Page:Caledonia (Defoe).djvu/85

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Infernal Harmony of Cauſes make,
And in true Circles of Diſtreſs they walk,
Vile Sloth and Poverty of Spurious Breed,
Neither from Heaven or Earth, but of themſelves proceed,
Begot in Life, by long degenerate Time,
'Twixt Stagnate Vertue, and Impregnate Crime.

'Twin Monſters neither Seed nor Offſpring kno',
reate, by meer Succeſſion flow.
No proper ſource, but from themſelves they find,
And by ſupine Infuſions reach the Mind.
All Natures Rules by their own Power reject,
And are themſelves the Cauſe, themſelves th' Effect;
Th' alternate Miſery ne're leaves the Door,
But Poverty makes Sloth, and Sloth makes poor,
Unnatural Mixtures form the gendring Pair,
Alternately they both beget and bare.
No Proper Seeds of Life, or living ſhow,
They'r born in Death, and in Conſumptions grow;
Superior Witchcraft forms the diſmal Race,
And Devils unknown below', connect the Face.
The unhappy Wretch, when Hag-rid and poſſeſt,
The Crimes are in his Countenance confeſt.

A ſanguine Pale and drooping brightneſs ſhine,
This always Saturnine, and that ſupine,
Joyn'd hand in hand, they living Death diſplay,

And Life in full perfection of Decay.