12
Madagascar.
This when their Campe beheld, they strait abjure
That pitty in their vow; which to secure
The publique bloud, ventur'd their hopes, and fame,
On Two, cause they could dye, were censur'd tame:
And to exhort, such vex'd, and various Minds,
Were in a storme, to reconcile the Winds,
With whisper'd precepts of philosophy;
Armes, and Religion, seldome can comply.
Their faith they break, and in a Body draw
Their looser strength, to give the Victors law.
Charge! charge! the battaile is begun! and now
I saw, thy Vncles anger in thy brow:
Which like Heavens fire, doth seldom force assume,
Or kindle till tis fit, it should consume:
Heavens slow, unwilling fire; that would not fall,
'Till Two injurious Cities seem'd to call
With their loud sinnes; and when t'was time it must
Destroy; although it was severely just
To those, so much perverted in their will;
The righteous saw the fire, yet fear'd no ill.
So carelesse safe, here all the Natives were,
Who stood, as if too innocent to feare.
That pitty in their vow; which to secure
The publique bloud, ventur'd their hopes, and fame,
On Two, cause they could dye, were censur'd tame:
And to exhort, such vex'd, and various Minds,
Were in a storme, to reconcile the Winds,
With whisper'd precepts of philosophy;
Armes, and Religion, seldome can comply.
Their faith they break, and in a Body draw
Their looser strength, to give the Victors law.
Charge! charge! the battaile is begun! and now
I saw, thy Vncles anger in thy brow:
Which like Heavens fire, doth seldom force assume,
Or kindle till tis fit, it should consume:
Heavens slow, unwilling fire; that would not fall,
'Till Two injurious Cities seem'd to call
With their loud sinnes; and when t'was time it must
Destroy; although it was severely just
To those, so much perverted in their will;
The righteous saw the fire, yet fear'd no ill.
So carelesse safe, here all the Natives were,
Who stood, as if too innocent to feare.
As
