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Of weak-minded Tyrants. SECT. III.
80.
OLympus kept her Scepter without stain,
Till she let fall Pow'rs tender reputation,
By gracing Venus and her Son to Raign,
Who with the First Gods had no estimation,
For when these faint thoughts came to rule above
Pow'r lost at once both Majesty and Love.
81.
A work of Saturn, who with narrow spite
Mow'd down the Fat, and let the Lean Ears spring,
That after his sithe nothing prosper might;
Time that begets and blasteth every thing,
To Barley making Wheat degenerate,
As Eagles did into the Kites estate.
82.
But let us grant excess of Tyranny
Could scape the heavy hand of God and Man;
Yet by the natural variety
Of frailties, raigning since the world began;
Faint relaxations doubtless will ensue,
And change Force into Craft, old times to new.