" A rose, though call'd by any other name,
Would smell as sweet”- then why should Grecian Jove's
Gay gallantries flush thy pure brow with shame
More than the legend of Jehovah's loves ?
Why should poor Joseph-.not that simple one
Who from his pretty mistress ran away,
When she creution's loveliest works had shown,
As Venus did to make Adonis stay-
But Joseph, the good Carpenter, that wight
Who won, as he thought, the fair Virgin Polly;
Why should his case no sympathy excite,
Since the great Theban's seems so melancholy?

Thy hands are not more like," dear scribe, than these
Celestial amours—each displays a race
Of great and glorious gallantry, to please
A nymph before her conjugal embrace.
The dramas differ iu a scene or so,
But the grand climax !--thou so feetly fly'st
On thought's bright plumes, pure' scribe, that I must go
Much faster, or be deem'd a" creeping Christ.”
Such pretty epithets some Christians use-
But I'd much rather through the air be carried,
A flying angel, or inspiring Muse,
To some fair saint that's going to be married';
But, to my talemone Spark bids Gabrielle tell
Consenting Mary of her coming bliss
I

say consenting, for when Gabrielle
Tells her the news, she, in effect, says

“ Yes."
She " coloured up,” perhaps--if so, 'tis hopeil
Good Gabrielle kissed the beauteous blush away;
But, whether for himself the angel “ popp'd
The question," delicately,-Luke don't say,
The other Rover from the Isle of Sky
Comes as Alcmena's bridegroom, and no doubt
Perforins his part within most happily,
While merry Mercury keeps watch without.
What though arch Jupiter spins out the night
To tarry with the dame on whom he doats ?

Tis not less godlike than to hold the light 1199x2] is i i
While the Lord's Captain cuts a few more throats.
Adultery is adultery—is it not,
Chaste scribe, -- by whatsoever means achieved !
Crim. cón, is crim. con, though it be the lot
Of dreaming Josephs to be much deceived.
For ruining his pretty Penitent,
Rowe sends Lothario to the shades below;
Then why should not that Ghost be thither sent
Who play'd so well the “gay Lothario ?"

I don't defend great Jove, mind, nor the other
"Choice spirit !” but would sue them both; with pleasure,
For damages--but, by the Virgin-Mother!
I would have justice-fair imperial measure.

Q. IN THE CORNER.

LAW, PHYSIC, AND DIVINITY FOR TWENTY-PENCE.

SIR, The other day, a country bookseller gave it out that he would supply any gentleman with a law, physic, and divinity library, for twenty-pence per week. On being questioned how he could do it, he replied, “ Why, first, I can supply you with “ COBBett's Weekly REGISTER,” for an epitome of Politics, Economy, and Law, in all its branches and relations, for 6d. per week; secondly, I can furnish “

THE LANCET," as the sine qua non of Medicine, including Forensic Medicine, Surgery, Pharmacy, Medical Jurisprudence, and Castigation, Medical Botany, and the Healing Art in all its branches, at 8d. per week; and, thirdly, you shall have “ Tue REPUBLICÁN,” which is the very ne plus ultra of Theology, including Divinity, Pseudology, Mythology, Astrology, Cosmology, Cosmography, Freemasonry, Augury, Auspicy, Necromancy, Christianity, Sabeism, Islamism, Judaism, Mysticism, Republicanism, Methodism, Unitarianism, Deism, Polytheism, Pantheism, and Atheism, in all and every of thelr several and respective branches, origins, developements, and effects, for the small sum of 6d.” Now, in turning over the pages of your volumes, I find you have actually treated of all these things by turns, and endeavoured to contrast them with morality founded on the basis of self-love and the science of equal rights. Laying aside all joke, it is to me astonishing, when I consider the manner your work-originated, the difficulties it has encountered, and the dangers and persecutions to which you have been exposed, how 80 large a mass of information on all subjects connected with religion should have been got together. Some of the ablest essays on metaphysics, theology, and the science of morals are to be found in your pages. As in this Vale of Tears we may now and then change the society of Niobe for that of Momus, and laugh a little instead of weeping, I hope you will "insert this in some spare corner of your next Number. Farewell, I suppose I must not say A Dieu. Your's truly,

DIOGENES. Tub, Nov. 28, 1826.

Printed and Published by R. CARLILE, 62, Fleet Street.--All Correspon

dences for “ The Republican,” to be left at the place of publication,

No. 22. Vol. 14.] LONDON, Friday, Dec. 8, 1826. [Price 6d. :

OATH-MAKING.

Mr. Taylor's Petition on this subject has excited much discussion : even the French Papers have not failed to notice it. Various forms have been suggested, according to the opinions of different individuals, for an universal oath ; but I maintain that there is but one universal way of settling the question, which is, to consider a lie before a magistrate or jury to be as great a crimé as perjury, and to have po promises or protestations of any kind about speaking the truth. There would not be the least differ ence in the administration of justice; for so long as the Christian doctrine be sustained, that a sinner of the blackest dye may be forgiven on due repentance, future punishment must be to every such mind a joke. The doctrine is a premium for false-swearing and all other crimes. Let lying be promptly' punished ; let the punishment follow while the offender is conscious of his villainy and while he is hoping to partake of the profit expected from it, and we shall have a much better security for correct testimony than we now have. This religion vitiates every thing; perverts the correct view of every thing; and places its votaries under the most weak and delusive notions. A time will come, when a religious man will be treated as an insane man and declared unfit to hold any kind of office. Religion, in every case is vice or insanity, and we shall have no pure administration of law and justice while it retains a respect in our courts.

R. C.

Printed and Published by R. Carlile, 62, Fleet-street.

INFIDEL DEATHS.

We hear nothing about the horrid death-beds of infidels. They are become too numerous, and what is more, they are better informed, as to the article death, than more early infidels bave been. I have lately seen two very ill; the one thought seriously of dying, and recovered; the other, Richard Hassell, was scarcely conscious of approaching death. Each of these persons retained the most philosophic calmness. A third case has been reported to me. Isaac Parker, one of my constant subscribers, late of 11, Upper Mary-le- bone Street, Cabinet-maker, was nine years ago a Christian, and, as he and friends thought, on his death-bed in Middlesex Hospital. He wept to such friends as visited him and expressed great fear of death. He recovered from that illness, and became converted by my publications. Last week, after a lingering illness, which had disqualified him for work upwards of a year, he died at his own house. His manner was calm; he showed the utmost firmness; shaking hands with his friends and telling some who had seen him nine years ago in Middlesex Hospital, that now he had no fear of death. His watch was bung over a frame which contained my portrait. He watched it attentively to his last moments and observed," how long I am dying.". Not the slightest expression of fear escaped him:, no priest disgraced and tormented him in his last moments :-HE HAD LEARNED HOW TO DIE.

It is thus we triumph over the Christians at all points. They have vilified and belied us; but all has been vain ; truth, by its own force, in opposition to the whole political influence of the country, has triumphed. Free discussion has triumphed. The state of Christianity in this country, at this time, is just what Paganism was at Rome, in the time of the Emperor Constantinea mere pompous show of idle ceremony, for which no one has a religious respect..??

Let us hear no more aboat the horrid death beds of infidels. Infidels have learned that death is the annihilation of individual life; that the consciousness of past life ceases ; and that the organized frame of the animal is dissolved as food for others that live or have to live.

R. C.

JOINT STOCK BOOK COMPANY.

Nothing was said about the progress of this Company at the expiration of the last quarter; for we were then in an unfinished. state as to the convenience of the printing-office, house, &c.; but in another fortnight, all the particulars of the year's proceedings will be detailed, shewing exactly what has been done, and what it is proposed to do. Individuals, who have thought of subscribing, are requested to do so on or before the ist of Jạnuary, as we shall be able to devote the printing-office almost wholly to the creation of stock for the Company, in the next year. In the present year, all monies subscribed have been fairly worked up, though many obstacles to regular progress have intervened. At Chrisimas, subscribers are invited to examine the books, stock, &c. Indeed, I shall feel obliged to any one who will do it.

R. C.

The following Petition has been sent to Mr. BROUGHAM for presentation to the House of Commons. The continued confinement of Clarke, Perry, and CAMPION is an qutrage upon every thing like political consistency; and tyrants even should be politically consistent. It is a proof that there is still in Church and 2. State, the lurking venom of religious persecution. They' persecute as far as they dare to do it for their own'ends.

R. C.

TO THE HONOURABLE, THE COMMONS OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND, IN PARLIAMENT

ASSEMBLED K OTO *

irit benne

The Petition of RICHARD CARLILE; Publisher, of Fleet-street, in

the City of London, sheweth:That your Petitioner bath suffered six years imprisonment, and the confiscation of much property, for the publication of two theologically critical books; entitled Thomas Paine's “ Age of Reason,” and Elihu Palmer's “ Principles of Nature.”

That, though your Petitioner hath suffered such imprisonment