Which is but just retaliation
For having guarded a whole Nation.
Hence e'ery lofty Plant that stands
'Twixt _Berwick_ Walls and _Dover_ Sands,
The Oak itself (which well we stile
The Pride and Glory of our Isle),
Must strike and wave its lofty Head.
And now salute an Oaten Reed,
For surely Oates deserves to be
Exalted far 'bove any Tree.
The Agyptians once (tho' it seems odd)
Did worship Onions for their God,
And poor Peelgarlick was with them
Esteem'd beyond the richest Gem.
What would they then have done, think ye,
Had they but had such _Oates_ as we,
_Oates_ of such known Divinity?
Since then such good by _Oates_ we find,
Let _Oates_ at least be now enshrin'd;
Or in some sacred Press enclos'd,
Be only kept to be expos'd;
And all fond Relicks else shall be
Deem'd Objects of Idolatry.
Popelings may tell us how they saw
Their _Garnet_ pictur'd on a Straw.
'Twas a great Miracle, we know,
To see him drawn in little so:
But on an _Oaten_ stalk there is
A greater Miracle than this;
A Visage which, with comly Grace,