1When Phalaris
, for tyranny so famed, 2Had seen the brazen bull Perillus framed
, 3He made him first the horrid pain explore
, 4And with his life his cunning out to roar
. 5Thus, as Perillus in the bull was put,
6Procrustes to his bed was stretched or cut
; 7And he that kicked down people to the seas
8Received the like, Rhamnusia
to appease. 9So he that with his forehead dashed out brains
10Had like for like. What also was his
gains 11That ’tween two trees did kill men cruelly?
12Did he not by the self-same torture die?
13O, that all those that flatter tyranny
14Might first their own accurséd projects try!
15Then that fell tyrant that in Newbury reigned
16Should first unto the fatal stage been chained
; 17Then those that made the engine
to pull down 18His sacred head
which wore our British crown. 19When lamb-like on that altar he did lie,
20Why did not Oliver
that pulley
try? 21Were some condemned, the axe would move alone
, 22As Tyburn
for those regicides
do groan. 23Then should their children to Jamaica
go; 24Their ’states sequestered
, widow eyes o’erflow
. 25Sure those that do their fellow Christians sell
26Will in their conscience feel the flames of Hell.
27That worm will gnaw
, though for a time ’tis hid, 28And make them roar worse than Perillus did.