Dance forty-one jigs,'

But God bless our gracious Queen Anne.

The kirk with applause
Is established by laws

As the orthodox church of the nation.
The bishops do own

It's as good as their own.

And this, Sir, is call'd moderation.

It's no riddle now

To let you see how
A church by oppression may speed;
Nor is't banter or jest,

That the kirk faith is best

On the other side of the Tweed.

For no soil can suit

With every fruit,

Even so, Sir, it is with religion;

The best church by far

Is what grows where you are,

Were it Mahomet's ass or his pigeon.

Another strange story

That vexes the Tory,

But sure there's no mystery in it,

That a pension and place

Give communicants grace,

Who design to turn tail the next minute.

Alluding to the year 1641, when the great rebellion broke out.---Scott.

For if it be not strange,

That religion should change,

As often as climates and fashions;

Then sure there's no harm,

That one should conform,

To serve their own private occasions.

Another new dance,

Which of late they advance,

Is to cry up the birth of Pretender,
And those that dare own

The queen heir to the crown,

Are traitors, not fit to defend her.

The subject's most loyal

That hates the blood royal,

And they for employments have merit, Who swear queen and steeple Were made by the people,

And neither have right to inherit.

The monarchy's fixt,

By making on't mixt,
And by non-resistance o'erthrown;

And preaching obedience.

Destroys our allegiance,

And thus the Whigs prop up the throne.

That viceroy' is best,

That would take off the test,

1 Lord Wharton.

And made a sham speech to attempt it;

But being true blue,

When he found 'twould not do, Swore, damn him, if ever he meant it.

'Tis no news that Tom Double
The nation should bubble,

Nor is't any wonder or riddle,
That a parliament rump

Should play hop, step, and jump,

And dance any jig to his fiddle.

But now, sir, they tell,

How Sacheverell,

By bringing old doctrines in fashion,
Hath, like a damn'd rogue,

Brought religion in vogue,

And so open'd the eyes of the nation.

Then let's pray without spleen,
May God bless the queen,

And her fellow-monarchs the people;

May they prosper and thrive,

Whilst I am alive,

And so may the church with the steeple.

ATLAS; OR, THE MINISTER OF STATE.'

TO THE LORD TREASURER OXFORD.

1710.

ATLAS, we read in ancient song,
Was so exceeding tall and strong,
He bore the skies upon his back,
Just as the pedler does his pack ;
But, as the pedler overpress'd
Unloads upon a stall to rest,
Or, when he can no longer stand,
Desires a friend to lend a hand;
So Atlas, lest the ponderous spheres
Should sink, and fall about his ears,
Got Hercules to bear the pile,
That he might sit and rest awhile.

Yet Hercules was not so strong,
Nor could have borne it half so long.
Great statesmen are in this condition ;
And Atlas is a politician,

A premier minister of state;
Alcides one of second rate.

In these free, and yet complimentary verses, Swift cautions Oxford against his greatest political error, that affectation of mystery, and wish of engrossing the whole management of public affairs, which first disgusted, and then alienated, Harcourt and Bolingbroke. On this point our author has spoken very fully in the Free Thoughts upon the present State of Affairs.-Scott.

Suppose then Atlas ne'er so wise;
Yet, when the weight of kingdoms lies
Too long upon his single shoulders,
Sink down he must, or find upholders.

LINES

WRITTEN EXTEMPORE ON MR. HARLEY'S BEING STABBED, AND ADDRESSED TO HIS

PHYSICIAN, 1710-11.

ON Britain Europe's safety lies,

Britain is lost if Harley dies:
Harley depends upon your skill:
Think what you save, or what you kill.

AN EXCELLENT NEW SONG,

BEING THE INTENDED SPEECH OF A FAMOUS ORATOR

AGAINST PEACE.

1711.

AN orator dismal of Nottinghamshire,

Who has forty years let out his conscience to hire, Out of zeal for his country, and want of a place, Is come up, vi et armis, to break the queen's peace. He has vamp'd an old speech, and the court, to their sorrow,

Shall hear him harangue against Prior to-morrow.