There Theodore:  a bold ungovern’d soul,
    Rapacious, fell, and fearless of control: 
    A harlot’s favour rais’d him from the dust,
    To rise the pander of tyrannic lust: 
    Graced with successive gifts, at length he shone
    With wondering Trollio on the sacred throne. 
    With pleasure’s arts, and sophistry’s refined,
    Alike he pleas’d the body and the mind;
    Skilful alike to cheat the wandering soul,
    Or mix luxurious pleasure’s midnight bowl. 
    All these, and more, at Christiern’s sudden call,
    (A shining conclave) fill the towering hall.

      Ere yet they enter’d, Trollio left the rest,
    Th’ advancing monarch met, and thus address’d: 

      “Hear, Christiern, hear! th’ unwelcome news attend,
    Forced from the lips of an unwilling friend. 
    Nor think ’tis from a mean suspicious heart
    I speak my message from our friends apart;
    I know their general worth, in duty tried,
    Yet in one man I tremble to confide: 
    False to his country, to himself, and thee,
    Sick of success, and tired of infamy,
    Ernestus now prepares to burst your yoke,
    And win his freedom by some glorious stroke. 
    I know him well; his ever-varying soul
    Now searches earth, now looks beyond the pole;
    Successive schemes usurp his changeful breast,
    That seeks for toil, and languishes in rest: 
    Like a frail bark, the sport of every breeze,
    That floats unguided on the boundless seas. 
    E’en now I mark’d him—­struggling passions play’d
    On his pale forehead, and alternate sway’d. 
    Of this no more.—­Our friends, dread prince, have sent
    Advices, that concern your government. 
    The factious souls, that late, o’eraw’d by you,
    Their inward rancour hid from open view,
    Are rous’d afresh, and gathering all their power,
    Beneath the smiles of this auspicious hour. 
    Reports and whispers, toss’d about, ferment
    With ceaseless breath the tide of discontent. 
    Each vile complainer casts his grievance in, }
    The common clamours to augment, and win }
    His share of future spoils, reward of clamorous din. }
    The torrent of sedition swells amain,
    Disloyalty invades the firmest Dane;
    And Christiern’s arm, outstretch’d without delay,
    Alone has power to prop his tottering sway. 
    Haste, while in momentary bounds is kept,
    The struggling flood, which else may intercept
    Your passage; haste! your new dominions quit;
    Their care to some experienced chief commit;
    Haste, and by speediest means secure your crown
    Ere violence and treason tear it down!”