Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 4.djvu/405

Rh much poorer than in ours; the several orders of regulars, and the magnificence of their church, devouring all their treasure; and by consequence, their hopes are vain of expecting to he richer after the introduction of popery.

But, after all, his lordship despairs that even this argument will have any force with our abominable clergy, because, to use his own words, They are an insensible and degenerate race, who are thinking of nothing but their present advantages; and, so that they may now support a luxurious and brutal course of irregular and voluptuous practices, they are easily hired to betray their religion, to sell their country, and give up that liberty and those properties, which are the present felicities and glories of this nation.

He seems to reckon all these evils as matters fully determined on, and therefore falls into the last usual form of despair, by threatening the authors of these miseries with lasting infamy, and the curses of posterity upon perfidious betrayers of their trust.

Let me turn this paragraph into vulgar language, for the use of the poor; and strictly adhere to the sense of the words. I believe it may be faithfully translated in the following manner: "The bulk of the clergy, and one third of the bishops, are stupid sons of whores, who think of nothing but getting money as soon as they can; if they may but procure enough to supply them in gluttony, drunkenness, and whoring, they are ready to turn traitors to God and their country, and make their fellow subjects slaves." The rest of the period about threatening infamy, and the curses of posterity upon such dogs and villains, may stand as it does in the bishop's