Laurel · John Dryden · The Poetical Works, Volume I

Part I

John Dryden (1631–1700) · 1660–1700

iambic pentameter · heroic couplets · 572 lines · from The Poetical Works, Volume I

A milk-white Hind, immortal and unchanged,Fed on the lawns, and in the forest ranged;Without unspotted, innocent within,She fear'd no danger, for she knew no sin.Yet had she oft been chased with horns and hounds,And Scythian shafts; and many winged woundsAim'd at her heart; was often forced to fly,And doom'd to death, though fated not to die.

Not so her young; for their unequal lineWas hero's make, half human, half divine.Their earthly mould obnoxious was to fate,The immortal part assumed immortal state.Of these a slaughter'd army lay in blood,Extended o'er the Caledonian wood,Their native walk; whose vocal blood arose,And cried for pardon on their perjured foes.Their fate was fruitful, and the sanguine seed,Endued with souls, increased the sacred breed.So captive Israel multiplied in chains,A numerous exile, and enjoy'd her pains.With grief and gladness mix'd, the mother view'dHer martyr'd offspring, and their race renew'd;Their corpse to perish, but their kind to last,So much the deathless plant the dying fruit surpass'd.

Panting and pensive now she ranged alone,And wander'd in the kingdoms once her own,The common hunt, though from their rage restrain'dBy sovereign power, her company disdain'd;Grinn'd as they pass'd, and with a glaring eyeGave gloomy signs of secret enmity.'Tis true, she bounded by, and tripp'd so light,They had not time to take a steady sight;For truth has such a face and such a mien,As to be loved needs only to be seen.

The bloody Bear, an independent beast,Unlick'd to form, in groans her hate express'd.Among the timorous kind the quaking HareProfess'd neutrality, but would not swear.Next her the buffoon Ape, as Atheists use,Mimick'd all sects, and had his own to choose:Still when the Lion look'd, his knees he bent,And paid at church a courtier's compliment.The bristled Baptist Boar, impure as he,But whiten'd with the foam of sanctity,With fat pollutions fill'd the sacred place,And mountains levell'd in his furious race;So first rebellion founded was in grace.But since the mighty ravage, which he madeIn German forests, had his guilt betray'd,With broken tusks, and with a borrow'd name;He shunn'd the vengeance, and conceal'd the shame:So lurk'd in sects unseen. With greater guileFalse Reynard fed on consecrated spoil:The graceless beast by Athanasius firstWas chased from Nice, then by Socinus nursed:His impious race their blasphemy renew'd,And nature's King through nature's optics view'd.Reversed they view'd him lessen'd to their eye,Nor in an infant could a God descry:New swarming sects to this obliquely tend,Hence they began, and here they all will end.

What weight of ancient witness can prevail,If private reason hold the public scale?But, gracious God, how well dost thou provideFor erring judgments an unerring guide!Thy throne is darkness in the abyss of light,A blaze of glory that forbids the sight.O teach me to believe thee thus conceal'd,And search no farther than thyself reveal'd;But her alone for my director take,Whom thou hast promised never to forsake!My thoughtless youth was wing'd with vain desires;My manhood, long misled by wandering fires,Follow'd false lights; and when their glimpse was gone,My pride struck out new sparkles of her own.Such was I, such by nature still I am;Be thine the glory, and be mine the shame.Good life be now my task; my doubts are done:What more could fright my faith, than Three in One?Can I believe Eternal God could lieDisguised in mortal mould and infancy?That the great Maker of the world could die?And after that trust my imperfect sense,Which calls in question His Omnipotence?Can I my reason to my faith compel,And shall my sight, and touch, and taste rebel?Superior faculties are set aside;Shall their subservient organs be my guide?Then let the moon usurp the rule of day,And winking tapers show the sun his way;For what my senses can themselves perceive,I need no revelation to believe.Can they who say the Host should be descriedBy sense, define a body glorified?Impassable, and penetrating parts?Let them declare by what mysterious artsHe shot that body through the opposing mightOf bolts and bars impervious to the light,And stood before his train confess'd in open sight.For since thus wondrously he pass'd, 'tis plain,One single place two bodies did contain.And sure the same Omnipotence as wellCan make one body in more places dwell.Let reason, then, at her own quarry fly,But how can finite grasp infinity?

'Tis urged again, that faith did first commenceBy miracles, which are appeals to sense,And thence concluded, that our sense must beThe motive still of credibility.For latter ages must on former wait,And what began belief must propagate.

But winnow well this thought, and you shall find'Tis light as chaff that flies before the wind.Were all those wonders wrought by power divine,As means or ends of some more deep design?Most sure as means, whose end was this alone,To prove the Godhead of the Eternal Son.God thus asserted, man is to believeBeyond what sense and reason can conceive,And for mysterious things of faith relyOn the proponent, Heaven's authority.If, then, our faith we for our guide admit,Vain is the farther search of human wit;As when the building gains a surer stay,We take the unuseful scaffolding away.Reason by sense no more can understand;The game is play'd into another hand.Why choose we, then, like bilanders, to creepAlong the coast, and land in view to keep,When safely we may launch into the deep?In the same vessel which our Saviour bore,Himself the pilot, let us leave the shore,And with a better guide a better world explore.Could he his Godhead veil with flesh and blood,And not veil these again to be our food?His grace in both is equal in extent,The first affords us life, the second nourishment.And if he can, why all this frantic painTo construe what his clearest words contain,And make a riddle what he made so plain?To take up half on trust, and half to try,Name it not faith, but bungling bigotry.Both knave and fool the merchant we may call,To pay great sums, and to compound the small:For who would break with Heaven, and would not break for all?Rest, then, my soul, from endless anguish freed:Nor sciences thy guide, nor sense thy creed.Faith is the best insurer of thy bliss;The bank above must fail before the venture miss.

But heaven and heaven-born faith are far from thee,Thou first apostate to divinity.Unkennell'd range in thy Polonian plains;A fiercer foe the insatiate Wolf remains.Too boastful Britain, please thyself no more,That beasts of prey are banish'd from thy shore:The Bear, the Boar, and every savage name,Wild in effect, though in appearance tame,Lay waste thy woods, destroy thy blissful bower,And, muzzled though they seem, the mutes devour.More haughty than the rest, the wolfish raceAppear with belly gaunt and famish'd face:Never was so deform'd a beast of grace.His ragged tail betwixt his legs he wears,Close clapp'd for shame; but his rough crest he rears,And pricks up his predestinating ears.His wild disorder'd walk, his haggard eyes,Did all the bestial citizens surprise.Though fear'd and hated, yet he ruled awhile,As captain or companion of the spoil.Full many a year his hateful head had beenFor tribute paid, nor since in Cambria seen:The last of all the litter 'scaped by chance,And from Geneva first infested France.Some authors thus his pedigree will trace,But others write him of an upstart race:Because of Wickliff's brood no mark he brings,But his innate antipathy to kings.These last deduce him from th' Helvetian kind,Who near the Leman lake his consort lined:That fiery Zuinglius first th' affection bred,And meagre Calvin bless'd the nuptial bed.In Israel some believe him whelp'd long since,When the proud Sanhedrim oppress'd the prince;Or, since he will be Jew, derive him higher,When Corah with his brethren did conspireFrom Moses' hand the sovereign sway to wrest,And Aaron of his ephod to divest:Till opening earth made way for all to pass,And could not bear the burden of a class.The Fox and he came shuffled in the dark,If ever they were stow'd in Noah's ark:Perhaps not made; for all their barking trainThe Dog (a common species) will contain.And some wild curs, who from their masters ran,Abhorring the supremacy of man,In woods and caves the rebel race began.

O happy pair, how well have you increased!What ills in Church and State have you redress'd!With teeth untried, and rudiments of claws,Your first essay was on your native laws:Those having torn with ease, and trampled down,Your fangs you fasten'd on the mitred crown,And freed from God and monarchy your town.What though your native kennel still be small,Bounded betwixt a puddle and a wall;Yet your victorious colonies are sentWhere the north ocean girds the continent.Quicken'd with fire below, your monsters breedIn fenny Holland, and in fruitful Tweed:And, like the first, the last affects to beDrawn to the dregs of a democracy.As, where in fields the fairy rounds are seen,A rank, sour herbage rises on the green;So, springing where those midnight elves advance,Rebellion prints the footsteps of the dance.Such are their doctrines, such contempt they showTo Heaven above and to their prince below,As none but traitors and blasphemers know.God, like the tyrant of the skies, is placed,And kings, like slaves, beneath the crowd debased.So fulsome is their food, that flocks refuseTo bite, and only dogs for physic use.As, where the lightning runs along the ground,No husbandry can heal the blasting wound;Nor bladed grass, nor bearded corn succeeds,But scales of scurf and putrefaction breeds:Such wars, such waste, such fiery tracks of dearthTheir zeal has left, and such a teemless earth,But, as the poisons of the deadliest kindAre to their own unhappy coasts confined;As only Indian shades of sight deprive,And magic plants will but in Colchos thrive;So Presbytery and pestilential zealCan only nourish in a commonweal.

From Celtic woods is chased the wolfish crew;But ah! some pity even to brutes is due:Their native walks methinks they might enjoy,Curb'd of their native malice to destroy.Of all the tyrannies on human kind,The worst is that which persecutes the mind.Let us but weigh at what offence we strike;'Tis but because we cannot think alike.In punishing of this, we overthrowThe laws of nations and of nature too.Beasts are the subjects of tyrannic sway,Where still the stronger on the weaker prey.Man only of a softer mould is made,Not for his fellows' ruin, but their aid:Created kind, beneficent, and free,The noble image of the Deity.

One portion of informing fire was givenTo brutes, the inferior family of heaven:The Smith Divine, as with a careless beat,Struck out the mute creation at a heat:But when arrived at last to human race,The Godhead took a deep-considering space;And to distinguish man from all the rest,Unlock'd the sacred treasures of his breast;And mercy mix'd with reason did impart,One to his head, the other to his heart:Reason to rule, and mercy to forgive;The first is law, the last prerogative.And like his mind his outward form appear'd,When, issuing naked, to the wondering herd,He charm'd their eyes; and, for they loved, they fear'd:Not arm'd with horns of arbitrary might,Or claws to seize their furry spoils in fight,Or with increase of feet to o'ertake them in their flight:Of easy shape, and pliant every way;Confessing still the softness of his clay,And kind as kings upon their coronation day:With open hands, and with extended spaceOf arms, to satisfy a large embrace.Thus kneaded up with milk, the new-made manHis kingdom o'er his kindred world began:Till knowledge misapplied, misunderstood,And pride of empire, sour'd his balmy blood.Then, first rebelling, his own stamp he coins;The murderer Cain was latent in his loins:And blood began its first and loudest cry,For differing worship of the Deity.Thus persecution rose, and further spaceProduced the mighty hunter of his race.Not so the blessed Pan his flock increased,Content to fold them from the famish'd beast:Mild were his laws; the Sheep and harmless HindWere never of the persecuting kind.Such pity now the pious pastor shows,Such mercy from the British Lion flows,That both provide protection from their foes.

O happy regions, Italy and Spain,Which never did those monsters entertain!The Wolf, the Bear, the Boar, can there advanceNo native claim of just inheritance.And self-preserving laws, severe in show,May guard their fences from the invading foe.Where birth has placed them, let them safely shareThe common benefit of vital air.Themselves unharmful, let them live unharm'd;Their jaws disabled, and their claws disarm'd:Here, only in nocturnal howlings bold,They dare not seize the hind, nor leap the fold.More powerful, and as vigilant as they,The Lion awfully forbids the prey.Their rage repress'd, though pinch'd with famine sore,They stand aloof, and tremble at his roar:Much is their hunger, but their fear is more.These are the chief: to number o'er the rest,And stand, like Adam, naming every beast,Were weary work; nor will the muse describeA slimy-born and sun-begotten tribe;Who far from steeples and their sacred sound,In fields their sullen conventicles found.These gross, half-animated lumps I leave;Nor can I think what thoughts they can conceive.But if they think at all, 'tis sure no higherThan matter, put in motion, may aspire:Souls that can scarce ferment their mass of clay;So drossy, so divisible are they,As would but serve pure bodies for allay:Such souls as shards produce, such beetle thingsAs only buzz to heaven with evening wings;Strike in the dark, offending but by chance,Such are the blindfold blows of ignorance.They know not beings, and but hate a name;To them the Hind and Panther are the same.

The Panther sure the noblest, next the Hind,And fairest creature of the spotted kind;Oh, could her inborn stains be wash'd away,She were too good to be a beast of prey!How can I praise, or blame, and not offend,Or how divide the frailty from the friend?Her faults and virtues lie so mix'd, that sheNor wholly stands condemn'd, nor wholly free.Then, like her injured Lion, let me speak;He cannot bend her, and he would not break.Unkind already, and estranged in part,The Wolf begins to share her wandering heart.Though unpolluted yet with actual ill,She half commits, who sins but in her will.If, as our dreaming Platonists report,There could be spirits of a middle sort,Too black for heaven, and yet too white for hell,Who just dropt half way down, nor lower fell;So poised, so gently she descends from high,It seems a soft dismission from the sky.Her house not ancient, whatsoe'er pretenceHer clergy heralds make in her defence.A second century not half-way run,Since the new honours of her blood begun.A Lion old, obscene, and furious madeBy lust, compress'd her mother in a shade;Then, by a left-hand marriage, weds the dame,Covering adultery with a specious name:So Schism begot; and Sacrilege and she,A well match'd pair, got graceless Heresy.God's and king's rebels have the same good cause,To trample down divine and human laws:Both would be call'd reformers, and their hateAlike destructive both to Church and State:The fruit proclaims the plant; a lawless princeBy luxury reform'd incontinence;By ruins, charity; by riots, abstinence.Confessions, fasts, and penance set aside,Oh, with what ease we follow such a guide,Where souls are starved, and senses gratified!Where marriage pleasures midnight prayers supply,And matin bells, a melancholy cry,Are tuned to merrier notes, Increase and multiply.Religion shows a rosy-colour'd face;Not batter'd out with drudging works of grace:A down-hill reformation rolls apace.What flesh and blood would crowd the narrow gate,Or, till they waste their pamper'd paunches, wait?All would be happy at the cheapest rate.

Though our lean faith these rigid laws has given,The full-fed Mussulman goes fat to heaven;For his Arabian prophet with delightsOf sense allured his eastern proselytes.The jolly Luther, reading him, beganTo interpret Scriptures by his Alcoran;To grub the thorns beneath our tender feet,And make the paths of Paradise more sweet;Bethought him of a wife ere half way gone,For 'twas uneasy travelling alone;And, in this masquerade of mirth and love,Mistook the bliss of heaven for Bacchanals above.Sure he presumed of praise, who came to stockThe ethereal pastures with so fair a flock,Burnish'd, and battening on their food, to showTheir diligence of careful herds below.Our Panther, though like these she changed her head,Yet, as the mistress of a monarch's bed,Her front erect with majesty she bore,The crosier wielded, and the mitre wore.Her upper part of decent disciplineShow'd affectation of an ancient line;And Fathers, Councils, Church, and Church's head,Were on her reverend phylacteries read.But what disgraced and disavow'd the rest,Was Calvin's brand, that stigmatized the beast.Thus, like a creature of a double kind,In her own labyrinth she lives confined.To foreign lands no sound of her is come,Humbly content to be despised at home.Such is her faith, where good cannot be had,At least she leaves the refuse of the bad:Nice in her choice of ill, though not of best,And least deform'd, because reform'd the least.In doubtful points betwixt her differing friends,Where one for substance, one for sign contends,Their contradicting terms she strives to join;Sign shall be substance, substance shall be sign.A real presence all her sons allow,And yet 'tis flat idolatry to bow,Because the Godhead's there they know not how.Her novices are taught that bread and wineAre but the visible and outward sign,Received by those who in communion join.But the inward grace, or the thing signified,His blood and body, who to save us died;The faithful this thing signified receive:What is't those faithful then partake or leave?For what is signified and understood,Is, by her own confession, flesh and blood.Then, by the same acknowledgment, we knowThey take the sign, and take the substance too.The literal sense is hard to flesh and blood,But nonsense never can be understood.

Her wild belief on every wave is toss'd;But sure no Church can better morals boast:True to her king her principles are found;O that her practice were but half so sound!Steadfast in various turns of state she stood,And seal'd her vow'd affection with her blood:Nor will I meanly tax her constancy,That interest or obligement made the tieBound to the fate of murder'd monarchy.Before the sounding axe so falls the vine,Whose tender branches round the poplar twine.She chose her ruin, and resign'd her life,In death undaunted as an Indian wife:A rare example! but some souls we seeGrow hard, and stiffen with adversity:Yet these by fortune's favours are undone;Resolved into a baser form they run,And bore the wind, but cannot bear the sun.Let this be nature's frailty, or her fate,Or Isgrim's counsel, her new-chosen mate;Still she's the fairest of the fallen crew,No mother more indulgent, but the true.

Fierce to her foes, yet fears her force to try,Because she wants innate authority;For how can she constrain them to obey,Who has herself cast off the lawful sway?Rebellion equals all, and those who toilIn common theft, will share the common spoil.Let her produce the title and the rightAgainst her old superiors first to fight;If she reform by text, even that's as plainFor her own rebels to reform again.As long as words a different sense will bear,And each may be his own interpreter,Our airy faith will no foundation find:The word's a weathercock for every wind:The Bear, the Fox, the Wolf, by turns prevail;The most in power supplies the present gale.The wretched Panther cries aloud for aidTo Church and Councils, whom she first betray'd;No help from Fathers or Tradition's train:Those ancient guides she taught us to disdain,And, by that Scripture, which she once abusedTo reformation, stands herself accused.What bills for breach of laws can she prefer,Expounding which she owns herself may err?And, after all her winding ways are tried,If doubts arise, she slips herself aside,And leaves the private conscience for the guide.If then that conscience set the offender free,It bars her claim to Church authority.How can she censure, or what crime pretend,But Scripture may be construed to defend?Even those, whom for rebellion she transmits 483To civil power, her doctrine first acquits;Because no disobedience can ensue,Where no submission to a judge is due;Each judging for himself, by her consent,Whom thus absolved she sends to punishment.Suppose the magistrate revenge her cause,'Tis only for transgressing human laws.How answering to its end a Church is made,Whose power is but to counsel and persuade?Oh, solid rock, on which secure she stands!Eternal house, not built with mortal hands!Oh, sure defence against the infernal gate,--A patent during pleasure of the state!

Thus is the Panther neither loved nor fear'd,A mere mock queen of a divided herd;Whom soon by lawful power she might control,Herself a part submitted to the whole.Then, as the moon who first receives the lightBy which she makes our nether regions bright,So might she shine, reflecting from afarThe rays she borrow'd from a better star;Big with the beams which from her mother flow,And reigning o'er the rising tides below:Now, mixing with a savage crowd, she goes,And meanly flatters her inveterate foes;Ruled while she rules, and losing every hourHer wretched remnants of precarious power.

One evening, while the cooler shade she sought,Revolving many a melancholy thought,Alone she walk'd, and look'd around in vain,With rueful visage, for her vanish'd train:None of her sylvan subjects made their court;Levées and couchées pass'd without resort.So hardly can usurpers manage wellThose whom they first instructed to rebel.More liberty begets desire of more;The hunger still increases with the store.Without respect they brush'd along the wood,Each in his clan, and, fill'd with loathsome food,Ask'd no permission to the neighbouring flood.The Panther, full of inward discontent,Since they would go, before them wisely went;Supplying want of power by drinking first,As if she gave them leave to quench their thirst.Among the rest, the Hind, with fearful face,Beheld from far the common watering place,Nor durst approach; till, with an awful roar,The sovereign Lion bade her fear no more.Encouraged thus she brought her younglings nigh,Watching the motions of her patron's eye,And drank a sober draught; the rest amazedStood mutely still, and on the stranger gazed;Survey'd her part by part, and sought to findThe ten-horn'd monster in the harmless Hind,Such as the Wolf and Panther had design'd.They thought at first they dream'd; for 'twas offenceWith them to question certitude of sense,Their guide in faith: but nearer when they drew,And had the faultless object full in view,Lord, how they all admired her heavenly hue!Some, who before her fellowship disdain'd,Scarce, and but scarce, from in-born rage restrain'd,Now frisk'd about her, and old kindred feign'd.Whether for love or interest, every sectOf all the savage nation show'd respect.The viceroy Panther could not awe the herd;The more the company, the less they fear'd.The surly Wolf with secret envy burst,Yet could not howl; (the Hind had seen him first:)But what he durst not speak the Panther durst.

For when the herd, sufficed, did late repair,To ferny heaths, and to their forest lair,She made a mannerly excuse to stay,Proffering the Hind to wait her half the way:That, since the sky was clear, an hour of talkMight help her to beguile the tedious walk.With much good-will the motion was embraced,To chat a while on their adventures pass'd:Nor had the grateful Hind so soon forgotHer friend and fellow-sufferer in the Plot.Yet, wondering how of late she grew estranged,Her forehead cloudy, and her countenance changed,She thought this hour the occasion would presentTo learn her secret cause of discontent,Which well she hoped might be with ease redress'd,Considering her a well-bred civil beast,And more a gentlewoman than the rest.After some common talk what rumours ran,The lady of the spotted muff began.

Words in this poem 108

unspotted a.: Not spotted; free from spot or stain; especially, free from moral stain; unblemished; immaculate; as, an unspotted reputation.
mould n.: Crumbling, soft, friable earth; esp., earth containing the remains or constituents of organic matter, and suited to the growth of plants; soil. [OE. molde, AS. molde; akin to D. mul, G. mull, mulm, OHG. molt, molta, Icel. mold, Dan. muld, Sw. mull, Goth. mulda, and E. meal flour. See Meal, and cf. Mole a]
obnoxious a.: Subject; liable; exposed; answerable; amenable; -- with to. [L. obnoxius; ob (see Ob-) + noxius hurtful. See Noxious.]
caledonian a.: Of or pertaining to Caledonia or Scotland; Scottish; Scotch.
perjured a.: Guilty of perjury; having sworn falsely; forsworn.
corpse n.: A human body in general, whether living or dead; -- sometimes contemptuosly. [OF. cors (sometimes written corps), F. corps, L. corpus; akin to AS. hrif womb. See Midriff, and cf. Corse, Corselet, Corps, Cuerpo.]
deathless a.: Not subject to death, destruction, or extinction; immortal; undying; imperishable; as, deathless beings; deathless fame.
glaring a.: Clear; notorious; open and bold; barefaced; as, a glaring crime.
needs adv.: Of necessity; necessarily; indispensably; -- often with must, and equivalent to of need. [Orig. gen. of need, used as an adverb. Cf. - wards.]
neutrality n.: The state or quality of being neutral; the condition of being unengaged in contests between others; state of taking no part on either side; indifference. [Cf. F. neutralité.]
unseen a.: Not seen or discovered.
reynard n.: An appelation applied after the manner of a proper name to the fox. Same as Renard.
graceless a.: Wanting in grace or excellence; departed from, or deprived of, divine grace; hence, depraved; corrupt.
descry: , Discovery or view, as of an army seen at a distance.
unerring a.: Committing no mistake; incapable or error or failure certain; sure; unfailing; as, the unerring wisdom of God.
hast: , 2d pers. sing. pres. of. Fave, contr. of havest.
omnipotence n.: The state of being omnipotent; almighty power; hence, one who is omnipotent; the Deity. [L. omnipotentia: cf.F. omnipotence.]
shall v. i.: To owe; to be under obligation for. [OE. shal, schal, imp. sholde, scholde, AS. scal, sceal, I am obliged, imp. scolde, sceolde, inf. sculan; akin to OS. skulan, pres. skal, imp. skolda, D. zullen,]
rebel a.: Pertaining to rebels or rebellion; acting in revolt; rebellious; as, rebel troops. [F. rebelle, fr. L. rebellis. See Rebel, v. t.]
dwell v. i.: To delay; to linger. [OE. dwellen, dwelien, to err, linger, AS. dwellan to deceive, hinder, delay, dwelian to err; akin to Icel. dvelja to delay, tarry, Sw. dväljas to dwell, Dan. dv]
proponent a.: Making proposals; proposing. [L. proponens, p. pr.]
scaffolding n.: A scaffold; a supporting framework; as, the scaffolding of the body.
saviour n.: One who saves, preserves, or delivers from destruction or danger. [OE. saveour, OF. salveor, F. sauveur, fr. L. salvator to save. See Save, v.]
explore v. t.: To seek for or after; to strive to attain by search; to look wisely and carefully for. [L. explorare to explore; ex out+plorare to cry out aloud,prob. orig., to cause to flow; perh. akin to E. flow: cf. F. explorer.]
bigotry n.: The state of mind of a bigot; obstinate and unreasoning attachment of one's own belief and opinions, with narrow-minded intolerance of beliefs opposed to them. [Cf. F. bigoterie.]
knave n.: A boy; especially, a boy servant. Wyclif. [OE., boy, servant, knave, AS. cnafa boy, youth; cf. AS. cnapa boy, youth, D. kna, G. knabe boy, knappe esquire, Icel. knapi, Sw. knape esquire, knäfvel knave.]
insatiate a.: Insatiable; as, insatiate thirst. [L. insatiatus.]
blissful a.: Full of, characterized by, or causing, joy and felicity; happy in the highest degree.
haughty a.: High; lofty; bold. [OE. hautein, F. hautain, fr. haut high, OF. also halt, fr. L. altus. See Altitude.]
wolfish a.: Like a wolf; having the qualities or form of a wolf; as, a wolfish visage; wolfish designs.
gaunt a.: Attenuated, as with fasting or suffering; lean; meager; pinched and grim. [Cf. Norw. gand a thin pointed stick, a tall and thin man, and W. gwan weak.]
betwixt prep.: In the space which separates; between. [OE. betwix, bitwix, rarely bitwixt, AS. betweox, betweohs, betweoh, betwih; pref. be- by + a form fr. AS. twa two. See Between.]
haggard a.: Wild or intractable; disposed to break away from duty; untamed; as, a haggard or refractory hawk. Shak [F. hagard; of German origin, and prop. meaning, of the hegde or woods, wild, untamed. See Hedge, 1st Haw, and -ard.]
bestial a.: Belonging to a beast, or to the class of beasts. [F. bestial, L. bestialis, fr. bestia beast. See Beast.]
awhile adv.: For a while; for some time; for a short time. [Adj. a + while time, interval.]
hateful a.: Manifesting hate or hatred; malignant; malevolent.
cambria n.: The ancient Latin name of Wales. It is used by modern poets.
pedigree n.: A line of ancestors; descent; lineage; genealogy; a register or record of a line of ancestors. [Of unknown origin; possibly fr. F. par degrés by degrees, -- for a pedigree is properly a genealogical table which records the relationship of families by degre]
leman n.: A sweetheart, of either sex; a gallant, or a mistress; -- usually in a bad sense. Chaucer. Spenser. [OE. lemman, legman; AS.leóf dear + mann man. See Lief, and Man.]
meagre a.: Destitue of, or having little, flesh; lean. [OE. merge, F. maigre, L. macer; akin to D. & G. mager, Icel. magr, and prob. to Gr. Emaciate, Maigre.]
sanhedrim n.: the great council of the Jews, which consisted of seventy members, to whom the high priest was added. It had jurisdiction of religious matters. [Heb. sanhedrin, fr. Gr. Sit.]
derive v. t.: To turn the course of, as water; to divert and distribute into subordinate channels; to diffuse; to communicate; to transmit; -- followed by to, into, on, upon. [F. dériver, L. derivare; de- + rivus stream, brook. See Rival.]
corah n.: Plain; undyed; -- applied to Indian silk. -- n.
kennel n.: The water course of a street; a little canal or channel; a gutter; also, a puddle. Bp. Hall. [See Channel, Canal.]
continent a.: Serving to restrain or limit; restraining; opposing. [L. continens, -entis, prop., p. pr. of continere to hold together, to repress: cf. F. continent. See Contain.]
tweed n.: A soft and flexible fabric for men's wear, made wholly of wool except in some inferior kinds, the wool being dyed, usually in two colors, before weaving. [Probably a corruption of twills. See Twill.]
fulsome a.: Full; abundant; plenteous; not shriveled. [Full, a. + -some.]
dearth n.: Scarcity which renders dear; want; lack; specifically, lack of food on account of failure of crops; famine. [OE. derthe, fr. dere. See Dear.]
teemless a.: Not fruitful or prolific; barren; as, a teemless earth.
presbytery n.: A body of elders in the early Christian church. [L. presbyterium, Gr. Presbyter, and cf. Presbyterium.]
methinks v.: It seems to me; I think. See Me. [AS. þyncan to seem, me þynceedh, me þuhte, OE. me thinketh, me thoughte; akin to G. dünken to seem, denken to think, and E. think. See Me, and Think.]
offence n.: The act of offending in any sense; esp., a crime or a sin, an affront or an injury. [F., fr. L. offensa. See Offend.]
tyrannic a.: Of or pertaining to a tyrant; suiting a tyrant; unjustly severe in government; absolute; imperious; despotic; cruel; arbitrary; as, a tyrannical prince; a tyrannical master; tyrannical government. [L. tyrannicus, Gr. tyrannique. See Tyrant.]
furry a.: Covered with fur; dressed in fur. [From Fur.]
coronation n.: The act or solemnity of crowning a sovereign; the act of investing a prince with the insignia of royalty, on his succeeding to the sovereignty. [See Coronate.]
balmy a.: Having the qualities of balm; odoriferous; aromatic; assuaging; soothing; refreshing; mild.
awfully adv.: In an awful manner; in a manner to fill with terror or awe; fearfully; reverently.
famine n.: General scarcity of food; dearth; a want of provisions; destitution. [F. famine, fr. L. fames hunger; cf. Gr. hani loss, lack, ha to leave.]
sullen a.: Lonely; solitary; desolate. Wyclif (Job iii. 14). [OE. solein, solain, lonely, sullen; through Old French fr. (assumed) LL. solanus solitary, fr. L. solus alone. See Sole, a.]
aspire v. t.: To aspire to; to long for; to try to reach; to mount to.
scarce a.: Not plentiful or abundant; in small quantity in proportion to the demand; not easily to be procured; rare; uncommon. [OE. scars, OF. escars, eschars, LL. scarpsus, for L. excerptus, p. p. of excerpere to pick out, and hence to contract, to shorten; ex (see Ex-) + carpere. See C]
drossy a.: Of, pertaining to, resembling, dross; full of dross; impure; worthless.
blindfold v. t.: To cover the eyes of, as with a bandage; to hinder from seeing. [OE. blindfolden, blindfelden, blindfellen; AS. blind blind + prob. fellan, fyllan, to fell, strike down.]
frailty n.: The condition quality of being frail, physically, mentally, or morally, frailness; infirmity; weakness of resolution; liableness to be deceived or seduced. [OE. frelete, freilte, OF. fraileté, fr. L. fragilitas. See Frail, a., and cf. Fragility.]
unkind a.: Having no race or kindred; childless. [See Kin kindred.]
dismission n.: The act dismissing or sending away; permission to leave; leave to depart; dismissal; as, the dismission of the grand jury. [Cf. L. dimissio.]
pretence n.: The act of laying claim; the claim laid; assumption; pretension. [LL. praetensus, for L. praetentus, p. p. of praetendere. See Pretend, and cf. Tension.]
defence n.: The act of defending, or the state of being defended; protection, as from violence or danger. [F. défense, OF. defense, fem., defens, masc., fr. L. defensa (cf. Fence.]
lust v. i.: To list; to like. [AS. lystan. See Lust, n., and cf. List to choose.]
dame n.: A mistress of a family, who is a lady; a womam in authority; especially, a lady. [F. dame, LL. domna, fr. L. domina mistress, lady, fem. of dominus master, ruler, lord; akin to domare to tame, subdue. See Tame, and cf. Dam mother, Dan, Danger]
gratified a.: Pleased; indulged according to desire.
matin n.: A French mastiff. [F. matin.]
apace adv.: With a quick pace; quick; fast; speedily. [Pref. a- + pace. OE. a pas at a walk, in which a is the article. See Pace.]
mussulman n.: A Mohammedan; a Moslem. [Ar. muslimin, pl. of muslim: cf. F. & Sp. musulman. See Moslem.]
alcoran n.: The Mohammedan Scriptures; the Koran (now the usual form). [alcoran, fr. Ar. al-qoran, orig. the reading, the book, fr. qaraa to read. Cf. Koran.]
battening n.: Furring done with small pieces nailed directly upon the wall.
crosier n.: The pastoral staff of a bishop (also of an archbishop, being the symbol of his office as a shepherd of the flock of God. [OE. rocer, croser, croyser, fr. croce crosier, OF. croce, croche, F. crosse, fr. LL. crocea, crocia, from the same German or Celtic sourse as F. croc hook; akin]
mitre n.: A covering for the head, worn on solemn occasions by church dignitaries. It has been made in many forms, the present form being a lofty cap with two points or peaks. Fairholt.
reverend a.: Worthy of reverence; entitled to respect mingled with fear and affection; venerable. [F. révérend, L. reverendus, fr. revereri. See Revere.]
humbly adv.: With humility; lowly.
undaunted a.: Not daunted; not subdued or depressed by fear.
adversity n.: Opposition; contrariety. Wyclif. [OE. adversite, F. adversité, fr. L. adversitas.]
undone a.: Not done or performed; neglected. [Pref. un- not + done.]
aloud adv.: With a loud voice, or great noise; loudly; audibly. [Pref. a- + loud.]
conscience n.: Knowledge of one's own thoughts or actions; consciousness. [F. conscience, fr. L. conscientia, fr. consciens, p.pr. of conscire to know, to be conscious; con- + scire to know. See Science.]
ensue v. t.: To follow; to pursue; to follow and overtake. [OF. ensevre, OF. & F. ensuivre, fr. L. insequi; in + sequi to pursue. See Sue.]
nether a.: Situated down or below; lying beneath, or in the lower part; having a lower position; belonging to the region below; lower; under; -- opposed to upper. [OE. nethere, neithere, AS. ni, fr. the adv. ni downward; akin to neo below, beneath, D. neder down, G. nieder, Sw. nedre below, nether, a. & adv., and also to S]
afar adv.: At, to, or from a great distance; far away; -- often used with from preceding, or off following; as, he was seen from afar; I saw him afar off. [Pref. a-.(for on or of) + far.]
inveterate a.: Old; long-established. [L. inveteratus, p. p. of inveterare to render old; pref. in- in + vetus, veteris, old. See Veteran.]
precarious a.: Depending on the will or pleasure of another; held by courtesy; liable to be changed or lost at the pleasure of another; as, precarious privileges. [L. precarius obtained by begging or prayer, depending on request or on the will of another, fr. precari to pray, beg. See Pray.]
cooler n.: That which cools, or abates heat or excitement.
rueful a.: Causing one to rue or lament; woeful; mournful; sorrowful.
visage n.: The face, countenance, or look of a person or an animal; -- chiefly applied to the human face. [F. visage, from L. visus a seeing, a look, fr. videre, visum, to see. See Vision.]
neighbouring a.: Living or being near; adjacent; as, the neighboring nations or countries.
went n.: Course; way; path; journey; direction.
bade: A form of the pat tense of Bid.
drank n.: Wild oats, or darnel grass. See Drake a plant. [Cf. 3d Drake.]
mutely adv.: Without uttering words or sounds; in a mute manner; silently.
certitude n.: Freedom from doubt; assurance; certainty. J. H. Newman. [LL. certitudo, fr. L. certus: cf. F. certitude. See Certain.]
faultless a.: Without fault; not defective or imperfect; free from blemish; free from incorrectness, vice, or offense; perfect; as, a faultless poem.
admired a.: Regarded with wonder and delight; highly prized; as, an admired poem.
surly a.: Arrogant; haughty. Cotgrave. [Probably from sir, and originally meaning, sirlike, i.e., proud. See Sir, and Like, a.]
ferny a.: Abounding in ferns.
lair n.: A place in which to lie or rest; especially, the bed or couch of a wild beast. [OE. leir, AS. leger; akin to D. leger, G. lager couch, lair, OHG. laga, Goth. ligrs, and to E. lie. See Lie to be prostrate, and cf. Layer, Leaguer.]
mannerly a.: Showing good manners; civil; respectful; complaisant.
sufferer n.: One who suffers; one who endures or undergoes suffering; one who sustains inconvenience or loss; as, sufferers by poverty or sickness; men are sufferers by fire or by losses at sea.
gentlewoman n.: A woman of good family or of good breeding; a woman above the vulgar.
muff n.: A soft cover of cylindrical form, usually of fur, worn by women to shield the hands from cold. [Cf. LG. muff, D. mof, G., Dan., & Sw. muff, F. moufle mitten, LL. muffula, MHG. mouwe sleeve, D. mouw, and E. muffle, v.]

Definitions and etymologies from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913.

About this text

Part I is in the public domain. This text is taken from The Poetical Works of John Dryden, Volume 1 With Life, Critical Dissertation, and Explanatory Notes, Project Gutenberg ebook #11488; the transcription's header, footer and licence were removed and nothing else was changed. You may copy, print and reuse it freely.

Cite as: John Dryden, Part I, in The Poetical Works, Volume I (1660–1700), text of Project Gutenberg ebook #11488, Laurel, https://laurelpoetry.com/poem/dryden-poems/part-i-2.html, id L17470.

Form and metre

Part I is 572 lines in 19 verse paragraphs. It is in rhyming couplets, 63% of the lines: heroic couplets. The metre is iambic pentameter, measured from the stress the words themselves fix (confidence 89%). 95% of its stressed syllables fall where the metre puts the beat. The lines average 10.1 syllables. 42 lines end on an unstressed syllable, a feminine ending. 13% of the lines run on without a stop at the line end.

See other poems in heroic couplets, other poems in iambic pentameter.

Measured by Laurel's pipeline, not copied from a handbook: how stress and metre are counted, how rhyme is lettered, how a drifted rhyme is found. Where the dictionary cannot confirm a rhyme the letter is withheld, not guessed.

Rhyme words, stanza by stanza

The word that ends each line, lettered by the rhyme it makes; a dash is a line whose rhyme the dictionary could not confirm.

1 AABB--CC unchanged^A · ranged^A · within^B · sin^B · hounds · wounds · fly^C · die^C
2 AABBCCDDEEFFGGHH line^A · divine^A · fate^B · state^B · blood^C · wood^C · arose^D · foes^D · seed^E · breed^E · chains^F · pains^F · view'd^G · renew'd^G · last^H · surpass'd^H
3 AABB--CCDD alone^A · own^A · restrain'd^B · disdain'd^B · eye · enmity · light^C · sight^C · mien^D · seen^D
4 --AABBCC--DDDEEFF--GGHHIIJJ beast · express'd · hare^A · swear^A · use^B · choose^B · bent^C · compliment^C · he · sanctity · place^D · race^D · grace^D · made^E · betray'd^E · name^F · shame^F · guile · spoil · first^G · nursed^G · renew'd^H · view'd^H · eye^I · descry^I · tend^J · end^J
5 AABBCCDDEEFF----GGH-HIIJJKKLLMMNNOOPPPQQRR-- prevail^A · scale^A · provide^B · guide^B · light^C · sight^C · conceal'd^D · reveal'd^D · take^E · forsake^E · desires^F · fires^F · gone · own · am · shame · done^G · one^G · lie^H · infancy · die^H · sense^I · omnipotence^I · compel^J · rebel^J · aside^K · guide^K · day^L · way^L · perceive^M · believe^M · descried^N · glorified^N · parts^O · arts^O · might^P · light^P · sight^P · plain^Q · contain^Q · well^R · dwell^R · fly · infinity
6 AA--BB commence^A · sense^A · be · credibility · wait^B · propagate^B
7 AABB--CC--DDEEFFGGGHHH--IIJJJ--KKKLLMM find^A · wind^A · divine^B · design^B · alone · son · believe^C · conceive^C · rely · authority · admit^D · wit^D · stay^E · away^E · understand^F · hand^F · creep^G · keep^G · deep^G · bore^H · shore^H · explore^H · blood · food · extent^I · nourishment^I · pain^J · contain^J · plain^J · try · bigotry · call^K · small^K · all^K · freed^L · creed^L · bliss^M · miss^M
8 --AABBCCDDEEE-FFGG----HHIIJJKKLLMMNNOOPPQQRRSSS thee · divinity · plains^A · remains^A · more^B · shore^B · name^C · tame^C · bower^D · devour^D · race^E · face^E · grace^E · wears · rears^F · ears^F · eyes^G · surprise^G · awhile · spoil · been · seen · chance^H · france^H · trace^I · race^I · brings^J · kings^J · kind^K · lined^K · bred^L · bed^L · since^M · prince^M · higher^N · conspire^N · wrest^O · divest^O · pass^P · class^P · dark^Q · ark^Q · train^R · contain^R · ran^S · man^S · began^S
9 --AABBBCCDDEE--FFGGHHHII--JJKKLLMMNNOO increased · redress'd · claws^A · laws^A · down^B · crown^B · town^B · small^C · wall^C · sent^D · continent^D · breed^E · tweed^E · be · democracy · seen^F · green^F · advance^G · dance^G · show^H · below^H · know^H · placed^I · debased^I · refuse · use · ground^J · wound^J · succeeds^K · breeds^K · dearth^L · earth^L · kind^M · confined^M · deprive^N · thrive^N · zeal^O · commonweal^O
10 AABBCCDD-AEEFF-- crew^A · due^A · enjoy^B · destroy^B · kind^C · mind^C · strike^D · alike^D · overthrow · too^A · sway^E · prey^E · made^F · aid^F · free · deity
11 --AABBCCDDEEF-FGGGHHHIIJJKKLL--MMNNOOPPP given · heaven · beat^A · heat^A · race^B · space^B · rest^C · breast^C · impart^D · heart^D · forgive^E · prerogative^E · appear'd^F · herd · fear'd^F · might^G · fight^G · flight^G · way^H · clay^H · day^H · space^I · embrace^I · man^J · began^J · misunderstood^K · blood^K · coins^L · loins^L · cry · deity · space^M · race^M · increased^N · beast^N · hind^O · kind^O · shows^P · flows^P · foes^P
12 AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHH--IIJJKK--LLLMMNNOO spain^A · entertain^A · advance^B · inheritance^B · show^C · foe^C · share^D · air^D · unharm'd^E · disarm'd^E · bold^F · fold^F · they^G · prey^G · sore^H · roar^H · more^H · rest · beast · describe^I · tribe^I · sound^J · found^J · leave^K · conceive^K · higher · aspire · clay^L · they^L · allay^L · things^M · wings^M · chance^N · ignorance^N · name^O · same^O
13 AABBCCDD--EEFFGGHHIIJJKKLLMM----NNOOOPPPQQQRRRSSS hind^A · kind^A · away^B · prey^B · offend^C · friend^C · she^D · free^D · speak · break · part^E · heart^E · ill^F · will^F · report^G · sort^G · hell^H · fell^H · high^I · sky^I · pretence^J · defence^J · run^K · begun^K · made^L · shade^L · dame^M · name^M · she · heresy · cause · laws · hate^N · state^N · prince^O · incontinence^O · abstinence^O · aside^P · guide^P · gratified^P · supply^Q · cry^Q · multiply^Q · face^R · grace^R · apace^R · gate^S · wait^S · rate^S
14 AABBA-CC--DDEEFFGGHHIIJJ--KKLLMM--NN-OPPPOO-QQRRSS--SS given^A · heaven^A · delights^B · proselytes^B · began^A · alcoran · feet^C · sweet^C · gone · alone · love^D · above^D · stock^E · flock^E · show^F · below^F · head^G · bed^G · bore^H · wore^H · discipline^I · line^I · head^J · read^J · rest · beast · kind^K · confined^K · come^L · home^L · had^M · bad^M · best · least · friends^N · contends^N · join · sign^O · allow^P · bow^P · how^P · wine^O · sign^O · join · signified^Q · died^Q · receive^R · leave^R · understood^S · blood^S · know · too · blood^S · understood^S
15 --AABB---CCDD--EEEFFGG toss'd · boast · found^A · sound^A · stood^B · blood^B · constancy · tie · monarchy · vine^C · twine^C · life^D · wife^D · see · adversity · undone^E · run^E · sun^E · fate^F · mate^F · crew^G · true^G
16 --AABBCC----DDEEFFGGHH--III--JJ--KKLL--MMNNOO try · authority · obey^A · sway^A · toil^B · spoil^B · right^C · fight^C · plain · again · bear · interpreter · find^D · wind^D · prevail^E · gale^E · aid^F · betray'd^F · train^G · disdain^G · abused^H · accused^H · prefer · err · tried^I · aside^I · guide^I · free · authority · pretend^J · defend^J · — · acquits · ensue^K · due^K · consent^L · punishment^L · cause · laws · made^M · persuade^M · stands^N · hands^N · gate^O · state^O
17 --AABBCCDDEEFF fear'd · herd · control^A · whole^A · light^B · bright^B · afar^C · star^C · flow^D · below^D · goes^E · foes^E · hour^F · power^F
18 AABBCCDDEEF-FGGHHIIJJKKLLMMMNNOOOPPPQQ--RRR sought^A · thought^A · vain^B · train^B · court^C · resort^C · well^D · rebel^D · more^E · store^E · wood^F · food · flood^F · discontent^G · went^G · first^H · thirst^H · face^I · place^I · roar^J · more^J · nigh^K · eye^K · amazed^L · gazed^L · find^M · hind^M · design'd^M · offence^N · sense^N · drew^O · view^O · hue^O · disdain'd^P · restrain'd^P · feign'd^P · sect^Q · respect^Q · herd · fear'd · burst^R · first^R · durst^R
19 AABBCC--DDEEFF---GG repair^A · lair^A · stay^B · way^B · talk^C · walk^C · embraced · pass'd · forgot^D · plot^D · estranged^E · changed^E · present^F · discontent^F · redress'd · beast · rest · ran^G · began^G

Scansion, line by line

Each line with its syllable count and the stresses the words themselves fix: / stressed, ˘ unstressed, · a syllable the word leaves free and the metre decides. Read against iambic pentameter. How this is done.

Line	Syl.	Stress
A milk-white Hind, immortal and unchanged,	10	····˘/˘·˘/
Fed on the lawns, and in the forest ranged;	10	·······/˘·
Without unspotted, innocent within,	10	··˘/˘/˘˘··
She fear'd no danger, for she knew no sin.	10	···/˘·····
Yet had she oft been chased with horns and hounds,	10	··········
And Scythian shafts; and many winged wounds	10	·/˘˘··/˘··
Aim'd at her heart; was often forced to fly,	10	·····/˘···
And doom'd to death, though fated not to die.	10	·····/˘···
Not so her young; for their unequal line	10	······˘/˘·
Was hero's make, half human, half divine.	10	·/˘··/˘·˘/
Their earthly mould obnoxious was to fate,	10	·/˘·˘/˘···
The immortal part assumed immortal state.	11	·˘/˘·˘/˘/˘·
Of these a slaughter'd army lay in blood,	10	···/˘/˘···
Extended o'er the Caledonian wood,	10	˘/˘···˘/˘·
Their native walk; whose vocal blood arose,	10	·/˘··/˘·˘/
And cried for pardon on their perjured foes.	10	···/˘··/˘·
Their fate was fruitful, and the sanguine seed,	10	···/˘··/˘·
Endued with souls, increased the sacred breed.	10	˘/··˘/·/˘·
So captive Israel multiplied in chains,	10	·/˘/˘/˘···
A numerous exile, and enjoy'd her pains.	10	·/˘/··˘/··
With grief and gladness mix'd, the mother view'd	10	···/˘··/˘·
Her martyr'd offspring, and their race renew'd;	10	·/˘/····˘/
Their corpse to perish, but their kind to last,	10	···/˘·····
So much the deathless plant the dying fruit surpass'd.	12	···/˘··/˘·˘/
Panting and pensive now she ranged alone,	10	/˘·/˘···˘/
And wander'd in the kingdoms once her own,	10	·/˘··/˘···
The common hunt, though from their rage restrain'd	10	·/˘·····˘/
By sovereign power, her company disdain'd;	10	·/˘/·/˘˘˘/
Grinn'd as they pass'd, and with a glaring eye	10	·······/˘·
Gave gloomy signs of secret enmity.	10	·/˘··/˘/˘˘
'Tis true, she bounded by, and tripp'd so light,	10	···/˘·····
They had not time to take a steady sight;	10	·······/˘·
For truth has such a face and such a mien,	10	··········
As to be loved needs only to be seen.	10	·····/˘···
The bloody Bear, an independent beast,	10	·/˘···˘/˘·
Unlick'd to form, in groans her hate express'd.	10	········˘/
Among the timorous kind the quaking Hare	10	···/˘··/˘·
Profess'd neutrality, but would not swear.	10	˘/˘/˘˘····
Next her the buffoon Ape, as Atheists use,	10	···˘/··/˘·
Mimick'd all sects, and had his own to choose:	10	/˘········
Still when the Lion look'd, his knees he bent,	10	···/˘·····
And paid at church a courtier's compliment.	11	·····/˘˘/˘˘
The bristled Baptist Boar, impure as he,	10	·/˘/˘·˘/··
But whiten'd with the foam of sanctity,	10	·······/˘˘
With fat pollutions fill'd the sacred place,	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
And mountains levell'd in his furious race;	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
So first rebellion founded was in grace.	10	··˘/˘/˘···
But since the mighty ravage, which he made	10	···/˘/˘···
In German forests, had his guilt betray'd,	10	·/˘/˘···˘/
With broken tusks, and with a borrow'd name;	10	·/˘····/··
He shunn'd the vengeance, and conceal'd the shame:	10	···/˘·˘/··
So lurk'd in sects unseen. With greater guile	10	····˘/·/˘·
False Reynard fed on consecrated spoil:	10	·/˘··/˘·˘·
The graceless beast by Athanasius first	10	·/˘·······
Was chased from Nice, then by Socinus nursed:	10	··········
His impious race their blasphemy renew'd,	10	·˘/˘··/˘˘/
And nature's King through nature's optics view'd.	10	·/˘··/˘/˘·
Reversed they view'd him lessen'd to their eye,	10	˘/···/˘···
Nor in an infant could a God descry:	10	···/˘···˘/
New swarming sects to this obliquely tend,	10	·/˘···˘/˘·
Hence they began, and here they all will end.	10	··˘/······
What weight of ancient witness can prevail,	10	···/˘/˘·˘/
If private reason hold the public scale?	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
But, gracious God, how well dost thou provide	10	·/˘·····˘/
For erring judgments an unerring guide!	10	·/˘/˘·˘/˘·
Thy throne is darkness in the abyss of light,	11	···/˘··˘/··
A blaze of glory that forbids the sight.	10	···/˘·˘/··
O teach me to believe thee thus conceal'd,	10	····˘/··˘/
And search no farther than thyself reveal'd;	10	···/˘·˘/˘/
But her alone for my director take,	10	··˘/··˘/˘·
Whom thou hast promised never to forsake!	10	···/˘/˘·˘/
My thoughtless youth was wing'd with vain desires;	11	·/˘·····˘/˘
My manhood, long misled by wandering fires,	10	·/··˘/·/˘/
Follow'd false lights; and when their glimpse was gone,	10	/˘········
My pride struck out new sparkles of her own.	10	·····/˘···
Such was I, such by nature still I am;	10	·····/˘···
Be thine the glory, and be mine the shame.	10	···/˘·····
Good life be now my task; my doubts are done:	10	··········
What more could fright my faith, than Three in One?	10	··········
Can I believe Eternal God could lie	10	··˘/˘/˘···
Disguised in mortal mould and infancy?	10	˘/·/˘··/˘˘
That the great Maker of the world could die?	10	···/˘·····
And after that trust my imperfect sense,	10	······˘/˘·
Which calls in question His Omnipotence?	10	···/˘·˘/˘˘
Can I my reason to my faith compel,	10	···/˘···˘/
And shall my sight, and touch, and taste rebel?	10	········/˘
Superior faculties are set aside;	10	˘/˘/˘˘··˘/
Shall their subservient organs be my guide?	10	··˘/˘/˘···
Then let the moon usurp the rule of day,	10	·····/····
And winking tapers show the sun his way;	10	·/˘/˘·····
For what my senses can themselves perceive,	10	···/˘·˘/˘/
I need no revelation to believe.	10	····˘/˘·˘/
Can they who say the Host should be descried	9	·········
By sense, define a body glorified?	10	··˘/·/˘/˘·
Impassable, and penetrating parts?	10	˘/˘˘·/˘·˘·
Let them declare by what mysterious arts	10	··˘/··˘/˘·
He shot that body through the opposing might	11	···/˘··˘/˘·
Of bolts and bars impervious to the light,	10	····˘/˘···
And stood before his train confess'd in open sight.	12	······˘/·/˘·
For since thus wondrously he pass'd, 'tis plain,	10	··········
One single place two bodies did contain.	10	·/˘··/˘·˘/
And sure the same Omnipotence as well	10	····˘/˘˘··
Can make one body in more places dwell.	10	···/˘··/˘·
Let reason, then, at her own quarry fly,	10	·/˘····/˘·
But how can finite grasp infinity?	10	···/··˘/˘˘
'Tis urged again, that faith did first commence	10	··˘/····˘/
By miracles, which are appeals to sense,	10	·/˘˘··˘/··
And thence concluded, that our sense must be	10	··˘/˘·/···
The motive still of credibility.	10	·/˘···˘/˘˘
For latter ages must on former wait,	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
And what began belief must propagate.	10	··˘/˘/·/˘·
But winnow well this thought, and you shall find	10	·/········
'Tis light as chaff that flies before the wind.	10	··········
Were all those wonders wrought by power divine,	10	···/˘··/˘/
As means or ends of some more deep design?	10	········˘/
Most sure as means, whose end was this alone,	10	········˘/
To prove the Godhead of the Eternal Son.	11	···/···˘/˘·
God thus asserted, man is to believe	10	··˘/˘···˘/
Beyond what sense and reason can conceive,	10	·····/˘·˘/
And for mysterious things of faith rely	10	··˘/˘···˘/
On the proponent, Heaven's authority.	11	··˘/˘/˘˘/˘˘
If, then, our faith we for our guide admit,	10	··/···/·˘/
Vain is the farther search of human wit;	10	···/˘··/˘·
As when the building gains a surer stay,	10	···/˘··/˘·
We take the unuseful scaffolding away.	11	·······/˘˘/
Reason by sense no more can understand;	10	/˘······˘/
The game is play'd into another hand.	10	······˘/˘·
Why choose we, then, like bilanders, to creep	10	··········
Along the coast, and land in view to keep,	10	˘/········
When safely we may launch into the deep?	10	·/˘·······
In the same vessel which our Saviour bore,	10	···/˘·//˘·
Himself the pilot, let us leave the shore,	10	˘/·/˘·····
And with a better guide a better world explore.	12	···/˘··/˘·˘/
Could he his Godhead veil with flesh and blood,	10	···/······
And not veil these again to be our food?	10	····˘/··/·
His grace in both is equal in extent,	10	·····/˘·˘/
The first affords us life, the second nourishment.	11	··˘/···/˘/˘
And if he can, why all this frantic pain	10	·······/˘·
To construe what his clearest words contain,	10	·˘/··/˘·˘/
And make a riddle what he made so plain?	10	···/˘·····
To take up half on trust, and half to try,	10	··········
Name it not faith, but bungling bigotry.	11	·····/˘˘/˘˘
Both knave and fool the merchant we may call,	10	·····/˘···
To pay great sums, and to compound the small:	10	······/˘··
For who would break with Heaven, and would not break for all?	12	·····/······
Rest, then, my soul, from endless anguish freed:	10	·····/˘/˘·
Nor sciences thy guide, nor sense thy creed.	10	·/˘˘······
Faith is the best insurer of thy bliss;	10	····˘/˘···
The bank above must fail before the venture miss.	12	·········/˘·
But heaven and heaven-born faith are far from thee,	10	·/·/······
Thou first apostate to divinity.	10	··˘/˘·˘/˘˘
Unkennell'd range in thy Polonian plains;	10	··········
A fiercer foe the insatiate Wolf remains.	12	·/˘··˘/˘˘·˘/
Too boastful Britain, please thyself no more,	10	·/˘/˘·˘/··
That beasts of prey are banish'd from thy shore:	10	·····/˘···
The Bear, the Boar, and every savage name,	10	·····/˘/˘·
Wild in effect, though in appearance tame,	10	··˘/··˘/˘·
Lay waste thy woods, destroy thy blissful bower,	11	····˘/·/˘/˘
And, muzzled though they seem, the mutes devour.	11	·/˘·····˘/˘
More haughty than the rest, the wolfish race	10	·/˘····/˘·
Appear with belly gaunt and famish'd face:	10	˘/·/˘·····
Never was so deform'd a beast of grace.	10	/˘··˘/····
His ragged tail betwixt his legs he wears,	10	·/˘·˘/····
Close clapp'd for shame; but his rough crest he rears,	10	··········
And pricks up his predestinating ears.	10	··········
His wild disorder'd walk, his haggard eyes,	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
Did all the bestial citizens surprise.	10	···/˘/˘˘˘/
Though fear'd and hated, yet he ruled awhile,	10	···/˘···˘/
As captain or companion of the spoil.	10	·/˘·˘/˘···
Full many a year his hateful head had been	10	·/···/˘···
For tribute paid, nor since in Cambria seen:	10	·/˘····/˘·
The last of all the litter 'scaped by chance,	10	·····/˘···
And from Geneva first infested France.	10	··˘/˘·˘/˘·
Some authors thus his pedigree will trace,	10	·/˘··/˘˘··
But others write him of an upstart race:	10	·/˘····/··
Because of Wickliff's brood no mark he brings,	10	···/˘·····
But his innate antipathy to kings.	10	··˘/˘/˘˘··
These last deduce him from th' Helvetian kind,	10	··˘/··˘/˘·
Who near the Leman lake his consort lined:	10	···/˘··˘/·
That fiery Zuinglius first th' affection bred,	10	·/˘···˘/˘·
And meagre Calvin bless'd the nuptial bed.	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
In Israel some believe him whelp'd long since,	10	·/˘·˘/····
When the proud Sanhedrim oppress'd the prince;	10	······˘/··
Or, since he will be Jew, derive him higher,	11	······˘/·/˘
When Corah with his brethren did conspire	11	·/˘··/˘·˘/˘
From Moses' hand the sovereign sway to wrest,	10	·/˘··/˘···
And Aaron of his ephod to divest:	10	·/˘··/˘·˘/
Till opening earth made way for all to pass,	10	·/˘·······
And could not bear the burden of a class.	10	·····/˘···
The Fox and he came shuffled in the dark,	10	·····/˘···
If ever they were stow'd in Noah's ark:	10	·/˘····/˘·
Perhaps not made; for all their barking train	10	˘/·····/˘·
The Dog (a common species) will contain.	10	···/˘/˘·˘/
And some wild curs, who from their masters ran,	10	·······/˘·
Abhorring the supremacy of man,	10	˘/˘·˘/˘˘··
In woods and caves the rebel race began.	10	·····/˘·˘/
O happy pair, how well have you increased!	10	·/˘·····˘/
What ills in Church and State have you redress'd!	10	··········
With teeth untried, and rudiments of claws,	10	··˘/·/˘˘··
Your first essay was on your native laws:	10	··˘/···/˘·
Those having torn with ease, and trampled down,	10	·/˘····/˘·
Your fangs you fasten'd on the mitred crown,	10	···/˘··/˘·
And freed from God and monarchy your town.	10	·····/˘˘··
What though your native kennel still be small,	10	···/˘/˘···
Bounded betwixt a puddle and a wall;	10	/˘˘/·/˘···
Yet your victorious colonies are sent	10	··˘/˘/˘˘··
Where the north ocean girds the continent.	10	···/˘··/˘˘
Quicken'd with fire below, your monsters breed	10	/˘·/···/˘·
In fenny Holland, and in fruitful Tweed:	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
And, like the first, the last affects to be	10	······˘/··
Drawn to the dregs of a democracy.	10	······˘/˘˘
As, where in fields the fairy rounds are seen,	10	·····/˘···
A rank, sour herbage rises on the green;	10	··//˘/˘···
So, springing where those midnight elves advance,	10	·/˘··/··˘/
Rebellion prints the footsteps of the dance.	10	˘/˘··/····
Such are their doctrines, such contempt they show	10	···/˘·˘/··
To Heaven above and to their prince below,	10	·/········
As none but traitors and blasphemers know.	10	···/˘·····
God, like the tyrant of the skies, is placed,	10	···/˘·····
And kings, like slaves, beneath the crowd debased.	10	········˘/
So fulsome is their food, that flocks refuse	10	·/˘·····˘/
To bite, and only dogs for physic use.	10	···/˘··/˘·
As, where the lightning runs along the ground,	10	···/˘·˘/··
No husbandry can heal the blasting wound;	10	·/˘˘···/˘·
Nor bladed grass, nor bearded corn succeeds,	10	·/˘··/˘·˘/
But scales of scurf and putrefaction breeds:	10	··········
Such wars, such waste, such fiery tracks of dearth	10	·····/˘···
Their zeal has left, and such a teemless earth,	10	·······/˘·
But, as the poisons of the deadliest kind	10	···/˘··/˘·
Are to their own unhappy coasts confined;	10	····˘/˘·˘/
As only Indian shades of sight deprive,	10	·/˘/˘···˘/
And magic plants will but in Colchos thrive;	10	·/˘·······
So Presbytery and pestilential zeal	11	·/˘˘˘······
Can only nourish in a commonweal.	10	·/˘/˘··/˘˘
From Celtic woods is chased the wolfish crew;	10	·/˘····/˘·
But ah! some pity even to brutes is due:	10	···/˘/····
Their native walks methinks they might enjoy,	10	·/˘·˘/··˘/
Curb'd of their native malice to destroy.	10	···/˘/˘·˘/
Of all the tyrannies on human kind,	10	···/˘˘·/˘·
The worst is that which persecutes the mind.	10	·····/˘···
Let us but weigh at what offence we strike;	10	······˘/··
'Tis but because we cannot think alike.	10	·····/˘·˘/
In punishing of this, we overthrow	10	·/˘˘···/˘·
The laws of nations and of nature too.	10	···/˘··/˘·
Beasts are the subjects of tyrannic sway,	10	···/˘·····
Where still the stronger on the weaker prey.	10	···/˘··/˘·
Man only of a softer mould is made,	10	·/˘··/˘···
Not for his fellows' ruin, but their aid:	10	···/˘/˘···
Created kind, beneficent, and free,	10	˘/˘··˘/˘··
The noble image of the Deity.	10	·/˘/˘··/˘˘
One portion of informing fire was given	11	·/˘·˘/˘/·/˘
To brutes, the inferior family of heaven:	10	···˘/˘/˘·/
The Smith Divine, as with a careless beat,	10	··˘/···/˘·
Struck out the mute creation at a heat:	10	····˘/˘···
But when arrived at last to human race,	10	··˘/···/˘·
The Godhead took a deep-considering space;	10	·/····˘/˘·
And to distinguish man from all the rest,	10	··˘/˘·····
Unlock'd the sacred treasures of his breast;	10	˘/·/˘/˘···
And mercy mix'd with reason did impart,	10	·/˘··/˘·˘/
One to his head, the other to his heart:	10	·····/˘···
Reason to rule, and mercy to forgive;	10	/˘···/˘·˘/
The first is law, the last prerogative.	10	······˘/˘˘
And like his mind his outward form appear'd,	10	·····/˘·˘/
When, issuing naked, to the wondering herd,	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
He charm'd their eyes; and, for they loved, they fear'd:	10	··········
Not arm'd with horns of arbitrary might,	10	·····/˘·˘·
Or claws to seize their furry spoils in fight,	10	·····/˘···
Or with increase of feet to o'ertake them in their flight:	13	··˘/·········
Of easy shape, and pliant every way;	10	·/˘··/˘/˘·
Confessing still the softness of his clay,	10	˘/˘··/˘···
And kind as kings upon their coronation day:	12	········˘/˘·
With open hands, and with extended space	10	·/˘···˘/˘·
Of arms, to satisfy a large embrace.	10	···/˘···˘/
Thus kneaded up with milk, the new-made man	10	·/˘·······
His kingdom o'er his kindred world began:	10	·/˘··/˘·˘/
Till knowledge misapplied, misunderstood,	10	·/˘·˘/·˘˘/
And pride of empire, sour'd his balmy blood.	10	···/˘/·/˘·
Then, first rebelling, his own stamp he coins;	10	··˘/˘·····
The murderer Cain was latent in his loins:	10	·/˘··/˘···
And blood began its first and loudest cry,	10	··˘/···/˘·
For differing worship of the Deity.	11	·/˘˘/˘··/˘˘
Thus persecution rose, and further space	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
Produced the mighty hunter of his race.	10	˘/·/˘/˘···
Not so the blessed Pan his flock increased,	10	····˘···˘/
Content to fold them from the famish'd beast:	10	/˘········
Mild were his laws; the Sheep and harmless Hind	10	·······/˘·
Were never of the persecuting kind.	10	·/˘··/˘·˘·
Such pity now the pious pastor shows,	10	·/˘··/˘/˘·
Such mercy from the British Lion flows,	10	·/˘··/˘/˘·
That both provide protection from their foes.	10	··˘/˘/˘···
O happy regions, Italy and Spain,	10	·/˘/˘/˘˘··
Which never did those monsters entertain!	10	·/˘··/˘·˘/
The Wolf, the Bear, the Boar, can there advance	10	········˘/
No native claim of just inheritance.	10	·/˘···˘/˘˘
And self-preserving laws, severe in show,	10	··˘/˘·˘/··
May guard their fences from the invading foe.	11	···/˘··˘/˘·
Where birth has placed them, let them safely share	10	·······/˘·
The common benefit of vital air.	10	·/˘/˘˘·/˘·
Themselves unharmful, let them live unharm'd;	10	˘/······˘/
Their jaws disabled, and their claws disarm'd:	10	··˘/˘···˘/
Here, only in nocturnal howlings bold,	10	·/˘·˘/˘/˘·
They dare not seize the hind, nor leap the fold.	10	··········
More powerful, and as vigilant as they,	10	·/˘··/˘˘··
The Lion awfully forbids the prey.	9	·/˘/˘˘/··
Their rage repress'd, though pinch'd with famine sore,	10	··˘/···/˘·
They stand aloof, and tremble at his roar:	10	··˘/·/˘···
Much is their hunger, but their fear is more.	10	···/˘·····
These are the chief: to number o'er the rest,	10	·····/˘···
And stand, like Adam, naming every beast,	10	···/˘/˘/˘·
Were weary work; nor will the muse describe	10	·/˘·····˘/
A slimy-born and sun-begotten tribe;	10	·/˘···˘/˘·
Who far from steeples and their sacred sound,	10	···/˘··/˘·
In fields their sullen conventicles found.	9	···/˘····
These gross, half-animated lumps I leave;	10	···/˘·˘···
Nor can I think what thoughts they can conceive.	10	········˘/
But if they think at all, 'tis sure no higher	11	·········/˘
Than matter, put in motion, may aspire:	10	·/˘··/˘·˘/
Souls that can scarce ferment their mass of clay;	10	····˘/····
So drossy, so divisible are they,	10	·/˘·˘/˘˘··
As would but serve pure bodies for allay:	10	·····/˘·˘/
Such souls as shards produce, such beetle things	10	····˘/·/˘·
As only buzz to heaven with evening wings;	10	·/˘··/·/˘·
Strike in the dark, offending but by chance,	10	····˘/˘···
Such are the blindfold blows of ignorance.	10	···/···/˘˘
They know not beings, and but hate a name;	10	···/˘·····
To them the Hind and Panther are the same.	10	·····/˘···
The Panther sure the noblest, next the Hind,	10	·/˘··/˘···
And fairest creature of the spotted kind;	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
Oh, could her inborn stains be wash'd away,	10	···/····˘/
She were too good to be a beast of prey!	10	··········
How can I praise, or blame, and not offend,	10	········˘/
Or how divide the frailty from the friend?	10	··˘/·/˘···
Her faults and virtues lie so mix'd, that she	10	···/˘·····
Nor wholly stands condemn'd, nor wholly free.	10	·/˘·˘/·/˘·
Then, like her injured Lion, let me speak;	10	···/˘/˘···
He cannot bend her, and he would not break.	10	·/˘·······
Unkind already, and estranged in part,	10	˘/˘/˘·˘/··
The Wolf begins to share her wandering heart.	10	··˘/···/˘·
Though unpolluted yet with actual ill,	10	·······/˘·
She half commits, who sins but in her will.	10	··˘/······
If, as our dreaming Platonists report,	10	··//˘/˘˘˘/
There could be spirits of a middle sort,	10	···/˘··/˘·
Too black for heaven, and yet too white for hell,	10	···/······
Who just dropt half way down, nor lower fell;	10	·······/˘·
So poised, so gently she descends from high,	10	···/˘·˘/··
It seems a soft dismission from the sky.	10	····˘/˘···
Her house not ancient, whatsoe'er pretence	9	···/˘····
Her clergy heralds make in her defence.	10	·/˘/˘···˘/
A second century not half-way run,	10	·/˘/˘˘····
Since the new honours of her blood begun.	10	···/˘···˘/
A Lion old, obscene, and furious made	10	·/·˘/·/˘˘·
By lust, compress'd her mother in a shade;	10	··˘/·/˘···
Then, by a left-hand marriage, weds the dame,	10	·····/˘···
Covering adultery with a specious name:	10	/˘˘/˘··/˘·
So Schism begot; and Sacrilege and she,	10	·/˘˘/·/˘··
A well match'd pair, got graceless Heresy.	10	·····/˘/˘˘
God's and king's rebels have the same good cause,	10	···/˘·····
To trample down divine and human laws:	10	·/˘·˘/·/˘·
Both would be call'd reformers, and their hate	10	····˘/˘···
Alike destructive both to Church and State:	10	˘/˘/˘·····
The fruit proclaims the plant; a lawless prince	10	··˘/···/˘·
By luxury reform'd incontinence;	10	·/˘˘˘/˘/˘˘
By ruins, charity; by riots, abstinence.	11	·/˘/˘·/˘/˘˘
Confessions, fasts, and penance set aside,	10	˘/˘··/˘·˘/
Oh, with what ease we follow such a guide,	10	·····/˘···
Where souls are starved, and senses gratified!	10	·····/˘/˘·
Where marriage pleasures midnight prayers supply,	10	·/˘/˘/··˘/
And matin bells, a melancholy cry,	10	·/˘··/˘·˘·
Are tuned to merrier notes, Increase and multiply.	12	···/˘·˘/·/˘·
Religion shows a rosy-colour'd face;	10	˘/˘··/˘/˘·
Not batter'd out with drudging works of grace:	10	·/˘··/˘···
A down-hill reformation rolls apace.	10	····˘/˘·˘/
What flesh and blood would crowd the narrow gate,	10	·······/˘·
Or, till they waste their pamper'd paunches, wait?	10	·····/˘···
All would be happy at the cheapest rate.	10	···/˘··/˘·
Though our lean faith these rigid laws has given,	11	·/···/˘··/˘
The full-fed Mussulman goes fat to heaven;	11	···/˘˘···/˘
For his Arabian prophet with delights	10	··˘/˘/˘·˘/
Of sense allured his eastern proselytes.	10	··˘/·/˘···
The jolly Luther, reading him, began	10	·/˘/˘/˘·˘/
To interpret Scriptures by his Alcoran;	11	·˘/˘/˘··/˘˘
To grub the thorns beneath our tender feet,	10	······//˘·
And make the paths of Paradise more sweet;	10	·····/˘···
Bethought him of a wife ere half way gone,	10	˘/········
For 'twas uneasy travelling alone;	10	··˘/˘/˘˘˘/
And, in this masquerade of mirth and love,	10	····˘/····
Mistook the bliss of heaven for Bacchanals above.	12	˘/···/·˘/˘··
Sure he presumed of praise, who came to stock	10	··˘/······
The ethereal pastures with so fair a flock,	11	·˘/˘/˘·····
Burnish'd, and battening on their food, to show	10	/˘·/˘·····
Their diligence of careful herds below.	10	·/˘˘·/˘···
Our Panther, though like these she changed her head,	10	//˘·······
Yet, as the mistress of a monarch's bed,	10	···/˘··/··
Her front erect with majesty she bore,	10	··˘/·/˘˘··
The crosier wielded, and the mitre wore.	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
Her upper part of decent discipline	10	·/˘··/˘/˘˘
Show'd affectation of an ancient line;	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
And Fathers, Councils, Church, and Church's head,	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
Were on her reverend phylacteries read.	10	···/˘˘····
But what disgraced and disavow'd the rest,	10	··˘/··˘/··

The first 400 of 572 lines; the reader marks them all.

The reader shows the same poem with its rhymes coloured and a stress row above each line, the notes beside their stanzas, and any word's definition on a tap; the analysis page takes the whole book apart. How every part of this site was made.

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Poems The Poetical Works, Volume I