Page:The genuine remains in verse and prose of Mr. Samuel Butler (1759), volume 1.djvu/319

 second Hand the Resolution of other Mens Debates, and call them our own; or if we have free Liberty to argue what is already determined, it is no more than is usually practised at the Beginning of all Tyrannies, that are wont at first to give Men a shadow of Freedom to say what they please, when they have taken a Course, that they shall do nothing: yet I shall discharge my Duty to God and my Country, in speaking my Conscience freely, while I may, which I believe will not be long. For I perceive our Dissolution draws nigh, and that we have almost finish'd our Course, before we have finished the Work, for which we were pretended to come together, which was, as they that call'd us hither then told us, to settle Freedom and Liberty on the Nation; but we find by Experience, they meant nothing less. For how is it possible, we should confer Liberty on