19 When he had thus spoke the good men rejoiced exceedingly and
approved of his counsel.
20 But the workers of iniquity, who sought their own gain,
though at the life of the man, cried most vehemently against
it and said, shall our places be taken from us and given unto
others? Shall we lack our fees which we were wont to receive?
Shall those Members be cast away that afforded us such profit
and source of peculation? Shall the rottenness be purged
away on which we and our understrappers feed? Oh! unjust
sentence.--Alas! our hope is withered.--And Oh! ye our faithful
Servants, who like fattened maggots have so gloriously gorged
upon this man's body, thy day of _Short Commons_ is come.
21 And the Debate was of long continuance, for seven successive
nights rested they not from their labours: and the hopes and
wishes of mankind were great:
22 But the wicked dwelt not so securely as they in their vanity
imagined, for the good men prevailed, and this was made known
unto the King and the People.
23 And the King was wonderfully well pleased, and the people
shouted their gladness.
24 And John Bull failed not in giving honour and praise to
the King and his ministers; But he said unto the workers of
iniquity--
O! ye hypocrites whom I have cherished with my substance,
And who have polluted my body,
Thy day of Punishment--the day of retribution, is at hand.
Thy baseness and cupidity are made known to all men,
And for these thy works,
Know that Tribulation treadeth hard upon thy heels,
And mankind shall curse thee with the curse of _bitterness_.