Page:Redemption, a Poem.djvu/45

 REDEMPTION. 39

More wise, with ornaments, with chains of gold, Rings, jewels, necklaces, and tinsel tricks, Lascivious dress, ruffs, frills, laces and lawns, With stomachers, hoops, veils, and gaudy gear. Who arms with these, though black his heart be, as Is aught in hell, a certain conquest gains ; With else who arms, though as archangel pure, Naught but confusion and abrupt defeat. Therefore whate'er, peers, y' advise, of this Be sure, nor sword nor spear, will I assume. Not that I hate heav'n less, nor less desire Revenge hate and revenge, prime attributes Of the infernal powers, and most of mine; But that I would advise what hurts heav'n most, And least to hurt accrues in us, embascd. What boots it, that like this, our fastuous chief, We rush fanfareous into heat of war 'Gainst our unequal foes, if but to fly, Depulsed with hideous rout, wrathful pursued To these opprobrious dens, to meditate Anew, in chains, and groans, and penal fires, Our gashful wounds, and his o'erpow'ring ire ? War is high treason to our state; war, I Dissuade; the more, since other enginery Is more prolific in success. Ye have What I exhort; if any wiser deem, Let him now speak; none may his speech estop." He sat, and murmurs of applause, far round, From myriads of spirits damn'd, who felt Their fall, their hopeless loss, and knew how vain It was with heaven to contend, arose. As groans the earth, when subterranean fires

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