Pierides, or, The muses mount by Hugh Crompton, Gent.

37. Three Friends.

1.

THeer certain friends (whom fortune did exp•• To many harms and dangers, And circumvented with a world of foes; Some neighbours, others strangers,)

2.

VVell blest with vigour, and prepar'd with arms, And sted fastly conjoin'd VVith resolution to oppose all harms, VVith one entire mind.

3.

(Their minds thus melted into one) they went VVith fury, to resist Each stop that stood their projects to prevent, And each Antagonist.

4.

Nor did success prove poorer unto these, Then't was fore-doom'd to do: For many a one they shackled by degrees, And many a one they slew.

5.

Nor did their thirsty swords forbear to spill The vitals of their foes; Nor sheath their bloody jaws in scabbards, till There was no more t' oppose.

6.

Now all is won, and every prize their own,

The trine is sweetly blest All the extinsick trouble being gone) VVith native peace and rest▪

7.

••ut pride (the darling of good fortune) sprung (Arm'd with desire of strife) ••hese glorious Champions, and these friends among; And spoil'd their friendly life.

8.

Nor would it vanish, till it had untwisted The knots once love had ti'd; And now each friend his bosom-friend resisted, till they were all destroy'd.

The Moral.

THese trusty friends three Nations were, well known To be subordinate to a single Crown; And while they lov'd, the world could not out-vie them; But their intestin hate did soon destroy them. Intrinsick strife, and home bred contradiction, Are the next road to ruine and affliction.