The Bellwethers jingled merrily, and roared "oat, '.Liberty,' and 'Property, 1 and 'Religion,' and a multitude of " cant terms, which every one thought he understood, and was egregi- "ously mistaken ; for you must know the Shepherds kept the Dictionary " of the Day ; and, like the Mysteries of the ancient Mythology, it was " not for profane eyes and ears. This answered many purposes: the "simple Flock put themselves entirely under the protection of these " most excellent Shepherds.
" By-and-bye, behold a great metamorphosis, without the help of Ovid "or his Divinities; but entirely effectuated by two modern Genii, the " God of Ambition and the Goddess of Faction. The first of these " prompted the Shepherds to shear some of their Flock ; and, then, in "conjunction with the other, converted the Bellwethers into Shepherds. " That we have been in hot water with the British Parliament, ever "since, every body knows : consequently these new Shepherds have had " their hands full of employment. The old ones kept themselves least in "sight ; and a want of confidence in each other was not the least evil " which followed. The Port of Boston has been shut up. These Sheep, " simple as they are, cannot be gulled, as heretofore. In short, there is " no ruling them ; and, now, to leave the metaphor, the heads of the " Mobility grow dangerous to the Gentry ; and how to keep them down " is the question.