IRETON,
A Poem.
BY THOMAS BAILEY.
“Let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.”
Job.
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LONDON:
PUBLISHED BY JAMES RIDGWAY, PICADILLY.
MDCCCXXVII.
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Price One Shilling and Sixpence.
| Contents: PREFACE. IRETON. SONG. “O ENGLAND, MY COUNTRY!” TO LIBERTY. NOTES. |
TO THE
RIGHT HONOURABLE
L O R D J O H N R U S S E L L,
THIS
P O E M
IS
RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED,
BY
THE AUTHOR.
PREFACE.
THE following Poem was suggested in an excursion one afternoon toAttenburrow, a village on the banks of the Trent, about five milessouth-west of Nottingham, the birthplace of the well known Republican,General Ireton.
If, in the contemplation of the character of that illustrious man, andin the indulgence of feelings excited by a consideration of the greatstruggle in which he bore so distinguished a part, the author has beenled, in the progress of this poem, to animadvert strongly on the stateof society as existing in some countries; or to avow sentimentspeculiarly favourable to forms of popular government, as opposed toabsolute monarchy;—he assures the reader it is not with any wish orintention to weaken the bonds which hold society together, or to exciteto discontent or insubordination those classes of the communitydependent on labour for their support. His object has been to shewmankind, that their vices and follies are the real cause of theirdegradation;—that good morals, springing from right principles, formthe only sure foundation of civil liberty; and that the men who wouldfound an improvement of the social system, on any other basis than[Pg 6] thatof an improved moral and intellectual condition of the people, can onlyenter on a course of fearfully hazardous experiments: rationally hopingfor nothing but to reap from the crimes of others, a harvest of contemptand execration as their own portion.
The true patriot is he who aims to elevate the tone of morals among hisfellow citizens,—to excite them to a just respect for themselves,—