I GRANT Corruption sways mankind;
That interest, too, perverts the mind;
That bribes have blinded common sense,
Foil'd reason, truth, and eloquence:
I grant you, too, our present crimes
Can equal those of former times.
Against plain facts shall I engage,
To vindicate our righteous age?
I know that in a modern fist,
Bribes, in full energy, subsist.
Since then these arguments prevail,
And itching palms are still so frail,
Hence politicians, you suggest,
Should drive the nail that goes the best;
That it shows parts and penetration,
To ply men with the right temptation.
To this I humbly must dissent,
Premising, no reflection's meant.
Does justice, or the client's sense,
Teach lawyers, either side's defence?
The fee gives eloquence its spirit,
That only is the client's merit.
Does art, wit, wisdom, or address,
Obtain the prostitute's caress?
The guinea (as in other trades),
From every hand, alike persuades.
"Man," Scripture says, "is prone to evil;"
But does that vindicate the devil?
Besides, the more mankind are prone,
The less the devil's parts are shown.
Corruption's not of modern date;
It hath been tried in every state.
Great knaves of old their power have fenced, By places, pensions, bribes, dispensed;
By these they gloried in success,
And impudently dared oppress;
By these despotic'ly they sway'd,
And slaves extoll'd the hand that paid;
Nor parts nor genius were employ'd-
By these alone were realms destroy'd.
Now see these wretches in disgrace,
Stript of their treasures, power, and place;
View 'em abandon'd and forlorn,
Exposed to just reproach, and scorn,
What now is all your pride, your boast?
Where are your slaves, your flattering host?
What tongues now feed you with applause?
Where are the champions of your cause?
Now e'en that very fawning train,
Which shared the gleanings of your gain,
Press foremost who shall first accuse
Your selfish jobs, your paltry views,
Your narrow schemes, your breach of trust,
And want of talents to be just.
What fools were these amidst their power!
How thoughtless of their adverse hour!
What friends were made? A hireling herd,
For temporary votes preferr❜d.
Was it these sycophants to get,
Your bounty swell'd a nation's debt?
You're bit, for these, like Swiss, attend-
No longer pay, no longer friend.1
The lion is (beyond dispute)
Allow'd the most majestic brute;
His valour and his generous mind
Prove him superior of his kind:
(1) Witness the fall of all great men, not only as with Cæsar, after death"Now lies he there, and none so poor to do him reverence!"but also upon their dismission from power, whether it be Wolsey or Sejanus the cry from all the satellites, who run from the setting sun to greet a newer planet, is
Dum jacet in ripâ, calcemus Cæsaris hostem.”—Juv. Sat. X.
Yet to jackals (as 'tis averr'd)
Some lions have their power transferr❜d,
As if the parts of pimps and spies
To govern forests, could suffice.
Once, studious of his private good,
A proud Jackal oppress'd the wood;
To cram his own insatiate jaws,
Invaded property and laws.
The forest groans with discontent,
Fresh wrongs the general hate, foment.
The spreading murmurs reach'd his ear;
His secret hours were vex'd with fear.
Night after night, he weighs the case,
And feels the terrors of disgrace.
"By friends," says he, "I'll guard my seat. By those, malicious tongues defeat;
I'll strengthen power by new allies,
And all my clamorous foes, despise."
To make the generous beasts his friends,
He cringes, fawns, and condescends;
But those repulsed his abject court,
And scorn'd oppression to support.
Friends must be had, he can't subsist—
Bribes shall new proselytes, enlist.
But these, nought weigh'd in honest paws;
For bribes, confess a wicked cause:
Yet think not every paw withstands
What hath prevail'd in human hands.
A tempting turnip's silver skin
Drew a base Hog through thick and thin:
Bought with a Stag's delicious haunch,
The mercenary Wolf was staunch :
The convert Fox grew warm and hearty,
A pullet gain'd him to the party:
The golden pippin in his fist,
A chattering Monkey join'd the list.1
But soon, exposed to public hate,
The favourite's fall redress'd the state.
The Leopard, vindicating right,
Had brought his secret frauds to light.
As rats, before the mansion falls,
Desert late hospitable walls,
In shoals the servile creatures run,
To bow before the rising sun.
The Hog with warmth express'd his zeal,
And was for hanging those that steal;
But hoped, though low, the public hoard
Might, half a turnip, still afford.
Since saving measures were profest,
A lamb's head, was the Wolf's request.
The Fox submitted, if to touch
A gosling would be deem'd too much?
The Monkey thought his grin and chatter,
Might ask a nut, or some such matter.
"Ye hirelings, hence!" the Leopard cries,
"Your venal conscience I despise:
He who the public good intends,
By bribes, needs never purchase friends.
Who acts this just, this open part,
Is propt by every honest heart.
Corruption now too late has show'd
That bribes are always ill-bestowed:
(1) So true is it "that every one has his price" indeed, I find that the most sterling, certainly the most vociferous, virtue, is that which has never been tested.
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