Then I espy'd from far,
Troops of shining Men, ingag'd in War,
Their artful Weapons, are with Rage imploy'd,
And Man, by Man, is Savagely destroy'd:
Poor mercenary Slaves they die,
But seldom know for why;
Oh! what Confusions here I cannot bear,
These horrid Groans that reach my distant Ear
From slaugher'd heaps, of dying Accents there.
Sometimes wast Towns in Flames appear,
Huge Castles mount, and shatter in the Air,
But ah! what pity 'tis,
Mankind should Glory in such Arts as these;
Then to the populous Cities, I repair'd,
Found they were little less insnar'd;
Tho' not Alarm'd with mighty noise of Wars,
Yet curs'd with grating, private Jars,
Envy and Strife, Self-Interest, and Deceits,
Extravagance and Noise, her Fate compleats.
Then I survey'd the splendid Court,
Found pageant Follies, Revelling and Sport,
Base Falshood, Lust, Ambition, Emnity,
Soft wanton Intervals, and Luxury,
Destructive Flattery, and hateful Pride,
And all the City Sins beside.
Thinks I, what shall I do,
If I must live again below,
For I remember'd that I had been there,
And a return to Earth, did fear.
Grant ye bless'd Powers, said I,
If I must downwards fly;
I may Descend upon the blooming Plain,
Bless'd with the harmless Nymph, and humble Swain,
There let me ever undisturb'd remain.