The carnal arms wherewith the Devil fought;
Dancing and dicing, music, and whate’er
Spreads for humanity the hell-born snare.
Stage-plays especially their hearts abhorred,
Holding the Muses hateful to the Lord,
Save when old Sternhold and his brother bard
Oped their hoarse throats and strained an anthem hard.
From that angelic race of perfect men,
(Sure seraphs never trod the world ’till then,)
Descends the race to whom the sway is given