Page:Redemption, a Poem.djvu/53

 REDEMPTION. 47

Some to deceive by stratagems and lies, But all with malice arm'd, and swift revenge. Who may not be content with this, incense My scorn. Let such some better counsel show."

The serpent writhing to his calid seat, The signal was for universal din. Hell into wildest discord broke, and raged With impotent malignity and hate. Some, war would have; other some, peace ; this, wounds Fear'd ; that, increase of pain, and dread to be In greater torture mulct; these thought their case Quite past retrieve : annihilation, those Deem'd refuge sole from woe impending ; would They ne'er had been, or now might cease to be, And mainly sought how most t' exasperate Almighty Power, that he the long wish'd bolt Might send, which them forever should consign To that oblivious void from whence they came. Each 'gainst the other hurl'd his venom'd wrath, And each, recriminative, th' other charged The cause of that default which wrought their woe. As some proud senators, (if things, though small, Familiar, may serve the supernatural To illustrate,) in angry contests stalk Through legislative halls, brandish their knives, And wield revolving arms, with vain intent To settle knotty points, when words no more Avail. Harsh sounds their discord, clamors On clamors rise, sharp shrieks their voice, their eyeballs Glaring roll; stormy their brow, their visage Foul distort; from two, now four take sides, then All conglobe, and swell the intestine broil :

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