Chapter XXVI

Nor is this all which we thee grant;
Rather than thou should’st full imployment want,
We do permit in _Greece_ it self thy kingdom plant.
Ransack _Lycurgus_ streets throughout,
They’ve no defence of walls to keep thee out.
On wanton and proud _Corinth_ seise,
Nor let her double waves thy flames appease.
Let _Cyprus_ feel more fires than those of Love,
Let _Delos_ which at first did give the Sun,
See unknown Flames in her begun,
Now let her wish she might unconstant proves,
And from her place might truly move.
Let _Lemnos_ all thy anger feel,
And think that a new _Vulcan_ fell,
And brought with him new Anvils, and new hell.
Nay and at _Athens_ too we give thee up,
All that thou find’st in Field, or camp, or shop,
Make havock there without controul
Of every ignorant and common soul;
But then kind Plague, thy conquests stop;
Let Arts, and let the learned there escape,
Upon _Minerva’s_ self commit no rape;
Touch not the sacred throng,
And let _Apollo’s_ Priests be like him young,
Let him be healthful too, and strong.
But ah! too ravenous plague, whilst I
Strive to keep off the misery,
The learned too as fast as others round me die;
They from corruption are not free,
Are mortal though they give an immortality.