And by your Doom must be allow'd To be, or be no more, a Crowd. For though fuccefs did not confer Juft Title on the Conquerer; Though Difpenfations were not strong Conclufions, whether right or wrong; Although Out-goings did not confirm, And owning were but a meer term: Yet as the wicked have no right
To th' Creature, though ufurp'd by might, The property is in the Saint,
From whom th' injurionfly detain't;
Of him they hold their Luxuries,
Their Dogs, their Horfes, Whores and Dice Their Riots, Revels, Masks, Delights, Pimps, Buffoons, Fidlers, Parafites ;
All which the Saints have Title to.. And ought t' enjoy, if th' had their due. What we take from them is no more Than what was ours by Right before. For we are their true Landlords ftill,
And they our Tenants but at Will.
At this the Knight begun to rouse, And by degrees grow valorous. He ftar'd about, and seeing none
Of all his Foes remain, but one,
He fnatcht his Weapon, that lay near him, And from the ground began to rear him ; Vowing to make Crowdero pay
For all the reft that ran away. But Ralpho now in colder Blood, His Fury mildly thus withstood: Great Sir, quoth he, your mighty Spirit Is rais'd too high, this Slave does merit To be the Hangman's Bus'nefs, fooner Than from your hand to have the Honour Of his Destruction; I that am A Nothingness in Deed and Name, Did fcorn to hurt his forfeit Carcass,
Or ill intreat his Fiddle or Cafe
Will you, Great Sir, that Glory blot
In cold Bloud, which you gain'd in hot?. Will you employ your Conqu'ring Sword, To break a Fiddle and your Word?
For though I fought, and overcame, And Quarter gave, 'twas in your Name. For Great Commanders always own What's profperous by the Soldier done. To fave, where you have power to kill, Argues your Pow'r above your Will; And that your Will and Pow'r have less Than both might have of Selfishness. This Pow'r which now alive with Dread He trembles at, if he were Dead,
Would no more keep the Slave in Awe Than if you were a Knight of Straw: For Death would then be his Conqueror : Not you, and free him from that Terror. If Danger from his Life accrue, Or Honour from his Death to you; Twere Policy and Honour too,
To do as you refolv❜d to do:
But, Sir, 'twould wrong your Valour much, To fay it needs or fears a Crutch.
Great Conquerors greater Glory gain
By Foes in Triumph led, than flain:
The Laurels that adorn their Brows
Are pull'd from living, not dead Boughs. And living Foes the greatest Fame Of Cripple flain can be but lame. One half of him's already flain, The other is not worth y our Pain Th' Honour can but on one fide light,
As Worship did when y' were dubb'd Knight. Wherefore I think it better far, To keep him Prifoner of War; And let him faft in Bonds abide, At Court of Juftice to be try'd: Where if h' appear fo bold or crafty, There may be Danger in his Safety; If any Member there diflike
His Face, or to his Beard have Pique; Or if his Death will fave, or yield, Revenge or Fright, it is reveal'd
Though he has Quarter, ne'ertheless
I' have Pow'r to hang him when you please ; This has been often done by fome
Of our great Conquerors, you know whom.
And has by most of us been held Wife Juftice, and to fome reveal'd For Words and Promises that yoke The Conqueror, are quickly broke; Like Sampfon's Cuffs, though by his own Direction and Advice put on.
For if we fhould fight for the Caufe By Rules of Military Laws,
And only do what they call Juft, The Caufe would quickly fall to dust. This we among our felves may speak, But to the Wicked or the Weak, We must be cautious to declare.
Perfection Truths, fuch as these are.
This faid, the high, outragious Mettle Of Knight, began to cool and fettle. He lik'd the Squire's Advice, and foon Refolv'd to fee the Bus'nefs done :
And therefore charg'd him first to bind Crowdero's Hands on Rump behind,
And to its formet Place and Ufe
The Wooden Member to reduce:
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