That virtue could this humble verse inspire, "Tis all the restitution I require.

340

Glad was the Panther that the charge was clos'd,

350

And none of all her fav'rite sons expos'd.
For laws of arms permit each injur'd man
To make himself a saver where he can.
Perhaps the plunder'd merchant cannot tell
The names of pirates in whose hands he fell;
But at the den of thieves he justly flies,
And ev'ry Algerine is lawful prize.
No private person, in the foe's estate
Can plead exemption from the public fate;
Yet Christian laws allow not such redress;
Then let the greater supersede the less.
But let th' abetters of the Panther's crime
Learn to make fairer wars another time.
Some characters may, sure, be found to write
Among her sons: for 'tis no common sight,
A spotted dame, and all her offspring white.
The Savage, though she saw her plea control'd
Yet would not wholly seem to quit her hold,
But offer'd fairly to compound the strife,
And judg'd conversion by the convert's life.
'Tis true, she said, I think it somewhat strange
So few should follow profitable change;
For present joys are more to flesh and blood
Than a dull prospect of a distant good.
'Twas well alluded by a son of mine,
(I hope to quote him is not to purloin)

360

370

Two magnets, heav'n and earth, allure to bless;
The larger loadstone that, the nearer this;
The weak attraction of the greater fails;
We nod awile, but neighbourhood prevails:
But when the greater proves the nearer too,
I wonder more your converts come so slow,
Methinks in those, who firm with me remain,
It shews a nobler principle than gain.

Your inf'rence would be strong, the Hind reply'd
If yours were in effect the suff'ring side;
Your clergy's sons their own, in peace, possess,
Nor are their prospects in reversion less:
My proselytes are struck with awful dread;
Your bloody comet-laws hang blazing o'er their
The respite they enjoy, but only lent,

380

[head; The best they have to hope, protracted punishment. Be judge yourself, if int'rest may prevail, Which motives, yours or mine, will turn the scale. While pride and pomp allure, and plenteous ease, That is, 'till man's predom'nant passions cease, Admire no longer at my slow increase.

By education most have been misled;

So they believe, because they so were bred. 390
The priest continues what the nurse began,
And thus the child imposes on the man.
The rest I nam'd before, nor need repeat;
But int'rest is the most prevailing cheat;
The sly seducer both of age and youth;
They study that, and think they study truth.

When int'rest fortifies an argument,

Weak reason serves to gain the will's assent: For souls, already warpt, receive an easy bent. J Add long prescription of establish'd laws,

400

And pique of honor to maintain a cause ;
And shame of change, and fear of future ill,
And zeal, the blind conductor of the will;
And, chief, among the still-mistaking crowd,
The fame of teachers obstinate and proud,
And, more than all, the private judge allow'd;
Disdain of Fathers, which the dance began;
And, last, uncertain whose the narrower span,
The clown unread, and half-read gentleman.

411

To this the Panther, (with a scornful smile ;) Yet still you travel with unwearied toil, And range around the realm, without control, Among my sons, for proselytes, to prowl, And, here and there, you snap some silly soul. You hinted fears of future change in state! Pray Heav'n you did not prophecy your fate. Perhaps, you think your time of triumph near, But may mistake the season of the year; The Swallow's fortune gives you cause to fear. 420

For charity, reply'd the Matron, tell What sad mischance those pretty birds befel. Nay, no mischance, the savage Dame reply'd, But want of wit in their unerring guide, And eager haste, and gaudy hopes, and giddy pride.

Yet, wishing timely warning may prevail,
Mark you the moral, and I'll tell the tale.

The Swallow, (privileg'd, above the rest
Of all the birds, as man's familiar guest,)
Pursues the sun, in summer, brisk and bold,
But wisely shuns the persecuting cold:

430

Is well to chancels and to chimnies known,
Though 'tis not thought she feeds on smoke alone,
From hence she has been held of heav'nly line,
Endu'd with particles of soul divine:

This merry chorister had long possess'd
Her summer-seat, and feather'd well her nest;
Till frowning skies began to change their cheer,
And Time turn'd up the wrong side of the year;
The shedding trees began the ground to strow
With yellow leaves, and bitter blasts to blow: 440
Sad auguries of winter thence she drew,
Which by instinct, or prophecy, she knew;
When prudence warn'd her to remove betimes,
And seek a better heav'n, and warmer climes.

Her sons were summon'd on a steeple's height,
And, call'd in common council, vote a flight;
The day was nam'd, the next that should be fair;
All to the general rendezvous repair.
They try their flutt'ring wings, and thrust them-
selves in air.

But whether upward to the moon they go, 450
Or dream the winter out in caves below,

Or hawk at flies elsewhere, concerns not us to
know.

Southwards, you may be sure, they bent their
And harbour'd in a hollow rock at night; [flight,
Next morn they rose, and set up ev'ry sail;
The wind was fair, but blew a mackrel gale :
The sickly young sat, shiv'ring, on the shore,
Abhorr'd salt water, never seen before,
And pray'd their tender mothers to delay
The passage, and expect a fairer day.

With these the Martin readily concurr'd,
A church-begot and church-believing bird;
Of little body, but of lofty mind,
Round-belly'd, for a dignity design'd,

460

And much a dunce, as Martins are by kind:
Yet often quoted canon-laws and code,
And Fathers which he never understood:
But little learning needs-in noble blood.
For, sooth to say, the Swallow brought him in
Her household-chaplain, and her next of kin ; 470
In superstition silly to excess,

And casting schemes by planetary guess;
In fine, short-wing'd, unfit himself to fly,
His fear foretold foul weather in the sky.

Besides, a Raven from a wither'd oak,
Left of their lodging, was observ'd to croak.
That omen lik'd him not: so his advice
Was present safety, bought at any price;
A seeming pious care, that cover'd cowardice.
To strengthen this, he told a boding dream 480
Of rising waters, and a troubled stream,