THE BOOK WAS DRENCHED - OUDL Home

THE FIRST DEFENCE 11
with the king) abhor them as foul despotic maxims, hardly
to be endured by the most worthless of slaves. But as he undertakes
to puff his portentous sheet among outsiders, who are
quite ignorant of our affairs, they, who thus get an utterly
5 false notion of them, certainly ought to be fully informed;
and he, who is so very forward to speak ill of others, should
be treated in his own kind,
If haply anyone wonder why, then, we all have suffered
him so long to strut unharmed, swollen in triumph at our
10 silence, I know not what others may say, but for myself I can
boldly declare that I had neither words nor arguments long
to seek for the defence of so good a cause, had I but found
leisure, and such health as could bear the toil of writing. Yet
as I still possess but slender strength, I am forced to write by
15 piece-meal, and break off almost every hour, though the subject
be such as requires unremitted study and attention. If for
this reason it be not given me to clarion with right heraldry,
befitting their praises, those glorious fellow-citizens of mine,
their country's saviors, whose deathless deeds already ring
20 round the world, yet I hope it will not be difficult for me to
defend, at least, and justify them, against the impertinence
of this bore of a pedant, and the squallings of his professorial
tongue. Nature and laws would be in ill case if slavery were
eloquent, and liberty mute; if tyrants should find defenders,
25 and they that are potent to master and vanquish tyrants should
find none. And it were deplorable indeed, if the reason mankind
is endued withal, which is God's gift, should not furnish
more arguments for men's preservation, for their deliverance,