Page:The Works of Alexander Pope (1717).djvu/351

But the vile vulgar, ever discontent,
Their growing fears in secret murmurs vent;
Still prone to change, tho' still the slaves of state,
And sure the monarch whom they have, to hate;
Madly they make new Lords, then tamely bear,
And softly curse the Tyrants whom they fear.
And one of those who groan beneath the sway
Of Kings impos'd, and grudgingly obey;
(Whom envy to the great, and vulgar spight
With scandal arm'd, th' ignoble mind's delight,)
Exclaim'd—O Thebes! for thee what fates remain,
What woes attend this inauspicious reign?
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$Must we, alas! our doubtful necks prepare,
Each haughty master's yoke by turns to bear,
And still to change whom chang'd we still must fear?
These now controul a wretched people's fate,
These can divide, and these reverse the state;
Ev'n fortune rules no more:—O servile land,
Where exil'd tyrants still by turns command!

Thou