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IV.

Firm on the rolling deck he stood,
Unmoved, beheld the breaking flood,

With blackening storms combined. "Virtue," he cry'd," will force its way; "The wind may for a while delay,

"Not alter our design.

V

"The men whom selfish hopes inflame,

"Or vanity allures to fame,

"May be to fears betray'd;

"But here a church for succour flies,

"Insulted law expiring lies,

And loudly calls for aid.

VI.

Yes, Britons, yes, with ardent zeal, "I come, the wounded heart to heal, "The wounding hand to bind :

"See tools of arbitrary sway,

"And priests, like locusts, scout away "Before the western wind.

VII.

"Law shall again her voice resume;

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'Religion, clear'd from clouds of Rome,

"With brighter rays advance.

"The British fleet shall rule the deep, "The British youth, as roused from sleep, "Strike terror into France.

VIII.

"Nor shall these promises of fate "Be limited to my short date;

"When I from cares withdraw,

"Still shall the British sceptre stand, "Still flourish in a female hand,

"And to mankind give law.

IX.

"She shall domestick foes unite, "Monarchs beneath her flags shall fight,

"Whole armies drag her chain :

"She shall lost Italy restore.

“Shall make th' Imperial Eagle soar,

"And give a king to Spain.

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"But know, these promises are given, "These great rewards impartial heaven "Does on these terms decree;

That strictly punishing men's faults, "You let their consciences and thoughts "Rest absolutely free.

x1.

"Let no false politicks confine

"In narrow bounds, your vast design

"To make mankind unite;

"Nor think it a sufficient cause

"To punish men by penal laws,

"For not believing right.

XII.

"Rome, whose blind zeal destroys mankind; "Rome's sons shall your compassion find,

"Who ne'er compassion knew.

"By nobler actions theirs condemn :
"For what has been reproach'd in them,

"Can ne'er be praised in you.

XIII.

"These subjects suit not with the lyre; "Muse! to what height dost thou aspire, "Pretending to rehearse

"The thoughts of gods, and godlike kings? "Cease, cease to lessen lofty things

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THOMAS BETTERTON.

Westminster, 1635–1710.

An actor of unequalled excellence in the best age of English acting, and a man of real goodness.

Chaucer's Characters.

TWAS when the fields imbibe the vernal showers, And Venus paints her month with early flowers; When Sol, diffusing genial warmth around, Unbinds the frozen bosom of the ground; When gentle Zephyr with refreshing breath Revived each grain that in the womb of earth All winter slept; and th' all enlivening sun, Thro' the bright ram had half his progress run; When birds on every bough renew their songs, And Philomel her evening note prolongs; Then nature smiles; then Devotees engage, Thro' the wide world to roam on pilgrimage.

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