That Offices are intail'd, and that there are
Perpetuities of them, lasting as far
As the last day, and that great

Officers
Do with the Spaniards share, and Dunkirkers.

I more amaz'd than Circes prisoners, when
They felt themselves turn beasts, felt myself then
Becoming Traytor, and methought I saw
One of our Giant Statutes ope his jaw,
To fuck me in for hearing him: I found
That as burnt venemous Leachers do grow sound
By giving others their fores, I might grow
Guilty, and he free : Therefore I did show
All signs of loathing; but since I am in,
I must pay mine, and my forefathers fin
To the last farthing. Therefore to my power

Toughly and stubbornly I bear ; but th’ hower
Of mercy now was come : he tries to bring
Me to pay a fine to 'scape a torturing,
And says, Sir, can you spare me--? I said, Willingly ;
Nay, Sir, can you spare me a crown? Thankfully I
Gave it, as ransom; but as fidlers, still,
Though they be paid to be gone, yet needs will
Thrust one more jigg upon you : so did he
With his long complimental thanks vex me.
But he is gone, thanks to his needy want,
And the Prerogative of my Crown; scant
His thanks were ended, when I (which did see
All the Court fill'd with more strange things than he)

Notes. VER. 167. fall endlong] The sudden effe&t of the tranfformation is strongly and finely painted to the imagina-

Nay hints, 'tis by connivance of the Court,
That Spain robs on, and Dunkirk's still a Port. 165
Not more amazement seiz'd on Circe's guests,
To see themselves fall endlong into beasts,
Than mine, to find a subject stay'd and wise
Already half turn'd traytor by surprize.
I felt th' infection slide from him to me,

170
As in the pox, some give it to get free;
And quick to swallow me, methought I saw
One of our Giant Statutes ope its jaw.

In that nice moment, as another Lye
Stood just a-tilt, the Minister came by.

175
To him he flies, and bows, and bows again,
Then, close as Umbra, joins the dirty train.
Not Fannius' self more impudently near,
When half his nose is in his Prince's ear.
I quakd at heart; and still afraid, to fee

180
All the Court fill’d with stranger things than he,
Ran out as fast, as one that pays his bail
And dreads more actions, hurries from a jail.

Bear me, fome God! oh quickly bear me hence
To wholsome Solitude, the nurse of fense: 185
Where Contemplation prunes her ruffled wings,
And the free foul looks down to pity Kings !

tion, not in the sound, but in the sense of these two words.

VER, 184. Bear me,] These four lines are wonderfully

Ran from thence with such, or more hast than one
Who fears more actions, doth haft from prison.

At home in wholesome solitariness
My piteous soul began the wretchedness
Of suiters at court to mourn, and a trance
Like his, who dreamt he saw hell, did advance
It self o'er me : such men as he saw there
I saw at court, and worse and more. Low fear
Becomes the guilty, not th' accuser : Then,
Shall I, none's slave, of high-born or rais'd men
Fear frowns; and my mistress truth, betray thee
For th' huffing, bragart, puft nobility ?
No, no, thou which since yesterday hast been,
Almost about the whole world, hast thou seen,
O fun, in all thy journey, vanity,
Such as swells the bladder of our court? I
Think he which made your Waxen garden, and
Transported it from Italy, to stand
With us at London, fouts our Courtiers ; for
Just such gay painted things, which no sap, nor

Nores. sublime. His impatience in this region of vice, is like that of Virgil, in the region of heat. They both call out as if they were half itined by the suiphury air of the place,

O qui me gelidis

O quickly bear me hence. b A Show of the Italian Gardens in Waxwork, in the time of King James the First. P.

200

There sober thought pursu'd th' amusing theme,
Till Fancy colour'd it, and form'd a Dream.
A Vifion hermits can to Hell transport,

190
And forc'd ev’n me to see the damn'd at Court.
Not Dante dreaming all th' infernal state,
Beheld such scenes of envy, fin, and hate.
Base Fear becomes the guilty, not the free;
Suits Tyrants, Plunderers, but suits not me:

195 Shall I, the Terror of this finful town, Care, if a liv'ry'd Lord or smile or frown? Who cannot flatter, and detest who can, Tremble before a noble Serving-man? O my

fair mistress, Truth ! shall I quit thee
For huffing, braggart, puft Nobility ?
Thou, who since yesterday haft rollid o'er all
The busy, idle blockheads of the ball,
Hast thou, oh Sun beheld an emptier sort,
Than such as swell this bladder of a court?

205
Now pox on those who shew a Court in wax!
It ought to bring all courtiers on their backs:
Such painted puppets ! such a varnish'd race
Of hollow gew-gaws, only dress and face !

Notes. Ver. 188. There fober thought] These two lines are remarkable for the delicacy and propriety of the expres fion.

VER. 194. Base Fear] These four admirable lines become the high office he had assumed, and lo nobly suftained.

Taft have in them, ours are ; and natural

Some of the stocks are ; their fruits bastard all.

'Tis ten a Clock and past; all whom the mues,
Baloun, or tennis, diet, or the stews
Had all the morning held, now the second
Time made ready, that day, in filocks are found
In the Presence, and I (God pardon me)
As fresh and sweet their Apparels be, as be
Their fields they sold to buy them. For a king
Those hose are, cry the flatterers: and bring
Them next week to the theatre to sell.
Wants reach all states : me seems they do as well
At ftage, as courts; all are players. Whoe’er looks,
(For themselves dare not go) o'er Cheapfide books,
Shall find their wardrobes inventory. Now
The Ladies come. As pirates (which do know
That there came weak ships fraught with Cutchanel)
The men board them; and praise (as they think) well,

Notes. « That is, of wood.

VER. 206. Court in wax!] A famous fhow of the Court of Françe, in Wax-work. P.

VER. 213. At Fig's, at White's,] White's was a noted