From kings of mighty nations homage due—
Not to be purchas'd by thy wealth Peru.
Satan-from Court to Court-amaz'd now flies,
Ambition false to propagate-by lies :-
To swell with regal pride—their hosts combin'd,
And rule, sole sovereign, o'er the human mind.
Their brazen guns-their implements of war,
The harquebuse or the bright scymitar
He paints as weapons far-yes-far too strong,
For those to meet-who to Christ's band belong :-
That little band-which our Messiah leads,
Glorious in noble strife-and virtuous deeds.
Thus poison'd, by the subtle fiend, they bring
Theirarmies forth-t'oppose their sovereign King:-
Thus, in their madness, send defiance forth
To him-who reigns, supreme, from South to
North :-(9)
From East to West-whose name each Seraph sings,
As Lord of Lords-and mighty King of Kings.
Man's long deluded race eager to spare
Is God's anointed-first-most anxious care :-
With reason tries he, to uphold his reign,
In peace th'Almighty's orders to maintain.
Unhappy men," he cries, " is Rome forgot,
"And all the chastisements which were her lot?
"Areall the wonders which th' Heaven's foretold,"So lately seen-become as they were old? "Are they, so soon, forgotten-are they fled
From your mind's eye-as number'd with the dead? “ These—these do speak my lasting reign and tell "The Son of Jesse's seed-should all excel ;— "Satan-who, long since, fell—by his damn'd pride, "Would have his followers now-my pow'r deride: "With the vain strength of mortal pow'rs would swell, "Souls unbelieving-teach them to rebel. "Farewell-his reign expires when I, alone, "Ascend the holy David's-long lost throne :“Hear me then-hear me—ere it be too late, "For thousands-tens of thousands on me wait :My father's host surrounds me—though no eye "The glories of their presence can descry. "And instant death—'midst trouble, grief and fear "For your destruction-in their hands they bear."Arm'd with his pow'r divine—my will is fate;
Though loud your boasting-skilful your debate
"At council board—or in the public hall;
"For, with one word-your num'rous troops shall fall.”
In vain he speaks-vain-glory fills their hearts, Produc'd by sophistry's unhallow'd arts :—
And wild-and silly, as some head-strong boy,
Each-in their turn-now threaten'd to destroy
Each various nation to its standard runs,
Form in close columns-and prepare their guns,
Advance to war-regardless of what comes,
To sound of shrilling fife and rattling drums :-
When-lo! the Lord of Lords-as long foretold,
In spotless robes array'd-and crowned with gold,
That sword unsheath'd-which from his mouth
proceeds,
To extinguish sin and blast all impious deeds.
He gave the dreadful word—that reach'd the sky,
And Heaven's whole concave -echoed a reply.
Their troops arrested-in a moment stand, Dropp'd are their arms-their muskets strew the land:
From rank to rank-an instant faintness runs, Death in their looks-they totter at their guns. They fall-as when, in Autumn's reign, from trees Are brush'd the leaves, by some rude boisterous breeze.
And now from all the winds of heav'n are seen Vultures, and birds of each ill-omen'd mein :The uncleanly crow-and ev'ry bird that day— In rapid flight-haste onward to their prey :
To feast on fallen Captains-and to mar,
With their carniv'rous beaks those men of war:-
Who had been nam'd-the mighty and the brave,
Now doom'd to a most vile-ignoble-grave :-
For, rang'd against the King of Kings in fight,
Such end was purchas'd-and became their right.
The faithful saw-and, silently, ador'd :-
Fresh wonders fill their minds-they view their Lord.
Behold-from heav'n, with chains, an angel fly,
Chains that can fire's eternal pow'r defy.
Satan he calls-and straight the fiend attends;
For, here his pow'r is lost-resistance ends :-
Resistance were in vain-'gainst pow'r supreme,
'Twere idle all-or, but a madman's dream.
He's bound-and henceforth, in his proper guise-
Appears the father of ten-thousand lies :-
Of every ill that burthen'd human life,-
Of war, or blasphemy-of lust, or strife.
Till then-in any shape his fancy chose
He came-bewildering oft the minds of those
Who look'd for better things than he could give,
And wish'd the life-of the good-man to live.
In loveliest forms-seduc'd the human race,
By semblant virtue ;-but-left not its trace.
But now-amaz'd-behold the chosen few,
His frightful carcase-as it meets their view.
Of dress, and ornament-and all disguise,
Bereft it stands-before their wond'ring eyes.
Blotches and boils-and running sores are seen,
Pimples and scurvy--and the unhallow'd scene
Of hateful lust-which leprosies produce,—
Worse than the madd'ning-from the grape's rich
juice.
His face and body-cover'd o'er with scars,
From Bacchanalian rites-or Cyprian wars,
His sides and limbs-full evidence pourtray,
His often mingling in the unjust fray
Of wars-rais'd but for end as base -as mean-
Unjust in purpose-as most feuds have been.
Or else in private broils—or murders gain'd,
Where all who meet-by contact-must be stain'd.
Oozing out daily-black and putrid blood :—
Emblem of every ill that's understood.
In his fell looks-are rage and malice seen,
And every passion, that is vile-or mean ;-
Ambition thwarted-and revenge deny'd ;-
But most-the symbols of his fallen pride.—
Th'Angel, straightway bears the fiend away To his appointed prison-far from day There binds him fast-in darkness and in dread, Without one spot-on which to rest his head :—
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