grown, The Hire they _wisely_ take, they _bravely_ own; Laugh at the Fool, who let's his _Conscience_ stand, To barr his Passage to the promis'd Land; Or, sway'd by Prejudice, or puny Pride, Thinks _Right_ and _Int'rest_ of a different Side.