XXL
But  I,  the  mildest,  meekest  of  mankind,

Like  Moses,  or  Melancthon,  who  have  ne'er
Done  any  thing  exceedingly  unkind,—

And  (though  I  could  not  now  and  then  forbear
Following  the  bent  of  body  or  of  mind)

Have  always  had  a  tendency  to  spare,—
Why  do  they  call  me  misanthrope  ?    Because
They  hate  me,  not  I  them  .-^And  here  well  pause.
XXIL
'Tis  time  we  should  proceed  with  one  good  poem,

For  I  maintain  that  it  is  really  good.
Not  only  in  the  body,  but  the  proem.
However  little  both  are  understood
Just  now,— ^but  by  and  by  the  truth  will  show  'en

Herself  in  her  sublimest  attitude :
And  till  she  doth,  I  fain  must  be  content
To  share  her  beauty  and  her  banishment.
xxra.
Our  hero  (and,  I  trust,  kind  reader  1  yonrs)—
Was  left  upon  his  way  to  the  chief  oity

Of  the  immortal  Peter's  polish'd  boors,         [witty,
Who  still  have  shown  tiiemselves  morehrave  ttian

I  know  its  mighty  empire  now  alhnes
Much  flattery— even  Voltaire's,  and  that* a  a  pity.
For  me,  I  deem  an  absolute  autocrat

Not  a  barbarian,  but  much  worse  than  that.
XXIV.
And  I  v^  war,  at  least  in  words  (aad-ehonld
My  chance  so  happen—deeds)  with  all  who  war

With  thought;— and  of  thonghfs  foee  by  temosC
Tyrants  and  syeophanta  have  been  and  are.  [mdr,

I  know  not  who  may  conq«er ;  if  I  oould
Have  such  a  ptesolenee,  it  should  be  no  bar

To  this  my  plain,  sworn,  downright  detsetatkm

Of  every  despotlsea  In  every  nation.
XXV.
It  Is  not  that  I  adnlate  the  people  i

Without  m/B  there  are  demagognea  eno«^
And  infidela  to  puU  down  every  steeple.
And  set  up  in  their  stead  some  proper  8t«£
Whether  they  may  aow  skepticism  to  reap  heQ.
