I did but prompt the age to quit their clogs
By
the known rules of ancient liberty,
When straight a
barbarous noise environs me
Of owls and
cuckoos, asses, apes and dogs:
As when those hinds that
were transformed to frogs
Railed at Latona's
twin-born progeny
Which after held
the sun and moon in fee.
But this is got by casting pearl to hogs,
That bawl for freedom in
their senseless mood,
And still revolt when truth
would set them free.
License they mean when they
cry liberty;
For who loves that, must first be wise and good.
But from
that mark how far they rove we see,
For all this
waste of wealth and loss of blood.
