Digital Paxton: Digital Collection, Critical Edition, and Teaching Platform

A Battle! A Battle! (Extended) - 5

So Acts the sly perfidious Bat,
Sometimes for this side, sometime that.

WHEN first Duke Mushroom silence broke,
And thus in croaking Accents spoke.
When Dangers threaten, ‘tis mere Nonsense,
To talk ofsuch a Thing as Conscience:
Conscience a Net has ever been,
To catch religious Woodcocks in:
But (as it is most just and fit)
Was made for us, not we for it.
To be contracted, or stretch’d wide,
As were the Thongs of Dido's Hide,
And he whose is too great or small
Must answer for just none at all.

WHERE Quaker Notions lead the Way,
Conscience implicit must obey.
For we, just like three Legs in Man,
Quocunque jeceris, will stand:
And have a Salve for ev’ry Sore,
What carr Mortal wish for more?
Henceforth let two and two make six,
Or any Number you shall fix:
Let no one contradict you when
You say in four are units ten;

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