“Superfluous myriads from the earth

Are swept by pestilence and dearth;”[86]

Which drive his philosophic plan on,

As well as blunderbuss or cannon;

That, in this world’s great slaughter-house,

Not only sheep and calves and cows,

But “man erect, with thought elate,”

Must “duck” to death his stubborn pate;[87]

That in said butcher’s shop, the weakest

Should always be kill’d off the quickest,