Society and the World

For what is worth in anything But so much money as ’twill bring?

The trenchant blade, Toledo trusty, For want of fighting was grown rusty, And ate into itself, for lack Of somebody to hew and hack.

And prove their doctrine orthodox, By apostolic blows and knocks.

’Twas Presbyterian true blue.

Such as do build their faith upon The holy text of pike and gun.

Such as do build their faith upon The holy text of pike and gun.

For he by geometric scale, Could take the size of pots of ale.

For he by geometric scale, Could take the size of pots of ale.

And wisely tell what hour o’ th’ day The clock doth strike, by algebra.

And wisely tell what hour o’ th’ day The clock doth strike, by algebra.

A Babylonish dialect Which learned pedants much affect.

For all a rhetorician’s rules Teach nothing but to name his tools.

He’d run in debt by disputation, And pay with ratiocination.

He’d run in debt by disputation, And pay with ratiocination.

He could distinguish and divide A hair ’twixt south and southwest side, On either which he would dispute, Confute, change hands, and still confute.

He could distinguish and divide A hair ’twixt south and southwest side, On either which he would dispute, Confute, change hands, and still confute.

Beside, ’tis known he could speak Greek As naturally as pigs squeak: 2 That Latin was no more difficile Than to a blackbird ’tis to whistle.

When civil fury first grew high, And men fell out they knew not why.

And pulpit, drum ecclesiastic, 1 Was beat with fist, instead of a stick.

Eyeless in Gaza, at the mill with slaves.

The world was all before them, where to choose Their place of rest, and Providence their guide: They hand in hand with wand’ring steps and slow Through Eden took their solitary way.

Most men admire Virtue who follow not her lore.

For now I see Peace to corrupt no less than war to waste.

The brazen throat of war.