And strives to carry on the Work, Like a true primitive reforming Turk, Was the first great Reformer, and the chief That mix'd it with new light, and cheat, With revelations, dreams, and visions, And apoftolic fuperftitions, To be held forth and carry'd on by war; With greater right than Haly or Abubeker. XI. For, as a Turk, that is to act some crime 205 210 215 220 So, when fome horrid action 's to be done, Our Turkish profelyte puts on Another fpirit, and lays by his own ; And, when his over-heated brain Turns giddy, like his brother Muffulman, 225 He 's judg'd infpir'd, and all his frenzies held To be prophetic, and reveal'd. The one believes all madmen to be faints, Which th' other cries him down for and abhors, And yet in madness all devotion plants, 230 And where he differs moft concurs ; Both Both equally exact and just In perjury and breach of truft ; So like in all things, that one Brother Is but a counterpart of th' other; And both unanimously damn And hate (like two that play one game) Each other for it, while they ftrive to do the fame. XII. Both equally design to raise 235 Their churches by the felf-fame ways; 240 With war and ruin to affert Their doctrine, and with fword and fire convert; To preach the gofpel with a drum, And for convincing overcome: And though, in worthiping of God, all blood 245 Was by his own laws difallow'd, Both hold no holy rites to be fo good, And both, to propagate the breed Of their own Saints, one way proceed; For luft and rapes in war repair as faft 250 Both equally allow all crimes, As lawful means to propagate a fe&t; And licence does more good in gofpel-times. 255 The horrid't feenes of blood and fin; For, when Religion does recede From her own nature, nothing but a breed U.4 260 UPON UPON MODERN CRITICS. A PINDARIC ODE. "T I. IS well that equal Heaven has plac'd The just and virtuous are prepar'd, Beyond their reach, until their pains are paft; So 'tis to take the pains to know: Which fome, with only confidence and face, For daring nonfenfe feldom fails to hit, Like scatter'd shot, and pass with some for wit. Than with dull industry and care Endure to study, think, and drudge, For For that which he much sooner may advance II. For all men challenge, though in fpite 25 Shall be, and who shall ne'er be, wife: Then why should those whom she denies 30 Not strive to take opinion by furprize, And ravish what it were in vain to wooe? Their homely nether-parts t' adorn), Can never fail to captive fome, 40 That will fubmit to his oraculous doom, And reverence what they ought to scorn; For folid judgment and deep fense: And credit purchas'd without pains or wit, III. Two felf-admirers, that combine 45 Against the world, may pass a fine Upon Upon all judgment, fenfe, and wit, And fettle it as they think fit On one another, like the choice Of Perfian princes, by one horfe's voice : And yet may be divulg'd and fam'd, Each other but a Knight o' the Post, As falfe as fuborn'd perjurers, That vouch away all right they have to their own ears. |