Believe me, lords, my tender years can tell Civil dissension is a viperous worm That gnaws the bowels of the commonwealth.

If they perceive dissension in our looks And that within ourselves we disagree, How will their grudging stomachs be provoked To willfull disobedience, and rebel!

And Doubt and Discord step 'twixt thine and thee.

Discord, a sleepless hag who never dies, With Snipe-like nose, and Ferret-glowing eyes, Lean sallow cheeks, long chin with beard supplied, Poor crackling joints, and wither'd parchment hide, As if old Drums, worn out with martial din, Had clubb'd their yellow Heads to form her Skin.

That each pull'd different ways with many an oath, "Arcades ambo," id est--blackguards both.

Alas! how light a cause may move Dissension between hearts that love! Hearts that the world in vain had tried, And sorrow but more closely tied; That stood the storm when waves were rough, Yet in a sunny hour fall off.