The fallen elm (4)

Thoust sheltered hypocrites in many a shower

That when in power would never shelter thee.

Thoust heard the knave supply his canting powers

With wrongs illusions when he wanted friends;

That bawled for shelter when he lived in showers

And when clouds vanished made thy shade amends

With axe at root he felled thee to the ground

And barked of freedom — O I hate that sound

(Time hears its visions speak – and age sublime

Hath made thee a disciple unto time)

It grows the cant terms of enslaving tools

To wrong another by the name of right

It grows a licence with oer bearing fools

To cheat plain honesty by force of might

(lines 43-56)