Streams From An Old Fountain

ly, If you would have us safely free, Consolidating liberty, Till each with every part agree : Recede not?never more return To slavish 7nedi:itval gloom ; But let the glorious blazon burn, That keeps us from a darksome doom. This is no time to retrograde ; The light of Heaven can not mislead, Though superstition may degrade Those who adopt another's creed : Believe your own ! Have confidence That God is not a demon grown ; Bring heart and soul to common sense ; llcposo on your own faith alone. I need no priestcraft me to bless, And smile at e'en the Papal curse ;? Words of audacious wickedness, Fitted for fools, or something worse ; From crumbling mediieval leaves Of monkish darkness they have sprung ; Who utters them perchance receives Eternal blisters on his tongue. What would I do were I a king, And Pope with canons used me ill, Or my true subjects ??the same thing? I would forget him in my will: Nought human 's alien to kings Nor me ; and I should tell him plain That I had cannon?fearful things? If he but thus denounced my reign. Priests have no power to curse or bless ; I heed them not in my old school : Religion gives me cheerfulness, I need no bigot for my fool. What! thou the minister of good ! Thou hast not even nature's grace! Go, cool the itching of thy blood, And unto wiser men give place. Bewildered in a forest dark, With one small torch, my only guide, A stra...