Page:Poetical Works of the Right Hon. Geo. Granville.djvu/71

Rh Diſmiſs that plea, and what ſhall blood avail? If Beauty is deny’d, ſhall Birth prevail? Blood and high deeds in diſtant ages done Are our forefathers’ merit, not our own. Might none a juſt poſſeſſion be allow’d But who could bring deſert, or boaſt of blood, What numbers, ev’n here, might be condemn’d, Stripp’d and deſpoil’d of all, revil’d, contemn’d! Take a juſt view, how many may remark Who now ’s a peer his grandſire was a clerk. Some few remain ennobled by the ſword In Gothic times; but now, to be My Lord, Study the law, nor do theſe robes deſpiſe; Honour the gown, from whence your honours riſe. Those fam’d Dictators who ſubdu’d the globe Gave the precedence to the peaceful robe. The mighty Julius pleading at the bar Was greater than when, thund’ring in the war, He conquer’d nations. ’Tis of more renown To ſave a client than to ſtorm a town.
 * “How dear to Britain are her darling laws!

What blood has ſhe not laviſh’d in their cauſe! Kings are like common ſlaves to ſlaughter led, Or wander thro’ the world to beg their bread. When regal pow’r aſpires above the laws, A private wrong becomes a public cauſe.”
 * He ſpoke. The nobles differ, and divide;

Some join with Law, and ſome with Beauty ſide.