NONCONFORMIST.
133
VIII.
He does not pray, but prosecute,
As if he went to Law, his Suit;
Summons his Maker to appear,
And answer what he shall prefer;
Returns him back his Gift of Prayer,
Not to petition, but declare;
Exbibits cross Complaints
Against him for the Breach of Covenants,
And all the Charters of the Saints;
Pleads guilty to the Action, and yet stands
Upon high Terms, and bold Demands;
Excepts against him and his Laws,
And will be judge himself in his own Cause;
And grows more saucy and severe
Than th' Heathen Emp'ror was to Jupiter,[1]
That us'd to wrangle with him, and dispute;
And sometimes wou'd speak softly in his Ear,
And sometimes loud, and rant, and tear,
And threaten, if he did not grant his Suit.
He does not pray, but prosecute,
As if he went to Law, his Suit;
Summons his Maker to appear,
And answer what he shall prefer;
Returns him back his Gift of Prayer,
Not to petition, but declare;
Exbibits cross Complaints
Against him for the Breach of Covenants,
And all the Charters of the Saints;
Pleads guilty to the Action, and yet stands
Upon high Terms, and bold Demands;
Excepts against him and his Laws,
And will be judge himself in his own Cause;
And grows more saucy and severe
Than th' Heathen Emp'ror was to Jupiter,[1]
That us'd to wrangle with him, and dispute;
And sometimes wou'd speak softly in his Ear,
And sometimes loud, and rant, and tear,
And threaten, if he did not grant his Suit.
- ↑ And grows more saucy and severe—Than th' Heathen Emperor was to Jupiter, &c.] This Emperor was Caligula, of whom Suetonius relates what the Poet has here introduc'd and apply'd.—"Noctibut quidem plenam fulgentemque Lunam invitabat assidue in amplexus atque concubitum: interdiu vero cum Capitolino Jove secreto fabulabatur, modo insusurrans, ac præbens invicem aures, modo clarius, nec fine jurgiis, &c."
Vid. Sueton. Calig. C. 22.
