The legislators pass along <br />A solemn, self-important throng! <br />Just raised from the common mass, <br />They feel themselves another class. <br />--But let them in the sunshine play <br />For every dog must have his day. <br /> <br />There moves the law's close-wedged band <br />The scourge and terror of the land! <br />Pandora's box replete with ills <br />Not half so baleful as their quills. <br /> <br />The sons of Galen, ghastly crew! <br />Next pass in horrible review: <br />Arm'd with each instrument of death <br />To sap the citadel of Health. <br />Ten thousand times ten thousand fall <br />And physic's monster gulps down all. <br /> <br />Bellona's sons, a num'rous train, <br />now darken all the dusky plain! <br />--War, their amusement, Death their trade <br />And the one sin, to be afraid. <br />They're but another dire disease <br />The soul from prison to release: <br />And man forlorn, as well may be <br />A prey to steel as malady: <br />Explore he must the mortal road, <br />The only diff'rence is the mode. <br /> <br />The men in black bring up the rear, <br />More warm to preach than folks to hear: <br />Each points to his own fav'rite road <br />As leading to the blest abode; <br />Proclaiming loud that all are wrong <br />Who don't around his banners throng, <br />Till, all confounded, FAITH retires <br />And frighten'd CHARITY expires.<br /><br />Henry Livingston Jr.<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-procession/
