"Tis the first sanction Nature gave to man, Each other to assist in what they can;
Just or unjust, this law for ever stands;
All things are good by law which she commands.
The first step, man towards Christ must justly live,
Who to' us himself, and all we have, did give.
In vain doth man the name of JUST expect,
If his devotions he to God neglect.
So must we reverence God, as first to know
Justice from him, not from ourselves, doth flow.
God those accepts, who to mankind are friends,
Whose Justice far as their own power extends;
In that they imitate the Power divine;
The sun alike on good and bad doth shine;
And he that doth no good, although no ill,
Does not the office of the just fulfil.
Virtue doth man to virtuous actions steer;
'Tis not enough that he should vice forbear:
We live not only for ourselves to care,
Whilst they, that want it, are denied their share.
Wise Plato said the world with men was stored,
That succour each to other might afford;
Nor are those succours to one sort confined,
But several parts to several men consign'd.
He that of his own stores no part can give,
May with his counsel or his hands relieve.
If Fortune make thee powerful, give defence,
'Gainst fraud and force, to naked innocence:
And when our Justice doth our tributes pay,
Method and order must direct the way.
First to our God we must with reverence bow;
The second honour to our prince we owe ;
Next to wives, parents, children, fit respect,
And to our friends and kindred we direct:
Then we must those who groan beneath the weight
Of age, disease, or want, commiserate.
'Mongst those whom honest lives can recommend,
Our Justice more compassion should extend:
To such who thee in some distress did aid,
Thy debt of thanks with interest should be paid.
As Hesiod sings, spread waters o'er thy field,
And a most just and glad increase 'twill yield.
But yet take heed, lest doing good to one,
Mischief and wrong be to another done:
Such moderation with thy bounty join,
That thou may'st nothing give that is not thine ;
That liberality's but cast away
Which makes us borrow what we cannot pay.
And no access to wealth let rapine bring;
Do nothing that's unjust to be a king.
Justice must be from violence exempt,
But fraud's her only object of contempt.
Fraud in the fox, force in the lion, dwells,
But Justice both from human hearts expels ;
But he's the greatest monster (without doubt)
Who is a wolf within, a sheep without.
Nor only ill injurious actions are,
But evil words and slanders bear their share.
Truth justice loves, and truth injustice fears;
Truth above all things a just man reveres.
Though not by oaths we God to witness call,
He sees and hears, and still remembers all;
And yet our attestations we may wrest
Sometimes, to make the truth more manifest.
If by a lie a man preserve his faith,
He pardon, leave, and absolution hath ;
Or if I break my promise, which to thee
Would bring no good, but prejudice to me.
All things committed to thy trust, conceal,
Nor what's forbid by any means reveal.
Express thyself in plain, not doubtful words,
That ground for quarrels or dispute affords.
Unless thou find occasion hold thy tongue;
Thyself or others careless talk may wrong.
When thou art called into public power,
And when a crowd of suitors throng thy door,
Be sure no great offenders 'scape their dooms;
Small praise from lenity and remissness comes :
Crimes pardon'd, others to those crimes invite,
Whilst lookers-on severe examples fright.
When by a pardon'd murderer blood is spilt,
The judge that pardon'd hath the greatest guilt.
Who accuse rigour make a gross mistake;
One criminal pardon'd may an hundred make.
When justice on offenders is not done,
Law, government, and commerce, are o'erthrown:
As besieged traitors with the foe conspire
To' unlock the gates and set the town on fire.
Yet, lest the punishment the offence exceed,
Justice with weight and measure must proceed:
Yet, when pronouncing sentence, seem not glad,
Such spectacles, though they are just, are sad;
Though what thou dost thou ought'st not to repent,
Yet human bowels cannot but relent.
Rather than all must suffer some must die;
Yet Nature must condole their misery:
And yet, if many equal guilt involve,
Thou may'st not these condemn, and those absolve.
Justice, when equal scales she holds, is blind; Nor cruelty nor mercy change her mind. When some escape for that which others die, Mercy to those, to these is cruelty.
A fine and slender net the spider weaves,
Which little and light animals receives;
And if she catch a common bee or fly,
They with a piteous groan and murmur die :
But if a wasp or hornet she entrap,
They tear her cords, like Samson, and escape;
So, like a fly, the poor offender dies,
But, like the wasp, the rich escapes
and flies.
Do not, if one but lightly thee offend,
The punishment beyond the crime extend,
Or after warning the offence forget;
So God himself our failings doth remit.
Expect not more from servants than is just;
Reward them well, if they observe their trust:
Nor them with cruelty or pride invade,
Since God and Nature them our brothers made:
If his offence be great, let that suffice;
If light, forgive; for no man's always wise.
MODERN AUTHOR UPON THE GAME OF CHESS.
A TABLET stood of that abstersive tree
Where Ethiop's swarthy bird did build her nest, Inlaid it was with Libyan ivory,
Drawn from the jaws of Afric's prudent beast.
Two kings like Saul, much taller than the rest,
Their equal armies draw into the field;
Till one takes the' other prisoner they contest,
Courage and fortune must to conduct yield.
This game the Persian Magi did invent,
The force of Eastern wisdom to express ;
From thence to busy Europeans sent,
[Chess. And styled, by modern Lombards, Pensive
Yet some that fled from Troy to Rome report, Penthesilia Priam did oblige;
Her Amazons his Trojans taught this sport, Το pass the tedious hours of ten years' siege.
There she presents herself, whilst kings and peers Look gravely on whilst fierce Bellona fights; Yet maiden modesty her motions steers,
Nor rudely skips o'er bishops' heads, like knights.
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