For, if he feel no Shagrin, or Remorse, His Forehead's fhot-free, and he's ne'er the worse.

65 For Horns (like horny Callus's) are found To grow on Sculls, that have receiv'd a Wound,

Are crackt, and broken; not at all on those
That are invulnerate, and free from Blows.
What a brave Time had Cuckold-makers
then,

70 When they were held the worthiest of Men, The real Fathers of the Commonwealth, That planted Colonies in Rome itself? When he, that help'd his Neighbours, and begot

Most Romans, was the noblest Patriot.

75 For, if a brave Man, that preserv'd from Death

One Citizen, was honour'd with a Wreath; He, that more gallantly got three or four, In Reason muft deferve a great deal more. Then, if thofe gloriousWorthies of old Rome, 80 That civiliz'd the World th' had overcome, And taught it Laws and Learning, found this Way

The beft to fave their Empire from Decay;

Why fhould not thefe, that borrow all the
Worth

They have from them, not take this Leffon
forth,

85 Get Children, Friends, and Honour too, and Money

By prudent managing of Matrimony?
For, if 'tis honourable by all confest,
Adultery must be worshipful at least;
And thefe Times great, when private Men

are come

90 Up to the Height and Politic of Rome.

All By-blows were not only free-born then,
But, like John Lilborn, free-begotten Men;
Had equal Right and Privilege with these,
That claim by Title of the four Seas.
95 For being in Marri'ge born, it matters not,
After what Liturgy they were begot;
And if there be a Difference, they have
Th' Advantage of the Chance in proving
brave,

By b'ing engender'd with more Life and
Force,

190 Than thofe begotten the dullWay of Course. The Chinese place all Piety and Zeal,

In ferving with their Wives the Commonweal,

Fix all their Hopes of Merit, and Salvation,
Upon their Women's Supererogation,

105 With folemn Vows their Wives and Daughters bind,

Like Eve in Paradife, to all Mankind;

And thofe, that can produce the most
Gallants,

Are held the pretioufeft of all their Saints, Wear Rofaries about their Necks to con 110 Their Exercife of Devotion on;

That serve them for Certificates to show,
With what vaft Numbers they have had
to do:

Before th'are marry'd, make a Conscience
T'omit no Duty of Incontinence;

115 And fhe, that has been ofteneft prostituted, Is worthy of the greatest Match reputed. But, when the conqu'ring Tartar went - about

To root this orthodox Religion out,
They ftood for Confcience, and refolv'd to
dye,

120 Rather than change the antient Purity
Of that Religion, which their Ancestors,
And they had profper'd in fo many Years;

ས

Vow'd to their Gods to facrifice their

Lives;

And dye their Daughters Martyrs, and their Wives,

125 Before they would commit fo great a Sin Against the Faith they had been bred up in.

UPON AN

HYPOCRITICAL NONCONFORMIST,

A

PINDARIC O D E.

I.

ΤΗ

HERE's nothing so abfurd, or vain,
Or barbarous; or inhumane,

But if it lay the least Pretence
To Piety and Godliness,

Or tender-hearted Conscience;
And Zeal for Gofpel-Truths profefs,
Does facred inftantly commence ;
And all, that dare but question it, are strait
Procounc'd th' Uncircumcis'd, and Reprobate :]
As Malefactors, that escape, and fly
Into a Sanctuary for Defence,

Muft not be brought to Juftice thence, Although their Crimes be ne'er fo great and high;

This and the two following Compofitions are the only ones that our Author wrote in this Meafure, which fome Readers may perhaps think too grave and folemn for the Subject, and the Turn of Butler's Wit. It must however be allow'd, that he falls no ways fhort of his ufual Depth and Reach of Thought, Keennefs of Satyr, and Acutenefs of Expreffion.