Page:Caledonia (Defoe).djvu/49

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Afflictions make Men Stupid, Nature winks,
And Senſe o'relaid, he acts before he thinks;
Subjected Nature fetter'd with Diſtreſs
Dozes, and Bondage does the Soul poſſeſs,
Endeavour Slackneſs, all the Proſpects dy,
And with the Hope, the Love of Liberty.

Yet under all the Hardſhips of their State,
They've ſomething ſeems to claim a ſofter Fate;
Nor does it claim alone, The Grand Portent
Foretells the Bleſſing, and decrees th'Event.
'Tis plainly printed on the Painful Brow,
They ſhall not always be ſuppreſt as now;
Th'approaching Light at Diſtance dawns, the Ray
Darts a Dim Earneſt of the Welcome Day.
When ſleeping Bondage doom'd to laſting Night,
Shall help to make the Chearing Beam more bright.
Th'enlighten'd Crowd ſhall their own Freedom ſee,
For willful Blindneſs only, ſhuts out Liberty;

Bondage is Ignorance, and he that ſees,
Needs no directer Cure for that Diſeaſe.
Knowledge and Liberty go Hand in Hand,
Fools only will obey, when Knaves command;
The Sordid Yoke no longer can be born,
When once he ſees he muſt the Grievance ſcorn;