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people will pay their taxes in good gold or silver, they demand no subsidy of so many bushels of fleas, lest they should receive the same answer with the tyrant, that the subject could not furnish that quantity, and besides they would be leaping out still before they could be measured, and should they fine the people for non-payment, they reckon there would be little got by distraining.' They have been told that, a certain queen being desired to give a townseal to one of her cities, lighting from her horse, sate down naked on the snow, and left them that impression; and though it caused no 'disturbance, but all the town-leases are Letters Patents, kings do not approve the example: that 'the late Queen of Sweden did herself no good with saying, Io non voglio governar le bestie, but afterward resigned:' that the occasion of the revolt of Switserland from the Emperor, and it's turning Commonwealth, was only the imposing of a civil ceremony by a capricious governor, who set up a pole in the highway with a cap upon the top of it, to which he would have all passengers be uncovered and do obeisance.'-One sturdy Swiss, that would not conform, thereupon overturned the government, as it is at large in history: that 'the King of Spain lost Flanders, chiefly, upon introducing the Inquisition:' and you now, Mr. Bayes, will think these, and a hundred more that I could tell you, but idle stories; and yet Kings can tell how to make use of them! And hence it is that, instead of assuming your unhoopable jurisdiction, they are so satisfied with the abundance of their power, that they rather think meet to abate of it's exercise by their discretion. The greater their fortune is, they are content to use the less extravagancy.'

The Coronet.

When for the thorns with which I long, too long,
With many a piercing wound

My Saviour's head have crown'd,

I seek with garlands to redress that wrong;
Through every garden, every mead,
I gather flowers (my fruits are only flowers)
Dismantling all the fragrant towers,
That once adorn'd my shepherdess' head.
And now, when I have summ'd up all my store,
Thinking (so I myself deceive)

So rich a chaplet thence to weave,
As never yet the King of Glory wore;
Alas! I find the Serpent old,

Twining in his speckled breast,
About the flowers disguised does fold
With wreaths of fame and interest.

Ah, foolish man, that would'st debase with them,
And mortal glory, Heaven's diadem!

But thou, who only could'st the Serpent tame,
Either his slippery knots at once untie,

And disentangle all his winding snare,

Or shatter too with him my curious frame;
And let these wither so that he may die,

Though set with skill, and chosen out with care: That they, while thou on both their spoils dost tread, May crown thy feet, that could not crown thy head."

On Milton's Paradise Lost.'

• When I beheld the poet blind, yet bold,
In slender book his vast design unfold,
Messiah crown'd, God's reconciled decree,
Rebelling Angels, the Forbidden Tree,

Heaven, Hell, Earth, Chaos, all; the argument
Held me a while misdoubting his intent,
That he would ruin (for I saw him strong)
The sacred truths to fable and old song;

So Samson groped the temple's posts in spite,
The world o'erwhelming to revenge his sight.

Yet as I read, soon growing less severe,

I liked his project, the success did fear;

Through that wide field how he his way should find,
O'er which lame faith leads understanding blind;
Lest he'd perplex the things he would explain,
And what was easy he should render vain.

Or if a work so infinite he spann'd,
Jealous I was, that some less skilful hand
(Such as disquiet always what is well,
And by ill imitating would excel)

Might hence presume the whole creation's day
To change in scenes, and show it in a play.
Pardon me, mighty poet, and despise
My causeless, yet not impious, surmise:
But I am now convinced, and none will darę
Within thy labours to pretend a share.

Thou hast not miss'd one thought that could be fit,
And all that was improper dost omit;

So that no room is here for writers left,

But to detect their ignorance or theft.

That majesty, which through thy work doth reign, Draws the devout, deterring the profane; And things divine thou treat'st of in such state, As them preserves, and thee, inviolate. At once delight and horror on us seize, Thou sing'st with so much gravity and ease; And above human flight dost soar aloft With plume so strong, so equal, and so soft: The bird, named from that Paradise you sing, So never flags, but always keeps on wing. Where could'st thou words of such a compass find? Whence furnish such a vast expanse of mind? Just heaven thee, like Tiresias, to requite, Rewards with prophecy thy loss of sight. Well might'st thou scorn thy readers to allure With tinkling rhyme, of thy own sense secure; While the Town-Bays writes all the while and spells, And like a pack-horse tires without his bells: There fancies like our bushy points appear; The poets tag them, we for fashion wear.

I too, transported by the mode, commend;
And while I meant to praise thee, must offend.
Thy verse created, like thy theme, sublime,

In number, weight, and measure, needs not rhyme.'

Britannia and Ralegh.

BRITANNIA.

Ah! Ralegh, when thou did'st thy breath resign To trembling James, would I had quitted mine. "Cubs," didst thou call them? Had'st thou seen this brood Of Earls and Dukes, and Princes of the Blood; No more of Scottish race thou would'st complain, Those would be blessings in this spurious reign. Awake, arise, from thy long bless'd repose, Once more with me partake of mortal woes.

RALEGH.

What mighty power has forced me from my rest?
Oh! mighty queen, why so untimely dress'd?

BRITANNIA.

Favour'd by night, conceal'd in this disguise,
Whilst the lewd court in drunken slumber lies,
I stole away, and never will return,

Till England knows who did her city burn;
Till Cavaliers shall favourites be deem'd,
And loyal sufferers by the court esteem'd;
Till Leigh and Galloway shall bribes reject;
Thus Osborne's* golden cheat I shall detect:
Till atheist Lauderdale shall leave this land,
And Commons' votes shall cut-nose guards disband;
Till Kate a happy mother shall become;

Till Charles loves parliaments, and James hates Rome.

RALEGH.

What fatal crimes make you for ever fly

Your once loved court, and Martyr's progeny?

* Leigh and Galloway were suspected to be bribed by the Earl of Danby, to vote with the court.

BRITANNIA.

A colony of French possess'd the court; Pimps, priests, buffoons, in privy-chamber sport. Such slimy monsters ne'er approach'd a throne Since Pharaoh's days, nor so defiled a crown. In sacred ear tyrannic arts they croak, Pervert his mind, and good intentions choak; Tell him of golden India's fairy lands, Leviathan, and absolute commands. Thus, fairy-like, they steal the King away, And in his room a changeling Louis lay. How oft have I him to himself restored, In's left the scale, in's right hand placed the sword! Taught him their use, what dangers would ensue To them who strive to separate these two; The bloody Scottish chronicle read o'er, Show'd him how many Kings in purple gore Were hurl'd to hell by cruel tyrant Lore?

The other day famed Spenser I did bring, In lofty notes Tudor's bless'd race to sing; How Spain's proud powers her virgin arms controll❜d, And golden days in peaceful order roll'd;

How like ripe fruit she dropp'd from off her throne,
Full of grey hairs, good deeds, and great renown.
As the Jessean hero did appease

Saul's stormy rage, and stopp'd his black disease;
So the learn'd bard, with artful song, suppress'd
The swelling passion of his canker'd breast,
And in his heart kind influences shed
Of country's love, by truth and justice bred.
Then to perform the care so well begun,
To him I show'd this glorious setting sun;
How, by her people's looks pursued from far,
She mounted on a bright celestial car,
Outshining Virgo or the Julian star,

}

Whilst in truth's mirror this good scene he spied,
Enter'd a dame bedeck'd with spotted pride:
Fair flower-de-luce within an azure field
Her left hand bears, the ancient Gallic shield
By her usurp'd; her right a bloody sword,
Inscribed Leviathan our Sovereign Lord;