[Page 283]

SONNET ON ARBITRARY GOVERNMENT.

1 BOAST not your state, slaves of despotic sway,
2 Where wanton Gallia, 'midst her vine-clad hills,
3 Her olive bowers, her myrtle-shaded rills,
4 Her mild air's fan, her genial sun's survey:
5 Nor ye, where Asia like a queen sits gay,
6 'Midst her rich groves where odorous balm distils,
7 And the charm'd eye th' Elysian landscape fills,
8 And hand in hand young Spring and Autumn play:
9 Each boon to you your haughty lords deny,
10 And at their will your frail lives you resign:
11 Behold, and 'midst your flowery scenes repine!
12 Under bleak Albion's cloud-envelop'd sky,
13 Her meanest sons secure enjoy their own,
14 And bow to Heaven and Liberty alone.

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About this text

Title (in Source Edition): SONNET ON ARBITRARY GOVERNMENT.
Author: John Scott
Themes: politics
Genres: sonnet
References: DMI 32608

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Source edition

Pearch, G. A collection of poems in four volumes. By several hands. Vol. III. [The second edition]. London: printed for G. Pearch, 1770, p. 283. 4v. ; 8⁰. (ESTC T116245; DMI 1136; OTA K093079.003) (Page images digitized from a copy in the Bodleian Library [(OC) 280 o.790].)

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