The Poetical Works of John Dryden Volume I Part 31

Thus one, thus pure, behold her largely spread, Like the fair ocean from her mother-bed; From east to west triumphantly she rides, 550 All sh.o.r.es are water'd by her wealthy tides.

The Gospel-sound, diffused from pole to pole, Where winds can carry, and where waves can roll, The self-same doctrine of the sacred page Convey'd to every clime, in every age.

Here let my sorrow give my satire place, To raise new blushes on my British race; Our sailing-ships like common sewers we use, And through our distant colonies diffuse The draught of dungeons, and the stench of stews, 560 Whom, when their home-bred honesty is lost, We disembogue on some far Indian coast: Thieves, panders, paillards,[115] sins of every sort; Those are the manufactures we export; And these the missioners our zeal has made: For, with my country's pardon be it said, Religion is the least of all our trade.

Yet some improve their traffic more than we; For they on gain, their only G.o.d, rely, And set a public price on piety. 570 Industrious of the needle and the chart, They run full sail to their j.a.ponian mart; Prevention fear, and, prodigal of fame, Sell all of Christian,[116] to the very name; Nor leave enough of that, to hide their naked shame.

Thus, of three marks, which in the Creed we view, Not one of all can be applied to you: 577 Much less the fourth; in vain, alas! you seek The ambitious t.i.tle of Apostolic: G.o.d-like descent! 'tis well your blood can be Proved n.o.ble in the third or fourth degree: For all of ancient that you had before, (I mean what is not borrow'd from our store) Was error fulminated o'er and o'er; Old heresies condemn'd in ages past, By care and time recover'd from the blast.

'Tis said with ease, but never can be proved, The Church her old foundations has removed, And built new doctrines on unstable sands: Judge that, ye winds and rains: you proved her, yet she stands. 590 Those ancient doctrines charged on her for new, Show when and how, and from what hands they grew.

We claim no power, when heresies grow bold, To coin new faith, but still declare the old.

How else could that obscene disease be purged, When controverted texts are vainly urged?

To prove tradition new, there's somewhat more Required, than saying, 'twas not used before.

Those monumental arms are never stirr'd, Till schism or heresy call down Goliah's sword. 600

Thus, what you call corruptions, are, in truth, The first plantations of the Gospel's youth; Old standard faith: but cast your eyes again, And view those errors which new sects maintain, Or which of old disturb'd the Church's peaceful reign; And we can point each period of the time, When they began, and who begot the crime; Can calculate how long the eclipse endured, Who interposed, what digits were obscured: Of all which are already pa.s.s'd away, 610 We know the rise, the progress, and decay.

Despair at our foundations then to strike, Till you can prove your faith Apostolic; A limpid stream drawn from the native source; Succession lawful in a lineal course.

Prove any Church, opposed to this our head, So one, so pure, so unconfinedly spread, Under one chief of the spiritual state, The members all combined, and all subordinate.

Show such a seamless coat, from schism so free, 620 In no communion join'd with heresy.

If such a one you find, let truth prevail: Till when your weights will in the balance fail: A Church unprincipled kicks up the scale.

But if you cannot think (nor sure you can Suppose in G.o.d what were unjust in man) That He, the fountain of eternal grace, Should suffer falsehood, for so long a s.p.a.ce, To banish truth, and to usurp her place: That seven successive ages should be lost, 630 And preach d.a.m.nation at their proper cost; That all your erring ancestors should die, Drown'd in the abyss of deep idolatry: If piety forbid such thoughts to rise, Awake, and open your unwilling eyes: G.o.d hath left nothing for each age undone, From this to that wherein he sent his Son: Then think but well of him, and half your work is done.

See how his Church, adorn'd with every grace, 639 With open arms, a kind forgiving face, Stands ready to prevent her long-lost son's embrace.

Not more did Joseph o'er his brethren weep, Nor less himself could from discovery keep, When in the crowd of suppliants they were seen, And in their crew his best-loved Benjamin.

That pious Joseph in the Church behold, To feed your famine,[117] and refuse your gold: The Joseph you exiled, the Joseph whom you sold.

Thus, while with heavenly charity she spoke, A streaming blaze the silent shadows broke; 650 Shot from the skies; a cheerful azure light: The birds obscene to forests wing'd their flight, And gaping graves received the wandering guilty sprite.

Such were the pleasing triumphs of the sky, For James his late nocturnal victory; The pledge of his Almighty Patron's love, The fireworks which his angels made above.

I saw myself the lambent easy light Gild the brown horror, and dispel the night: The messenger with speed the tidings bore; 660 News, which three labouring nations did restore; But Heaven's own Nuntius was arrived before.

By this, the Hind had reach'd her lonely cell, And vapours rose, and dews unwholesome fell.

When she, by frequent observation wise, As one who long on heaven had fix'd her eyes, Discern'd a change of weather in the skies; The western borders were with crimson spread, The moon descending look'd all flaming red; She thought good manners bound her to invite 670 The stranger dame to be her guest that night.

'Tis true, coa.r.s.e diet, and a short repast, (She said) were weak inducements to the taste Of one so nicely bred, and so unused to fast: But what plain fare her cottage could afford, A hearty welcome at a homely board, Was freely hers; and, to supply the rest, An honest meaning, and an open breast: Last, with content of mind, the poor man's wealth, A grace-cup to their common patron's health. 680 This she desired her to accept, and stay For fear she might be wilder'd in her way, Because she wanted an unerring guide; And then the dew-drops on her silken hide Her tender const.i.tution did declare, Too lady-like a long fatigue to bear, And rough inclemencies of raw nocturnal air.

But most she fear'd that, travelling so late, Some evil-minded beasts might lie in wait, And, without witness, wreak their hidden hate. 690

The Panther, though she lent a listening ear, Had more of lion in her than to fear: Yet, wisely weighing, since she had to deal With many foes, their numbers might prevail, Return'd her all the thanks she could afford, And took her friendly hostess at her word: Who, entering first her lowly roof, a shed With h.o.a.ry moss, and winding ivy spread, Honest enough to hide an humble hermit's head, Thus graciously bespoke her welcome guest: 700 So might these walls, with your fair presence blest, Become your dwelling-place of everlasting rest; Not for a night, or quick revolving year; Welcome an owner, not a sojourner.

This peaceful seat my poverty secures; War seldom enters but where wealth allures: Nor yet despise it; for this poor abode Has oft received, and yet receives a G.o.d; A G.o.d victorious of the Stygian race Here laid his sacred limbs, and sanctified the place, 710 This mean retreat did mighty Pan contain: Be emulous of him, and pomp disdain, And dare not to debase your soul to gain.

The silent stranger stood amazed to see Contempt of wealth, and wilful poverty: And, though ill habits are not soon controll'd, A while suspended her desire of gold.

But civilly drew in her sharpen'd paws, Not violating hospitable laws; And pacified her tail, and lick'd her frothy jaws. 720

The Hind did first her country cates provide; Then couch'd herself securely by her side.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 108: 'Philistines:' the Cromwellians, &c.]

[Footnote 109: 'Younger lion:' Charles II.]

[Footnote 110: 'Priestly calves,' &c.: this alludes to the Commons voting in 1641 that all deans, chapters, &c. should be abolished.]

[Footnote 111: 'The Test:' the Test Act, pa.s.sed in 1672, enjoined the abjuration of the real presence in the sacrament.]

[Footnote 112: 'Piles, &c.:' the Roman arms--_pili_ and eagles.]

[Footnote 113: 'Curtana:' the name of King Edward the Confessor's sword, without a point, an emblem of mercy, and carried before the king at the coronation.]

[Footnote 114: 'Not rent by schism:' marks of the Catholic Church from the Nicene creed.]

[Footnote 115: 'Paillards:' a French word for licentious persons.]

[Footnote 116: 'Sell all of Christian,' &c.: it is said that the Dutch, in order to secure to themselves the whole trade of j.a.pan, trample on the cross, and deny the name of Jesus.]

[Footnote 117: 'Feed your famine:' the renunciation of the Benedictines to the abbey lands.]

PART III.

Much malice, mingled with a little wit, Perhaps may censure this mysterious writ: Because the Muse has peopled Caledon With Panthers, Bears, and Wolves, and beasts unknown, As if we were not stock'd with monsters of our own.

Let aesop answer, who has set to view Such kinds as Greece and Phrygia never knew; And mother Hubbard,[118] in her homely dress, Has sharply blamed a British Lioness; That queen, whose feast the factious rabble keep, 10 Exposed obscenely naked and asleep.

Led by those great examples, may not I The wanted organs of their words supply?

If men transact like brutes, 'tis equal then For brutes to claim the privilege of men.

Others our Hind of folly will indite, To entertain a dangerous guest by night.

Let those remember, that she cannot die Till rolling time is lost in round eternity; Nor need she fear the Panther, though untamed, 20 Because the Lion's peace[119] was now proclaim'd: The wary savage would not give offence, To forfeit the protection of her prince; But watch'd the time her vengeance to complete, When all her furry sons in frequent senate met; Meanwhile she quench'd her fury at the flood, And with a lenten salad cool'd her blood.

Their commons, though but coa.r.s.e, were nothing scant, Nor did their minds an equal banquet want.

For now the Hind, whose n.o.ble nature strove 30 To express her plain simplicity of love, Did all the honours of her house so well, No sharp debates disturb'd the friendly meal.

She turn'd the talk, avoiding that extreme, To common dangers past, a sadly-pleasing theme; Remembering every storm which toss'd the state, When both were objects of the public hate, And dropp'd a tear betwixt for her own children's fate.

Nor fail'd she then a full review to make Of what the Panther suffer'd for her sake: 40 Her lost esteem, her truth, her loyal care, Her faith unshaken to an exiled heir,[120]

Her strength to endure, her courage to defy; Her choice of honourable infamy.

On these, prolixly thankful, she enlarged; Then with acknowledgment herself she charged; For friendship, of itself an holy tie, Is made more sacred by adversity.

Now should they part, malicious tongues would say, They met like chance companions on the way, 50 Whom mutual fear of robbers had possess'd; While danger lasted, kindness was profess'd; But that once o'er, the short-lived union ends; The road divides, and there divide the friends.

The Panther nodded when her speech was done, And thank'd her coldly in a hollow tone: But said her grat.i.tude had gone too far For common offices of Christian care.

If to the lawful heir she had been true, She paid but Caesar what was Caesar's due. 60 I might, she added, with like praise describe Your suffering sons, and so return your bribe: But incense from my hands is poorly prized; For gifts are scorn'd where givers are despised.

I served a turn, and then was cast away; You, like the gaudy fly, your wings display, And sip the sweets, and bask in your great patron's day.

This heard, the matron was not slow to find What sort of malady had seized her mind: Disdain, with gnawing envy, fell despite, 70 And canker'd malice stood in open sight: Ambition, interest, pride without control, And jealousy, the jaundice of the soul; Revenge, the b.l.o.o.d.y minister of ill, With all the lean tormentors of the will.

'Twas easy now to guess from whence arose Her new-made union with her ancient foes, Her forced civilities, her faint embrace, Affected kindness with an alter'd face: Yet durst she not too deeply probe the wound, 80 As hoping still the n.o.bler parts were sound: But strove with anodynes to a.s.suage the smart, And mildly thus her medicine did impart.

Complaints of lovers help to ease their pain; It shows a rest of kindness to complain; A friendship loath to quit its former hold; And conscious merit may be justly bold.

But much more just your jealousy would show, If others' good were injury to you: Witness, ye heavens, how I rejoice to see 90 Rewarded worth and rising loyalty!

Your warrior offspring that upheld the crown.

The scarlet honour of your peaceful gown, Are the most pleasing objects I can find, Charms to my sight, and cordials to my mind: When virtue spooms before a prosperous gale, My heaving wishes help to fill the sail; And if my prayers for all the brave were heard, Caesar should still have such, and such should still reward.