Page:The Maid's Tragedy Altered - Waller (1690).djvu/100

thought themselves in greatest security. But if it seem Superstitious to take this as an Omen; sure I am, we may look on it as a cause of the unfeign­ed necessity we now suffer; for what regret and discontent had this Judgment bred among us? And as when the Noise and Tumult in a private House grows so loud as to be heard into the Streets, it calls in the next Dwellers either kindly to appease, or to make their own use of the do­mestick strife; so in all likelihood our known discontents at home have been a concurrent cause to invite our Neighbours to visit us, so much to the expence and trouble of both these Kingdoms.

And here, My Lords, I cannot but take notice of the most sad effect of this oppression, the ill in­fluence it has had upon the Ancient Reputation and Valour of the English Nation: And no won­der, for if it be true that Oppression makes a wise Man mad; it may well suspend the Courage of the Valiant. The same happened to the Romans, when for renown in Arms they most excell'd the rest of the World; the story is but short, 'twas in the time of the Decemviri (and I think the chief troublers of our State may make up that number.) The Decem­viri, My Lords, had subverted the Laws, suspend­ed the Courts of Justice, and (which was the great­est grievance both to the Nobility and People) had for some years omitted to assemble the Senate,for