120
Epistles.
Companions in your master's flight you roam 5
Unenvy'd by your haughty foes at home;
For ever near the Royal Outlaw's side
You share his fortunes and his hopes divide,
On glorious schemes and thoughts of empire dwell,
And with imaginary titles swell. 10
Say, for thou know'st I own his sacred line,
The passive doctrine and the right divine,
Say, what new succours does the Chief prepare?
The strength of armies or the force of pray'r?
Does he from heav'n or earth his hopes derive? 15
From saints departed or from priests alive?
Nor faints nor priests can Brunswick's troops withstand,
And beads drop useless thro' the zealot's hand.
Heav'n to our vows may future kingdoms owe,
But skill and courage win the crowns below. 20
Ere to thy cause and thee my heart inclin'd,
Or love to party had seduc'd my mind,
In female joys I took a dull delight,
Slept all the morn and punted half the night;
But now with fears and publick cares possest 25
The Church! the Church! for ever breaks my rest.
The Postboy on my pillow I explore,
And sift the news of ev'ry foreign shore,
Studious to find new friends and new allies,
What armies march from Sweden in disguise, 30
How Spain prepares her banners to unfold,
And Rome deals out her blessings and her gold;
Unenvy'd by your haughty foes at home;
For ever near the Royal Outlaw's side
You share his fortunes and his hopes divide,
On glorious schemes and thoughts of empire dwell,
And with imaginary titles swell. 10
Say, for thou know'st I own his sacred line,
The passive doctrine and the right divine,
Say, what new succours does the Chief prepare?
The strength of armies or the force of pray'r?
Does he from heav'n or earth his hopes derive? 15
From saints departed or from priests alive?
Nor faints nor priests can Brunswick's troops withstand,
And beads drop useless thro' the zealot's hand.
Heav'n to our vows may future kingdoms owe,
But skill and courage win the crowns below. 20
Ere to thy cause and thee my heart inclin'd,
Or love to party had seduc'd my mind,
In female joys I took a dull delight,
Slept all the morn and punted half the night;
But now with fears and publick cares possest 25
The Church! the Church! for ever breaks my rest.
The Postboy on my pillow I explore,
And sift the news of ev'ry foreign shore,
Studious to find new friends and new allies,
What armies march from Sweden in disguise, 30
How Spain prepares her banners to unfold,
And Rome deals out her blessings and her gold;
