In Henry’s change his charge
as ill succeeds; 320
To that long story little answer needs:
Confront but Henry’s words with
Henry’s deeds.
Were space allow’d, with ease it
might be proved,
What springs his blessed Reformation moved.
The dire effects appear’d in open
sight,
Which from the cause he calls a distant
flight,
And yet no larger leap than from the sun
to light.
Now let your sons a double paean
sound,
A Treatise of Humility is found.
’Tis found, but better it had ne’er
been sought, 330
Than thus in Protestant procession brought.
The famed original through Spain is known,
Rodriguez’ work, my celebrated son,
Which yours, by ill-translating, made
his own;
Conceal’d its author, and usurp’d
the name,
The basest and ignoblest theft of fame.
My altars kindled first that living coal;
Restore, or practice better, what you
stole:
That virtue could this humble verse inspire,
’Tis all the restitution I require.
340
Glad was the Panther that
the charge was closed,
And none of all her favourite sons exposed.
For laws of arms permit each injured man,
To make himself a saver where he can.
Perhaps the plunder’d merchant cannot
tell
The names of pirates in whose hands he
fell;
But at the den of thieves he justly flies,
And every Algerine is lawful prize.
No private person in the foe’s estate
Can plead exemption from the public fate.
350
Yet Christian laws allow not such redress;
Then let the greater supersede the less.
But let the abettors of the Panther’s
crime
Learn to make fairer wars another time.
Some characters may sure be found to write
Among her sons; for ’tis no common
sight,
A spotted dam, and all her offspring white.
The savage, though she saw
her plea controll’d,
Yet would not wholly seem to quit her
hold,
But offer’d fairly to compound the
strife, 360
And judge conversion by the convert’s
life.
’Tis true, she said, I think it
somewhat strange,
So few should follow profitable change:
For present joys are more to flesh and
blood,
Than a dull prospect of a distant good.
’Twas well alluded by a son of mine
(I hope to quote him is not to purloin),
Two magnets, heaven and earth, allure
to bliss;
The larger loadstone that, the nearer
this:
The weak attraction of the greater fails;
370
We nod a while, but neighbourhood prevails:
But when the greater proves the nearer
too,
I wonder more your converts come so slow.
Methinks in those who firm with me remain,
It shows a nobler principle than gain.