Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

He strives to look worfe; he keeps all in awe;
Jefts like a licens'd fool, commands like law.
Tir'd, now I leave this place, and but pleas'd fo
'As men from gaols to execution go,

Go, through the great chamber (why is it hung
With the feven deadly fins?) being among
Thofe Afkaparts, men big enough to throw
Charing-Crofs for a bar, men that do know
No token of worth, but Queens man, and fine
Living; barrels of beef, flaggons of wine.
I fhook like a fpied Spie---Preachers which are
Seas of Wit and Arts, you can, then dare,
Drown the fins of this place, but as for me
Which am but a scant brook, enough fhall be
To wash the ftains away: Although I yet
(With Maccabees modefty) the known merit
Of my work leffen, yet fome wife men fhall,
I hope, efteem my Writs Canonical.

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

Scarecrow to boys, the breeding woman's curse,
Has yet a strange ambition to look worse;
Confounds the civil, keeps the rude in awe,
Jefts like a licens'd fool, commands like law. 270
Frighted, I quit the room, but leave it fo
As men from Jayls to execution go;
For hung with deadly fins I fee the wall,
And lin❜d with Giants deadlier than 'em all: 275
Each man an Askapart, of strength to tofs
For Quoits, both Temple-bar and Charing-cross.
Scar'd at the grizly forms, I fweat, I fly,

And shake all o'er, like a discover'd spy.

Courts are too much for wits fo weak as mine: Charge them with Heav'n's Artill'ry, bold Divine! From fuch alone the Great rebukes endure, Whofe Satire's facred, and whose rage fecure: "Tis mine to wash a few light ftains, but theirs To deluge fin, and drown a Court in tears. 285 Howe'er what's now Apocrypha, my Wit,

In time to come, may pass for holy writ.

NOTES.

VER. 274. For hung with deadly fins] The Room hung with

old Tapestry, representing the feven deadly fins.

P.

EPILOGUE

TO THE

SATITES.

In Two DIALOGUES.

Written in MDCCXXXVIII.

« ZurückWeiter »