Page:Caledonia (Defoe).djvu/54

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Some Blood the Monſter drank, but when it try'd
To take a Doſe of Liberty, IT DY'd.
But it their Civil State ſome Praiſe affords,
Much greater are the Trophies of their Swords.
Ages of Blood have brought them up to War
And their ſtrong Legions breath in every Air,
[1] They taught the very Swedes themſelves to Fight,
And ſpight of Dulneſs arm'd the [2] Muſcovite;
The ſordid Ruſs, to diſcipline they Train
And fain would teach the [3] Poles, but that's in vain.
Th' untracted Brute in Ignorance too Wiſe,
Learn't only how Experience to deſpiſe.
Nothing keeps Nature cloſs in Jayl like Pride,
Squadrons of Page-like Crimes before her ride,
And Ignorance is always next her ſide.


  1. At the Battle of Leipsick, the Scots were the first that were ever seen to fire with their Ranks clos'd foreward, and their Pieces over one another's Shoulders, or as we call it, kneel, stoop, and stand, which was such a Sur|prize to the Germans, pouring in such a Quantity of Lead upon them toge|ther, that they could not stand it, which the King of Sweden own'd, was the great Occasion of the Victory, and practiz'd it afterwards among all his Troops.
  2. The Scots Officers have all along been the Instructors of the Muscovites, and if they are the worst Soldiers in Europe, it has not been for want of good Masters but by being dull Scholars, tho something may be ascrib'd to the Constitution of their Country, arming only the Boors, and not entertaining 'em as Soldiers, but demitting 'em after the Occasion, to their Imployments again, which Method the present Czar having alter'd, the Russians to Eu|rope's Cost, are not unlikely to show the World they have been very well taught.
  3. The Pride and Haughtiness of the Pole has made him disdain to be Instructed, and consequently their Foot (especially) are good for nothing in the Field.