THE HIND and the PANTHER. A Milk-white Hind, immortal and unchang'd, Fed on the lawns, and in the foreft rang'd; Without unfpotted, innocent within, She fear'd no danger, for fhe knew no fin. Not fo her young; for their unequal line Was hero's make, half human, half divine. Their earthly mold obnoxious was to fate, The immortal part affum'd immortal state. Of these a slaughter'd army lay in blood, Extended o'er the Caledonian wood, Their native walk; whofe vocal blood arose, And cry'd for pardon on their perjur'd foes. Their fate was fruitful, and the fanguine feed, A numerous exile, and enjoy'd her pains. Panting and penfive now the rang'd alone, For truth has fuch a face and fuch a mien, The bloody bear, an independent beast, Unlick'd to form, in groans her hate exprest. Among the timorous kind the quaking hare Profefs'd neutrality, but would not fwear. Next her the buffoon ape as atheists use, Mimick'd all fects, and had his own to chufe: 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 fanctity, With fat pollutions fill'd the facred place, And mountains levell'd in his furious race: So first rebellion founded was in grace. But fince the mighty ravage, which he made In German forefts, had his guilt betray'd, With broken tusks, and with a borrow'd name, He shun'd the vengeance, and conceal'd the fhame ; So lurk'd in fects unfeen. With greater guile False reynard fed on confecrated spoil: The graceless beaft by Athanafius first Was chas'd from Nice, then by Socinus nurs'd: His impious race their blafphemy renew'd, O teach me to believe thee thus conceal'd, was gone, My pride ftruck out new sparkles of her own. Be thine the glory, and be mine the shame. Can I believe eternal God could lie Disguis'd in mortal mold and infancy? That the great Maker of the world could die? Can I my reason to my And shall my fight, and touch, and taste rebel ? Shall their fubfervient organs be my guide? Then let the moon ufurp the rule of day, And winking tapers fhew the fun his way; For what my senses can themselves perceive, I need no revelation to believe. Can they who fay the host should be descry'd Impaffable, and penetrating parts? Let them declare by what myfterious arts } For fince thus wonderously he pass'd, 'tis plain, |