Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 16.djvu/372

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And thus consider still, O Lord, The justice of my cause; Who often hast my life [1] restor'd From death's devouring jaws.

And from the barbarous [2] paths they tread, No acts of Providence Can e'er oblige them to recede, Or stop [3] their bold offence.

[1] Nothing is restored, but what has been taken away; so that he has been often raised from the dead, if this be true.

[2] The author should first have premised what sort of paths were properly barbarous. I suppose they must be very deep or dirty, or very rugged and stony; both which I myself have heard travellers call barbarous roads.

[3] Which is the way to stop an offence? would you have it stopt like a bottle, or a thief?

And on their impious heads will pour Of snares [4] and flames a dismal shower; And this their bitter cup shall be [5] To drink to all eternity.

[6] But they were all perverted grown, Polluted all with blood; And other impious crimes: not one Was either just [7] or good.

[4] A shower of snares on a man's head would do wonderful execution. However, I errant it is a scurvy thing enough to swallow them.

[5] To taste the doctor's poetry.

[6] But they were all perverted grown, In spite of Dr. Gibbs's blood: Of all his impious strains not one Was either just or good.

[7] For a man, it seems, may be good, and not just.

Are they so stupid [8] then, said [9] God, Who thus my [1] saints devour! These [2] crimes have they not understood, Nor thought upon my power.

[3] O, that his aid we now might have From Sion's holy hill, That God the captive just would save, And glad all Israel!

[8] The fault was not that they devoured saints, but that they were stupid. Q. Whether stupidity makes men devour saints, or devouring saints makes a man stupid? I believe the latter, because they may be apt to lie heavy on one's stomach.

[9] Clod.

[1] Strains.

[2] Chimes.

[3] And O that e'ery parish clerk, Who hums what Brady cribs From Hopkins, would attend this work, And glad the heart with Gibbs. All