Classic Poem

1

Pray why should any man complain,
Or why disturb his brest or brain,
At this new alteration?
Since that which has been done's no more,
Then what has oft been done before,
And that which will be done agen,
As long's there are ambitious men,
That strive for domination.

2

In this mad age there's nothing firm,
All things have periods and their terme,
Their Rise and Declinations,
Those gaudy Nothings we admire
Which get above, and shine like fire,
Are empty vapours, rais'd from th'ground,
Whose mock-shine past, they quickly down
Must fall like Exhalations.

3

But still we Commons must be made
A gald, a lame, thin, hackney jade,
And all by turnes will ride us,
This side and that, no matter which,
For both do ride with spur and switch,
Till we are tyr'd, and then at last,
We stumble, and our riders cast,
'Cause they'ld not feed nor guide us.

4

The insulting Clergy quite mistook,
In thinking Kingdoms past by book,
Or Crowns were got by prating;
'Tis not the blackcoat, but the red
Has power to make, or be the head,
Nor is it words, or oaths, or tears,
But Muskets or full Bandoleers
Have power of Legislating.

5

The Lawyers must lay by their book,
And study Lambert more then Cook ,
The sword's the learnedst pleader,
Reports and judgments will not do't,
But 'tis Dragoons, and Horse and foot,
Words are but wind, but blowes come home,
A stout tongu'd Lawyer's but a Mome,
Compar'd to a stout File-leader.

6

Luck, wit or valour, rule all things,
They pull down and they set up Kings,
All lawes are in their bosome;
That side is always right that's strong,
And that that's beaten must be wrong,
And he that thinks it is not so,
Unlesse he's sure to beat 'um too,
Is but a fool t'oppose 'um.

7

Let them impose taxes or rates,
'Tis but on those that have estates,
Not such as I and thou are,
But it concerns those worldlings, which
Are left, or made, or else grow rich,
Such as have studied all their dayes,
The saving and the thriving wayes,
To be the mules of power.

8

If they reform the Church or State,
We'l ne're be troubled much thereat,
Let each man take's opinion,
If we don't like the Church you know,
Taverns are free and there we go,
And if every one would be
As cleerly unconcern'd as we,
They'd ne're fight for Dominion.