VIRTUE  MY KINGDOM
PUBLICK VIRTUE, EVERY VIRTUE JOIN'D.
For, lost this social Cement of Mankind,
The greatest Empires, by scarce-felt Degrees,
Will moulder soft away; 'till, tottering loose,
They prone at last to total Ruin rush.
Unblest by VIRTUE,  a
Becomes, a
To rob by Law;  mild a
To tame the stooping Soul, a
To mask their Rapine, and to share the Prey.
What are without IT  save a Face
Of Consultation deep and Reason free,
While the determin'd Voice and Heart are sold?
What boasted  save a sounding Name?
And what  but a Market vile
Of Slaves self-barter'd? VIRTUE! without THEE,
There is no ruling Eye, no Nerve, in States;
War has no Vigour, and no Safety Peace:
Even Justice warps to Party, Laws oppress,
Wide thro' the Land their weak Protection fails,
First broke the Ballance, and then scorn'd the Sword.
Thus Nations sink, Society dissolves;
Rapine and Guile and Violence break loose,
Everting Life, and turning Love to Gall;
Man hates the Face of Man, and  Woods
And  hissing Sands to him are tame.