PLAIN THOUGHTS IN PLAIN LANGUAGE: A NEW BALLAD. 1743. I. ATTEND, ye brave Britons Of every degree, All you who deserve, And resolve to be free; Plain Thoughts will suffice, And Plain Language will do, When all we assert Is known to be true. Derry down, &c. II. To save our old laws, A new monarch we took; And well for those laws An old tyrant forsook : And should our old England A curse on the slaves Who the new won't forsake. Derry down, &c. III. This monarch, unskilled In the nation's affairs, A lover of wealth, And a foe to all cares, Resign'd to his statesmen His kingdom itself, And wink'd at their plunder To share in the pelf. Derry down, &c. IV. He purchas'd abroad, While his ministers jobb'd; And Hanover flourish'd, While Britain was robb'd: And when he chang'd hands For a fresh set of men, Where those took a shilling, These villains took ten. Derry down, &c. V. This monarch deceas'd, His son did succeed; A Prince more august, Never came of his breed; For tho' at his birth, Lying wags had a fling, He soon prov'd himself The true son of a king. Derry down, &c. VI. Like measures he follow'd, And all things grew worse, That before were too bad : For Walpole still rul'd With corruption and gold, The monarch he bought, And the nation he sold. Derry down, &c. VII. With armies at home, And with foreign troops paid; With laws that cramp'd freedom, With maxims quite new, And help'd our old foes To oppress our old Friends. Derry down, &c. VIII. At length when Corruption And none would be bought For none offer'd to buy, The courtiers quit leaders And leaders turn courtiers, Worse rascals than they. IX. Derry down, &c. My tale, Oh ye Britons! This moral does bring, However descended, A king is a king; Whenever they're taken, Most statesmen are knaves; And patriots at court Are the lowest of slaves. Derry down, &c. |