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E'en those who have perplex'd a state,
Whose actions claim contempt and hate,
Had wretches to applaud their schemes,
Though more absurd than madmen's dreams.
When barbarous Moloch was invoked,
The blood of infants only smoked!
But here (unless all History lies)

Whole realms have been a sacrifice.

Look through all courts: 'tis power we find
The general idol of mankind,

There worshipp'd under every shape:
Alike the lion, fox, and ape,

Are follow'd by time-serving slaves,
Rich prostitutes and needy knaves.1
Who then shall glory in his post?
How frail his pride, how vain his boast!
The followers of his prosperous hour
Are as unstable as his power.

Power, by the breath of Flattery nurst,
The more it swells is nearer burst.
The bubble breaks, the gewgaw ends,
And in a dirty tear descends.2

Once on a time an ancient maid,
By wishes and by time decay'd,
To cure the pangs of restless thought,

In birds and beasts, amusement sought:

(1) See the history of most of our chief men and prelates; even public narrative relates many specks upon their escutcheon, contracted in their progress to power, and how much more black would it appear, if all the "back stairs" influence were related!

(2)

"my high-blown pride

At length broke under me!"

Vide Wolsey's Speech, SHAKS. Hen. VIII. Act iii.

Dogs, parrots, apes, her hours employ'd;
With these alone she talk'd and toy❜d.
A huge Baboon her fancy took,
(Almost a man in size and look)
He finger'd everything he found,
And mimic'd all the servants round.
Then, too, his parts and ready wit
Show'd him for every business fit.
With all these talents 'twas but just
That Pug should hold a place of trust;
So to her favourite was assign'd

The charge of all her feather'd kind.
"Twas his to tend 'em eve and morn,
And portion out their daily corn.

Behold him now, with haughty stride, Assume a ministerial pride.

The morning rose. In hope of picking,
Swans, turkeys, peacocks, ducks, and chicken,
Fowls of all ranks surround his hut,

To worship his important strut.
The minister appears: the crowd,
Now here, now there, obsequious bow'd.
This praised his parts, and that his face,
T' other his dignity in place.
From bill to bill the flattery ran:
He hears and bears it like a man;
For when we flatter Self-conceit,
We but his sentiments repeat.

If we're too scrupulously just,
What profit's in a place of trust?
The common practice of the great
Is to secure a snug retreat:

So Pug began to turn his brain

(Like other folks in place) on gain.
An apple-woman's stall was near,

Well stock'd with fruits through all the year;
Here every day he cramm'd his guts,
Hence were his hoards of pears and nuts;
For 'twas agreed (in way of trade)
His payments should in corn be made.
The stock of grain was quickly spent,
And no account which way it went.
Then, too, the Poultry's starved condition
Caused speculations of suspicion.
The facts were proved beyond dispute,
Pug must refund his hoards of fruit,
And, though then minister in chief,
Was branded as a public thief.
Disgraced, despised, confined to chains,
He nothing but his pride retains.

A Goose pass'd by,—he knew the face,
Seen every levee while in place.

"What, no respect! no reverence shown!
How saucy are these creatures grown!
Not two days since," says he, "you bow'd
The lowest of my fawning crowd."

"Proud fool!" replies the Goose, "tis true
Thy corn a fluttering levee drew;
For that I join'd the hungry train,
And sold thee flattery for thy grain:
But then, as now, conceited Ape,
We saw thee in thy proper shape." 1

(1) "Oh most lame and impotent conclusion!

As to the remark in the two

last lines, it is worthy of-a goose, but the conduct of the minister, and of the

flatterer, the latter equally as to its sycophancy and ingratitude-is a model of statesmanship and intrigue. The reason why every change in an administration costs a country much, is that the new officials have to feather their nest, whilst the old covey have feathered theirs, so that each new plucking, renders the public (the goose) more bare! Neither is it until disappointment has soured, or prosperity gorged him, that a minister learns

"Corruption wins not more than honesty;"

and that his true duty is to,

"Be just and fear not:

Let all the ends he aims at, be his country's,

His God's, and truth's."-SHAK. Hen. VIII. Act iii.

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You tell me that you apprehend
My verse may touchy folks offend.
In prudence, too, you think my rhymes
Should never squint at courtiers' crimes;
For though nor this nor that is meant,
Can we another's thoughts prevent?

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