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1667–1745

ON THE UNION

Jonathan Swift

The queen has lately lost a part Of her ENTIRELY-ENGLISHheart, For want of which, by way of botch, She pieced it up again with SCOTCH.

Blest revolution! which creates Divided hearts, united states! See how the double nation lies, Like a rich coat with skirts of frize:

As if a man, in making posies, Should bundle thistles up with roses. Who ever yet a union saw Of kingdoms without faith or law?

Henceforward let no statesman dare A kingdom to a ship compare; Lest he should call our commonweal A vessel with a double keel:

Which, just like ours, new rigg'd and mann'd, And got about a league from land, By change of wind to leeward side, The pilot knew not how to guide.

So tossing faction will o'erwhelm Our crazy double-bottom'd realm.

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ON THE UNION · Jonathan Swift · Poetry Cove