CANTO II.]
HUDIBRAS.
357
Before their eyes might reconcile
Their animosities a while?
At least until they 'd a clear stage,
And equal Freedom to engage, 720
Without the danger of surprise
By both our common enemies?
This none but we alone could doubt,[1]
Who understood their Workings-out,
And know 'em both in soul and conscience, 725
Giv'n up t' as reprobate a nonsense[2]
As spiritual out-laws, whom the pow'r;
Of miracle can ne'er restore.
We, whom at first they set up under,
In revelation only 'f plunder, 730
Who since have had so many trials
Of their encroaching Self-denials,[3]
That rook'd upon us with design[4]
To out-reform and undermine;
Took all our int'rests and commands 735
Perfidiously out of our hands;
Involv'd us in the Guilt of Blood,
Without the motive gains allow'd,[5]
And made us serve as ministerial,
Like younger sons of father Belial. 740
And yet, for all th' inhuman wrong
They 'd done us and the Cause so long,
We never fail'd to carry on
The work still, as we had begun:
But true and faithfully obey'd, 745
And neither preach'd them hurt, nor pray'd;
Nor troubled them to crop our ears,
Nor hang us, like the Cavaliers;
Their animosities a while?
At least until they 'd a clear stage,
And equal Freedom to engage, 720
Without the danger of surprise
By both our common enemies?
This none but we alone could doubt,[1]
Who understood their Workings-out,
And know 'em both in soul and conscience, 725
Giv'n up t' as reprobate a nonsense[2]
As spiritual out-laws, whom the pow'r;
Of miracle can ne'er restore.
We, whom at first they set up under,
In revelation only 'f plunder, 730
Who since have had so many trials
Of their encroaching Self-denials,[3]
That rook'd upon us with design[4]
To out-reform and undermine;
Took all our int'rests and commands 735
Perfidiously out of our hands;
Involv'd us in the Guilt of Blood,
Without the motive gains allow'd,[5]
And made us serve as ministerial,
Like younger sons of father Belial. 740
And yet, for all th' inhuman wrong
They 'd done us and the Cause so long,
We never fail'd to carry on
The work still, as we had begun:
But true and faithfully obey'd, 745
And neither preach'd them hurt, nor pray'd;
Nor troubled them to crop our ears,
Nor hang us, like the Cavaliers;
- ↑ We alone could doubt that the fear of the gallows might reconcile their animosities, &c.
- ↑ Given up to such a state of reprobation and the guidance of their own folly, that nothing, not even miraculous power, can restore them.
- ↑ The Independents got rid of the Presbyterian leaders by the Self-denying Ordinance.
- ↑ That played the cheat.
- ↑ That is, without allowing us the gains which were the motives to such actions.
