Classic Poem

SCENE I. A Tavern .

A BADDON.

THUS far our Riots with Success are crown'd,
Have found no stop, or what they found o'ercame;
In vain th' embattell'd Watch in deep array,
Against our Rage oppose their lifted Poles;
Through Poles we rush triumphant, Watchman rolls
On Watchman; while their Lanthorns kick'd aloft
Like blazing Stars, illumine all the Air.
Mol . Such Acts as these have made our Fame immortal,
And wide through all Britannia 's distant Towns,
The Name of Mohock ev'ry Tongue employs;
While each fond Mother at the Sound grows pale
And trembles for her absent Son — — —
Whisk . Let's lose no longer time in idle Talk,
Which might be better spent in new Exploits.
Most mighty Emperor, a Noble Youth,
Fir'd with our Deeds to glorious Emulation,
Desires Admittance — — —
Emp . Go, Introduce him:
But search with care th' Intentions of his Heart,
See he be not as superficial Sinner,
That talks of Mischiefs which he ne'er perform'd:
Those are mean Villains, and unworthy us.
Mir . I'll answer for him, for I've known him long,
Know him a Subject worthy such a Prince;
Sashes and Casements felt his early Rage,
H' has twisted Knockers, broken Drawers Heads,
And never flinch'd his Glass, or baulk'd his Wench.
But see he comes — — —

Enter New Mohock.

New Moh . Great Potentate! who leadst the Mohock Squadrons
To nightly Expeditions, whose dread Nod
Gives Law to those, lawless to all besides:
To thee I come — — — to serve beneath thy Banner.
Mischief has long lain dormant in my Bosom
Like smother'd Fire, which now shall blaze abroad
In glorious Enterprize — — —
Emp . Bravely resolv'd — — — henceforth thy Name
Be Cannibal — — — like them, devour Mankind.
But come — — — Night wears apace — — — begin the Rites.

Gog . By all the Elements, and all the Powers,
Celestial, nay Terrestrial, and Infernal;
By Acheron , and the black Streams of Styx ,
An Oath irrevocable to Jove himself,
We swear true Fealty, and firm Allegiance
To our most High and Mighty Emperor.
All . We swear.
Gog . That we'll to Virtue bear invet'rate Hate,
Renounce Humanity, defie Relgiion;
That Villany, and all outragious Crimes
Shall ever be our Glory and our Pleasure.
All . We swear.
Gog. Let all Hell's Curses light upon his Head,
That dares to violate this solemn Oath;
May pains and Aches cramp his rotten Bones;
May constant Impotence attend his Lust:
May the dull Slave be bigotted to Virtue;
And tread no more the pleasing Paths of Vice,
And then at last die a mean whining Penitent.
All . This Curse involve us all.
Emp . 'Tis well —
Now bring the generous Bowl — Come — pledge me all —
Rouse up your Souls with this Celestial Nectar.
What gain'd the Macedonian Youth the World?
'Twas Wine. What rais'd the Soul of Catiline
To such brave, unparallel'd Ambition?
Wine, Potent, heav'nly Juice, Immortal Wine.
Slothful awhile inglorious Mortals lay,
But Wine to Noble Action led the Way;
Wine conquers all things — — — all must Wine obey.

A SONG.

Come fill up the Glass,
Round, round, let it pass,
'Till our Reason be lost in our Wine:
Leave Conscience's Rules
To Women and Fools,
This only can make us divine. Chorus.
Then a Mohock, a Mohock I'll be ,
No Laws shall restrain
Our Libertine Reign,
We'll not, drink on, and be free.
We will scower the Town,
Knock the Constable down,
Put the Watch and the Beadle to flight:
We'll force all we meet
To kneel down at our Feet,
And own this great Prince of the Night. Chorus.
Then a Mohock, a Mohock, &c.

The Grand Seignior shall own
His Seraglio outdone,
For all Womankind is our booty;
No Condition we spare
Be they Brown, Black or Fair
We make them fall down, and do Duty. Chorus.
Then a Mohock, a Mohock I'll be ,
No Laws shall restrain
Our Libertine Reign
We'll riot, drink on, and be free.