The men, as Indians with a female

Tame elephant inveigle the male?

Have they told Prov'dence what it must do,
Whom to avoid and whom to trust to?

590

Discover'd th' enemy's design,

And which way best to countermine?
Prescrib'd what ways it hath to work,
Or it will ne'er advance the kirk?
Told it the news o' th' last express,
And after good or bad success,
Made prayers, not so like petitions,
As overtures and propositions,
(Such as the army did present
To their creator, th' Parliament,

In which they freely will confess,
They will not cannot acquiesce,
Unless the work be carry'd on
In the same way they have begun,
By setting church and common-weal
All on a flame, bright as their zeal,
On which the saints were all agog,
And all this for a Bear and Dog!
The Parliament drew up petitions

595

600

605

To 'tself, and sent them like commissions, 610

To well affected persons down,

In ev'ry city and great town;

With pow'r to levy horse and men,
Only to bring them back

agen:

That each man swore to do his best,
To damn and perjure all the rest;
And bid the devil take the hindmost,
Who at this race is like to win most

They'll say our bus'ness to reform
The church and state, is but a worm;

For to subscribe, unsight, unseen,
To an unknown church discipline,
What is it else, but beforehand
T'engage, and after understand?
For when we swore to carry on
The present reformation,
According to the purest mode
Of churches best reform'd abroad
What did we else but make a vow

635

640

645

To fight to the last drop of blood.
These slanders will be thrown upon
The cause and work we carry on,
If we permit men to run headlong
T'exorbitances fit for Bedlam:

Rather than gospel-walking times,

When slightest sins are greatest crimes.

655

But we the matter so shall handle,

As to remove that odious scandal:
In name of King and Parliament,
I charge ye all no more foment

This feud, but keep the peace between

660

He, and that engine of vile noise,
On which illegally he plays,

Shall dictum factum, both be brought

To condign punishment as they ought.

This must be done, and I would fain see

Mortal so sturdy as to gainsay:

For then I'll take another course,

675

And soon reduce you all by force.

680

This said, he clapt his hand on sword,

To show he meant to keep his word.

But Talgol, who had long supprest

Inflam'd wrath in glowing breast.

Which now began to rage and burn as
Implacable as flame in furnace,

Thus answer'd him: Thou vermin wretched,

As e'er in measled pork was hatched;

Thou tail of worship, that dost grow
On rump of justice as of cow;

How dar'st thou with that sullen luggage
O' th' self, old ir'n, and other baggage,
With which thy steed of bones and leather
Has broke his wind in halting hither;

685

690

How durst th', I say, adventure thus

695

T'oppose thy lumber against us?

Could thine impertinence find out

No work t' employ itself about,

Where thou, secure from wooden blow,

Thy busy vanity might'st show?

Was no dispute a-foot between

The caterwauling brethren?

No subtle question rais'd among

700

Those out-o'-their wits, and those i' th' wrong;

No prize between those combatants

O' th' times, the land and water saints;