Virginia's Complaint
Against the Plaintiffs
O Endless Evill Day!
Our Mournfull Land of Late was heard to say)
That Still more Gloomy grows,
And Storms on Storm, on Sorrow Sorrow blows
Since first Rebellious men,
Against Good Bartlett drew their Angree Pen,
And Cruel Swords Unsheath'd
And nought but Death and Desolation breath'd
No wars had I till then
But with that Slowpac'd Matchcote Indian
The Homeliest of my Race
Thrô all their Tents oreflowd in wealth and Peace
Bliss did on Blissing shove
All Good things then in Sweet Returns of Love.
Whitehall where shines my Queen)
By Idle, False, illtim'd Complaints hath Seen
To much my Childrens Gall, to much their Spleen
Even now when close Employed
To Stem the Empire Universals Tyde.
Till then that Royall Palace nere did chide
Nor ever heard from me
But by Complaints from other Shores did See
And did me Happie call
And in my Silence heard me blest of all
But since that Wofull wight
(I lothe name) by Crawling Vermin dy'd
In his foull deeds enthrauld
And (in that Blood He Dam'd) by Furys hauld,
And into Factions tore,
What erst I was, I'm happy now no more
No Laws, Oaths, Bonds, Disgrace
Nor Honour, Nor best Nature of this Race
Do now So much engage
Fidelity as Whispers in that Golden Age.
Lampoon & Satyr now
(Those luckless Birds of Night) too me persue
And grett my wearied Ears
With factions noise of Skulking Balladeers
That Spread in Vain False Rumors Doubts and Fears
To Vex my troubled Shores
Which the Sagacious Statesman thus deplores
And with much grief repeats My Lord Bacon
As the Sad Ushers of dissolving States in his Essays
So true, alas too true
The Symptoms of old Evills are in View,
Sedition, Spite and Rage
Churchmen abus'd, New Baconeers presage
Go Sacrifice ye then
The Best of Rulers to the worst of men
Him that my wealth increas'd
Both in the Publick and the Private Chest
Me with the Muses blest
And my Collegiate Brows with Lawrell drest
With Justice Rules my Bench
My Stragling Cottagers with Strong Defence.
All ye my Treasuries
Of wealth, Witt, Justice, Conduct, Courage, rise
And ye that Grace the whole
Attest your Founders Worth: Themis in Capitall
Let thy Immortal Praise His evergreen enroll
Rouse next thy Royall head
By unseen Incubus Suckt almost dead
Fair Lodge of learned Nine
By him these Lights both on & from Thee Shine
In evercircling Arms Him to thy Breast entwine
Thy Birth, thy Life, thy Wealth
To Him thou ow'st & now (much more) thy Health
This Nursing Father blast?
This truest Friend I never harbourd cast?
Who more than's own, your Good wrought first & last
Oust this my Present Power
Henceforth Shall None Rule with content one hour
Each Jack Shall check and dare his Governour
Tho English man be gon,
That we may ride a Native of our own
Or Scot, who may our Purseprou wishes crown
That Springs their Brooks may 'dore
That every Creek his River may out roar
And Spreading Streams may own their Banks no more.
While thus my Shield ye treat
Ye quite invert the highest Ends of State
Subjecting Judges to the Subjects Heat
Ill-naturd Haughty men
Transfus'd this Evill blood in many a vein
Let Such amend or Law will Stop and drain
Bad juice flows up apace
And Runs in Poisoned Groves from Race to Race
Bark ye the Trees e're they their Saplings raise
Thus Guards must Guards ensure
Each Lower Orb Supports the Highers Power
He Shakes the Throne that rudely treads the floor