Tho Virtue’s glitt’ring Squadrons drive the Field:  Grant me, Dread Sov’reign! a Detachment hence } We’ll not be long alone on our Defence, } But hope to drive the proud Assailants thence. } Bold Blasphemy shall lead our black Forlorn, With Colours from Heav’n’s Crystal Ramparts torn, And Anti-Thunderrs arm’d; Profaneness next 900 Their Canon seize, and turn the Sacred Text Against th’ Assailants; brave Revenge and Rage Shall our main Batt’ry ply, and guard the Stage.  —­But most I on dear Ribaldry depend, We’ve not a surer or a stronger Friend.  Now shall she broad and open to the Skie, Now close behind some double Meaning lye; Now with sulphureous Rivers lave the French, And choak th’ Assailants with infernal Stench; Each nicer Vertue from the Walls repel, 910 And Heav’n it self regale with the Perfumes of Hell.  This from the World our dreaded Foe will drive, As murm’ring Bees are forc’d to leave their Hive; Souls so refin’d such Vapours cannot bear, But seek their native Heav’n and purer Air:  When She and all her heav’nly Guards are gone And her bright Heroe absent, all’s our own:  If any pious Fools should make a stand, To stop our Progress through the conquer’d Land, They soon shall pass for hot-brain’d Visionairs, 920 We’ll run ’em down with Ridicule and Farce.  Must they reform the World!  A likely Task!  Tis Vizard all, and them we’ll soon unmask.  The rest will tumble in, or if they stay And loiter in Damnation’s ample Way, I’ve one Expedient left, which can’t but take, My last Reserve; From yon black brimstone Lake, Whence two Canals thro subterranean Veins Are drawn to Sodom and Campania’s Plains, My self I’ll fill a Vial, and infuse 930 My very Soul amid the potent Juice:  This Essence near my Heart I’ll with me bear, } And this among my dearest Fav’rites share, } Already tutor’d by the Theatre; } Who pass’d those Bugbears Conscience, Law and Shame Have there been taught that Virtue’s but a Name:  Exalted Souls who vulgar Sins despise; Fit for some new discover’d nobler Vice; One Drop of this their frozen Blood shall warm, And frighted Nature’s feebler Guards disarm 930 Till their chill Veins with hotter Fevers glow } Than any Etna or Vesuvius know, } Scarce equal’d by their Parent Flames below; }