Classic Poem

1.

Ye whose lips the cause decide,
Say, does Truth your sentence guide?
Are your thoughts by Justice sway'd,
And in Reason's balance weigh'd?
Let your conscious tongues attest
What ye harbour in your breast.

2.

Hearts ye bear, that deep within
Cherish each suggested sin,
While on fierce contention bent
Arts of mischief ye invent,
And the dictates of your will
With remorseless hands fulfil.

3.

From the womb, in error's way
See the infant sinner stray:
Nurtur'd in deceit and wrong
See him with advent'rous tongue
(Prompt his earliest skill to try,)
Lisp the meditated lye.

4.

See their veins with venom swell;
Arm'd with such, the Adder fell
Stops her ear, in many a fold
'Mid the shelt'ring brake uproll'd,
While each note the Charmer tries,
And his utmost art defies.

5.

Smite, great God, the Lions' cheek,
And their sangs indignant break.
While they arm them for the war,
And their quiver'd stores prepare,
Let th' Oppressors feel thy pow'r,
Let thy sword their strength devour;

6.

Let them waste in swift decay,
As the Torrents pass away,
As the earth-bred Snails consume,
As th' Abortions of the womb
(Life's short circuit scarce begun,)
Perish ere they see the sun.

7.

Ere the Caldron learn to glow
From the kindling thorns below,
Let thy hotter wrath be shed
Quick on each rebellious head:
Let thy whirlwinds, through the sky,
Ministers of vengeance, fly.

8.

Let them, Lord, at thy behest,
Sweep from earth the living Pest:
While the Souls that trust in Thee
Pleas'd their cause aveng'd shall see,
And, the dreadful conflict o'er,
Wash their steps in hostile gore.

9.

" Doubtless, " each convinc'd shall cry,
" Doubtless, there's a God on high,
" Who in awful Pomp array'd,
" Comes to judge the world he made,
" All who His commands regard,
" Reap at length their full reward. "