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But for this horrid murder vile

None did him prosecute ;
His old friend help'd him o'er the stile :

With Satan who dispute ?

With France, fair England's mortal foe,

A trade he carry'd on ;
Had any other done’t, Į trow

To Tripos he had gone.

That he did likewise traiterously,

To bring his ends to bear, Enrich himself most knavishly ;

O thief without compare !

Vast quantities of stores did he

Embezzle and purloin ;
Of the king's stores he kept a key,

Converting them to coin.

The forfeited estates also,

Both real and personal,
Did with the stores together go,

Fierce Cerberus swallow'd all,

Mean while the soldiers figh'd and fobb'd,

For not one fouse had they ;
His Excellence had each man fobb’d,
For he had sunk their pay.

Nero,

Nero, without the least disguise,

The papists at all times
Still favour'd, and their robberies

Look'd on as trivial crimes.

The Protestants whom they did rob

During his government,
Were forc'd with patience, like good Job,

To reft themselves content.

For he did basely them refuse

All legal remedy ;
The Romans still he well did use,

Still screen'd their roguery.

Succinctly thus to you I've told,

How this Viceroy did reign; And other truths I shall unfold,

For truth is always plain.

The Best of Queens he hath revil'd,

Before and since her death,
He, cruel and ungrateful, smil'd

When she resign'd her breath,

But listen, Nero, lend thy ears,

As still thou hast them on;
Hear what Britannia says with tears,

Of Anna dead and gone.

• Oh! sacred be her memory,

" For ever dear her name ! « There never was, nor ere can be,

“ A brighter, juster dame.

“ Blest be my sons, and eke all those

“ Who on her praises dwell ! “ She conquer'd Britain's fierceft foes, " She did all

queens excel.

“ All princes, kings, and potentates,

“ Ambassadors did send : « All nations, provinces, and states,

Sought Anna for their friend.

" In Anna they did all confide,

“ For Anna they could trust : « Her royal faith they all had try'd,

- For Anna still was juft.

“ Truth, mercy, justice, did surround

“ Her awful judgment-seat, 6. In her the Graces all were found,

66 In Anna all compleat.

6. She

< She held the sword and balance right,

“ And fought her people's good : “ In clemency she did delight,

“ Her reign not stain'd with blood.

“ Her gracious goodness, piery,

" In all her deeas did shine, “ And bounteous was her charity;

“ All attributes divine.

“ Consummate wisdom, meekness all,

“ Adorn’d the words she spoke ; “ When they from her fair lips did fall;

“ And sweet her lovely look.

- Ten thousand glorious deeds to crown,

" She caus'd dire war to cease: " A greater Empress ne'er was known,

“ She fix'd the world in peace.

“ This last and godlike act atchiev'd,

“ To Heaven she wing'd her flight: • Her loss with tears all Europe griev'd ;

· Their strength, and dear delight.

“Leave we in bliss this heavenly Saint,

“ Revere, ye just, her urn; * Her virtues high and excellent,

“ Astrea gonę we mourn.

“ Commemorate, my fons, the day

“ Which gave great Anna birth :
Keep it for ever and for aye,
“ And annual be your mirth !”

Illustrious George now fills the throne,

Our wise benign good King:
Who can his wondrous deeds make known?

Or his bright actions sing?

Thee, favourite Nero, he has deign'd

To raise to high degree!
Well thou thy honours hat fuftain'd,

Well vouch'd thy ancestry.

But pass—These honours on thee laid,

Can they e’er make thee white ? Don't Gaphny's blood, which thou haft shed,

Thy guilty foul affright?

Oh! is there not, grim mortal, tell,

Places of bliss and woe?
Oh! is there not a heaven, a hell;

But whither wilt thou go?

Can nought change thy obdurate mind?

Wilt thou for ever rail ?
The prophet on thee well refin'd,

And set thy wit to fale.

How