THE COMPLAINT

HOw oft, ah wretch, hast thou profusely swore
Me, as the Gods thou did'st adore;
And that my Words shou'd be to thee,
As of Divine Authority:
In this my Power exceeded theirs,
To me thou ne'er did'st wander in thy Prayers.

And oft thou prayest, bathed in thy Tears,
Drop'd from the clouds of loving fears;
And on my Hand thy Faith confess,
And after that beg for redress;
Whilst on the Altar of my lip,
For Sacrifice, let no occasion slip.

But now thou'rt grown prophane Atheistical,
Not chang'd thy Faith, but cast off all:
So Sacrilegious too thou art,
Thou'rt not c•ntent to rob in part,
To bear my Rites (thy Vows) away;
But by thy cruelty thou do'st assay
To bring the beauteous Fabrick to decay.