Page:Works of Voltaire Volume 16.djvu/33



Thinkest thou thy friend will ever bend the knee To this proud hypocrite; shall I fall down And worship, I who banished him from Mecca? No: punish me, just heaven, as I deserve, If e’er this hand, the friend of innocence And freedom, stoop to cherish foul rebellion, Or aid imposture to deceive mankind!

Thy zeal is noble, and becomes the chief Of Ishmael’s sacred senate, but may prove Destructive to the cause it means to serve: Thy ardor cannot check the rapid power Of Mahomet, and but provokes his vengeance: There was a time when you might safely draw The sword of justice, to defend the rights Of Mecca, and prevent the flames of war From spreading o’er the land; then Mahomet Was but a bold and factious citizen, But now he is a conqueror, and a king; Mecca’s impostor at Medina shines A holy prophet; nations bend before him, And learn to worship crimes which we abhor. Even here, a band of wild enthusiasts, drunk With furious zeal, support his fond delusions,

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