Page:Gondibert, an heroick poem - William Davenant (1651).djvu/46

 which the Ancients made Empire so large) is too subtle for modern Leaders; who as they cannot reach the heights of Poesie, must be content with a narrow space of Dominion: and narrow Dominion breeds evil, peevish, and vexatious minds, and a National self-opinion, like simple Jewish arrogance; and the Jews were extraordinarie proud in a very little Countrey: For men in contracted governments are but a kind of Prisoners; and Prisoners by long restraint grow wicked, malitious to all abroad, and foolish esteemers of themselves; as if they had wrong in not enjoying every thing which they can onely see out of Windows.

Our last application is to States-men, and makers of Laws; who may be reasonably reduc'd to one; since the second differ no more from the first, than Judges (the Copies of Law-makers) differ from their Originals: For Judges, like all bold Interpreters, by often altering the Text, make it quite new; and States-men (who differ not from Law-makers in the act, but in the manner of doing) make new Laws presumptuously without the consent of the people; but Legislators more civilly seem to whistle to the Beast, and stroak him into the Yoak: and in the Yoak of State, the people (with too much pampering) grow soon unruly and draw awrie; Yet States-men and Judges (whose business is Governing, and the thing to be Govern'd is the People) have amongst us (we being more proud and mistaken than any other famous Nation) look'd gravely upon Poetrie, and with a negligence that betray'd a Northerly ignorance; as if they believ'd they could perform the work without it. But Poets (who with wise diligence studie the People, and have in all ages by an insensible influence govern'd their manners) may justly smile when they perceive that Divines, Leaders of Armies, States-men & Judges, think Religion, the Sword, or (which is unwritten Law, and a secret Confederacie of Chiefs) Policie, or Law (which is written, but seldom rightly read) can give without the help of the Muses, a long and quiet satisfaction in government: For Religion is to the wicked and faithless