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Monks we all know we who have liv'd at home
From fair report, and travellers who roam
More feelingly-nor trust him to the gown,
'Tis oft' a covering in this vile Town
For base designs: ourselves have liv'd to see
More than one parson in the pillory.
Should he have brothers, (image to thy view
A scene which, tho' not public made, is true)
Let not one brother be to t' other known,
Nor let his father sit with him alone;
Be all his servants female, young, and fair;
And if the pride of Nature spur thy heir
To deeds of venery, if, hot and wild,

650

He chance to get some score of maids with child,
Chide, but forgive him; whoredom is a crime 655
Which more at this than any other time

Calls for indulgence, and 'mongst such a race
To have a bastard is some sign of grace.

Born in such Times, should I sit tamely down,
Suppress my rage, and saunter thro' the Town 660
As one who knew not or who shar'd these crimes?
Should I at lesser evils point my rhymes,
And let this giant sin, in the full eye

Of Observation, pass unwounded by ?

Tho' our meek wives passive obedience taught, 665
Patiently bear those wrongs for which they ought,
With the brave spirit of their dams possest,
To plant a dagger in each husband's breast,

To cut off male-increase from this fair isle,
And turn our Thames into another Nile;
Tho' on his Sunday the smug pulpiteer,
Loud 'gainst all other crimes, is silent here,
And thinks himself absolv'd in the pretence
Of decency which, meant for the defence
Of real virtue, and to raise her price,
Becomes an agent for the cause of vice;

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675

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685

Tho' the law sleeps, and thro' the care they take
To drug her well may never more awake;
Born in such Times, nor with that patience curst
Which saints may boast of, I must speak or burst.
But if, too eager in my bold career,
Haply I wound the nice and chaster ear,
If, all unguarded, all too rude, I speak,
And call up blushes in the maiden's cheek,
Forgive, ye Fair !-my real motives view,
And to forgiveness add your praises too.
For you I write-nor wish a better plan,
The cause of woman is most worthy man-
For you I still will write, nor hold my hand
Whilst there's one slave of Sodom in the land. 690
Let them fly far, and sculk from place to place,
Not daring to meet Manhood face to face,
Their steps I'll track, nor yield them one retreat
Where they may hide their heads or rest their feet,
Till God in wrath shall let his vengeance fall, 695
And make a great example of them all,

Bidding in one grand pile this Town expire,

Her tow'rs in dust, her Thames a lake of fire,
Or they (most worth our wish) convinc'd, tho' late,
Of their past crimes and dangerous estate,

700

Pardon of women with repentance buy,

And learn to honour them as much as I.

702

INDEPENDENCE.

HAPPY the bard (tho' few such bards we find)
Who 'bove controlment dares to speak his mind,
Dares unabash'd in ev'ry place appear,

And nothing fears but what he ought to fear:
Him Fashion cannot tempt, him abject Need
Cannot compel, him Pride cannot mislead
To be the slave of Greatness, to strike sail
When, sweeping onward with her peacock's tail,
Quality in full plumage passes by;

He views her with a fix'd contemptuous eye,
And mocks the puppet, keeps his own due state,
And is above conversing with the great.

10

Perish those slaves, those minions of the quill, Who have conspir'd to seize that sacred hill Where the Nine Sisters pour a genuine strain, 15 And sunk the mountain level with the plain; Who with mean private views and servile art, No spark of virtue living in their heart, Have basely turn'd apostates; have debas'd Their dignity of office; have disgrac'd, Like Eli's sons, the altars where they stand, And caus'd their name to stink thro' all the land; Have stoop'd to prostitute their venal pen ::. For the support of great but guilty men;

Volume III.

20

Have made the bard, of their own vile accord, 25 Inferior to that thing we call a Lord.

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35

What is a Lord? Doth that plain simple word Contain some magic spel!? As soon as heard, Like an alarum beil on Night's dull ear, Doth it strike louder, and more strong appear Than other words? Whether we will or no, Thro' Reason's court doth it unquestion'd go Ev'n on the mention, and of course transmit Notions of something excellent, of wit Pleasing tho' keen, of humour free tho' chaste, Of sterling genius with sound judgment grac'd, Of virtue far above temptation's reach, And honour which not malice can impeach? Believe it not-'t was Nature's first intent Before their rank became their punishment. They should have pass'd for men, nor blush'd to prize The blessings she bestow'd-She gave them eyes, And they could see--she gave them ears--they heard-The instruments of stirring, and they stirr’d— Like us, they were design'd to eat, to drink, To talk, and (ev'ry now and then) to think; Till they, by pride corrupted, for the sake Of singularity disclaim'd that make; Till they, disdaining Nature's vulgar mode, Flew off, and struck into another road, More fitting Quality, and to our view Came forth a species altogether new,

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