The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift/Volume 7/On the Union

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←
To the Earl of Peterborow
The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 7
 (c. 1706)
by Jonathan Swift, edited by Thomas Sheridan, John Nichols, John Boyle, Patrick Delany, John Hawkesworth, Deane Swift, William Bowyer, John Birch, and George Faulkner
On the Union
On Mrs. Biddy Floyd
→
​

ON THE UNION.


THE queen has lately lost a part
Of her entirely-english[1] heart,
For want of which, by way of botch,
She piec'd it up again with scotch,
Blest revolution! which creates
Divided hearts, united states!
See how the double nation lies,
Like a rich coat, with skirts of frize:
As if a man, in making posies,
Should bundle thistles up with roses.
Who ever yet a union saw
Of kingdoms without faith or law?
Henceforward let no statesman dare
A kingdom to a ship compare;
Lest he should call our commonweal,
A vessel with a double keel:
Which, just like ours, new rigg'd and mann'd,
And got about a league from land,
By change of wind to leeward side,
The pilot knew not how to guide.
So tossing faction will o'erwhelm
Our crazy double-bottom'd realm.

  1. ↑ The motto on queen Anne's coronation medal.
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