What bills for breach of laws can she prefer,
Expounding which the owns herself may err;
And, after all her winding ways are try'd,
If doubts arise, fhe flips herself afide,
And leaves the private confcience for the guide.
If then that confcience fet th' offender free,
It bars her claim to church authority.
How can the cenfure, or what crime pretend,
But fcripture may be construed to defend ?
E'en those, whom for rebellion the tranfmits
To civil power, her doctrine first acquits;
Because no difobedience can enfue,
Where no fubmiffion to a judge is due ;
Each judging for himself by her consent,
Whom thus abfolv'd she fends to punishment,
Suppose the magistrate revenge her cause,
"Tis only for tranfgreffing human laws.
How answering to its end a church is made,
Whose power is but to counsel and perfuade?
O folid rock, on which secure she stands!
Eternal house not built with mortal hands!
O fure defence against th' infernal gate,
A patent during pleasure of the ftate!
Thus is the Panther neither lov'd nor fear'd A meer mock queen of a divided herd;
Whom foon by lawful power fhe might controul,
Herself a part submitted to the whole.
Then, as the moon who first receives the light
By which the makes our nether regions bright,
So might she shine, reflecting from afar
The rays fhe borrow'd from a better star ;
Big with the beams, which from her mother flow,
And reigning o'er the rifing tides below:
Now, mixing with à favage crowd, fhe goes,
And meanly flatters her invet'rate foes,
Rul'd while fhe rules, and lofing every hour
Her wretched remnants of precarious power.
One evening, while the cooler fhade fhe fought,
Revolving many a melancholy thought,
Alone she walk'd, and look'd around in vain,
With rueful vifage, for her vanish'd train :
None of her fylvan fubjects made their court;
Levées and couchées pafs'd without refort.
So hardly can ufurpers manage well
Thofe, whom they first inftructed to rebel,
More liberty begets defire of more;
The hunger ftill increases with the store.
Without respect they brush'd along the wood
Each in his clan, and fill'd with loathfome food,
Afk'd no permiffion to the neighb'ring flood.
The Panther, full of inward difcontent,
Since they would go, before them wifely went;
Supplying want of power by drinking firft,
As if she gave them leave to quench their thirst.
Among the reft, the Hind, with fearful face,
Beheld from far the common watering place,
Nor durft approach; 'till with an awful roar
The fovereign lion bad her fear no more.
Encourag'd thus fhe brought her younglings nigh,
Watching the motions of her patron's eye;
And drank a fober draught; the rest amaz'd
Stood mutely fill, and on the ftranger gaz'd;
Survey'd her part by part, and fought to find
The ten-horn'd monfter in the harmless Hind,
Such as the Wolf and Panther had defign'd.
They thought at firft they dream'd; for 'twas
With 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 admir'd her heavenly hue!
Some, who before her fellowship disdain'd,
Scarce, and but fcarce, from in-born rage re-
ftrain'd,
Now frifk'd about her, and old kindred feign'd.
Whether for love or intereft, every sect
Of all the favage nation fhew'd respect.
The viceroy Panther could not awe the herd;
The more the company, the lefs they fear'd.
The furly Wolf with fecret envy burst,
Yet could not howl; the Hind had feen him first:
But what he durft not speak, the Panther durft.
For when the herd, fuffic'd, did late repair
To ferney heaths, and to their forest lare,
She made a mannerly excufe to stay,
Proffering the Hind to wait her half the way
That, fince the sky was clear, an hour of talk
Might help her to beguile the tedious walk.
With much good-will the motion was embrac'd,
To chat a while on their adventures pass'd :
Nor had the grateful Hind so soon forgot
Her friend and fellow-fufferer in the plot.
Yet wondring how of late she grew estrang'd,
Her forehead cloudy, and her count'nance chang'd,
She thought this hour th' occafion would prefent
To learn her fecret caufe of discontent,
Which well she hop'd, might be with ease re-
drefs'd,
Confidering her a well-bred civil beast,
And more a gentlewoman than the rest.
After fome common talk what rumors ran,
The lady of the spotted-muff began.
AME, faid the Panther, times are mended well,
Since late among the Philiftines you fell.
The toils were pitch'd, a fpacious tract of ground
With expert huntsmen was encompass'd round;
Th'inclofure narrow'd; the fagacious power
Of hounds and death drew nearer every hour.
'Tis true, the younger lion fcap'd the fnare,
But all your priestly calves lay ftruggling there;
As facrifices on their altars laid
While their careful mother wifely fled,
Not trufting destiny to fave your head.
For whate'er promises you have apply'd
To your unfailing church, the furer fide
Is four fair legs in danger to provide.
And whate'er tales of Peter's chair
you tell, Yet, faving reverence of the miracle,
The better luck was yours to fcape fo well.
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