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 suck 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 i
Nay, Sir, can you spare me a crown? Thankfully
Gave it, as ransom; but as fidlers, ftill,
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 ; fcant
His thanks were ended, when I (which did fee
all the Court fill'd with more strange things than he)
NOTES. Ver. 167. fall endlong.) The sudden effect of the tranfFormation is strongly and finely painted to the imagina
Nay hmots, 'tis by connivance of the Court,
That Spain robs on, and Dunkirk's still a Port. 165
Ņot 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 lies, 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 quak'd at heart; and still afraid, to see
18
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, some God! oh quickly bear me hence
To wholsome Solitude, the nurse of sense : 185
Where Contemplation prunes her ruffled wings,
And the free soul looks down to pity Kings!
NOTES:
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 haft than one
Who fears more actions, doth haft from prison.
At home in wholesome folitariness
My piteous foul began the wretchedness
Of fuiters 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 flave, 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, Aouts our Courtiers; for
Just such gay painted things, which no fap, nor
Notes. 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 titled by the sulphury air of the place,
O qui me gelidis
quickly bear me bence. A show of the Italian Gardens in Waxwork, in the time of King James the Firit. P.
There fober thought purfu'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 sinful town,
Care, if a liv'ry'd Lord or smile or frown?
Who cannot flatter, and deteft who can,
Tremble before a noble Serving-man?
O my fair mistress, Truth ! shall I quit thee 200
For huffing, braggart, puft Nobility?
Thou, who since yesterday haft rollid o'er all
The busy, idle blockheads of the ball,
Haft thou, oh Sun beheld an emptier sort,
Than such as swell this bladder of a court ?
205 Now pox on those who fhew 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 expresfion.
VER. 194. Base Fear] These four admirable lines become the high office he had affumed, and so nobly furtained.
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 muess Baloun, or tennis, diet, or the ftews Had all the morning held, now the second Time made ready, that day, in flocks are found In the Presence, and I (God pardon me) As fresh and fweet their Apparels be, as be Their fields they fold to buy them. For a king Thofe hose are, cry the flatterers: and bring Them next week to the theatre to fell. 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, è That is, of wood.
VER. 206. Court in wax!] A famous show of the Court of France, in Wax-work. P.
Ver. 213. At Fig's, at White's,] White's was a noted
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