civil society

each state of nature seems a horrid place
we are confronted with our natural selves
the judgment of the entire human race
requires a civil order well-arrayed shelves
with lawbooks regulations decrees of court
the sayings of the wise men and the kings
with commentaries not a single one is short
all saying that the beast needs leading-strings
the choices seem too many a common force
that takes each of us into a combined whole
that speaks for all that sets for each the course
that they will take that makes clear the role

assured that public greatness makes each great

as masters or as servants of each state