What, prate about a shameful past?
Ask who began the tale of crime?
Smirch England’s robes with tyrant slime?
The patriot poet in full blast
Shall brand you to all time.
So raves the fieriest bard that lives,
Whose pity for the tyrant’s thrall,
Set to rich music’s rise and fall,
So nobly rang one half forgives
This recreant mud and gall.