No More Learning

Ah Painter ! now could Alexander live.
And this Campaspe the Apelles give ! *

Draw next a pair of tables opening, then
The House of Commons clattering like the men.
Describe the court and country both set right
On opposite points, the black against the white.
Those having lost the nation at tick-tack,
These now adventuring how to win it back.
The dice betwixt them must the fate divide,
As chance does still in multitudes decide.
But here the court doth its advantage know.
For the cheat, Turner, for them both mui^t
throw ;

♦ Campfispe was Alexander's mistress, whom ApelN^s, by
Alexander's command, painted naked, and fell violently in
love with her. Alexander perceived it, and, for fear of any
fatal consequence to ApoUes, gave her to him.



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OF MARVELL. 213

As some from boxes, he so from the chair

Can strike the dice, and still with them have share.

Here, Painter, rest a little and survey
Witii what small ai*ts the public game they play :
For so too, Rubens, with afikirs of state.
His labouring pencil ofl would recreate.

The close Cabal marked how the navy eats,
And thought all lost that goes not to the cheats :
So therefore secretly for peace decrees.
Yet for a wai- the parliament would squeeze ;
And fix to the revenue such a sum
Should Goodrick silence, and make Paston dumb,
Should pay land armies, should dissolve the vain
Commons, and ever such a court maintain,
Hyde's avarice, Bennet's luxury, should suffice,
And what can these defray but the excise,
Excise, a monster worse than e'er before
Frighted tiie midwife, and the mother tore ?
A thousand hands she has, a thousand eyes,
Breaks into shops, and into cellars pries ;
With iiundred rows of teeth the shark exceeds,
And on ail trades, like Casawar, she feeds ;
Chops off the piece where'er she close the jaw,
Else swallows all down her indented maw.
She stalks all day in streets, concealed from sight,
And flies like bats with leathern wings by night ;
She wav^ii^s the country, and on cities preys.
Her, ot a female harpy in dog-days,



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214 THE POEMS

Black Birch, of all the earth-born race most hot,
And most rapacious, like himself begot ;
And of his brat enamoured, as she increased.
Buggered in inc<»st with the mongrel beast.

Say Muse, for nothing can escape thy sight.
And Painter, wanting other, draw this fight.
Who in an English senate fierce debate
Could raise so long, for this new whore of state.

Of early wittols first the troop marched in,
For diligence renowned, and discipline ;
In loyal haste they left your wives in bed.
And Denham these with one consent did head.

Of the old courtiers next a squadron came,
Who sold their master, led by Ashburnham.

To them succeeds a despicable rout,
But knew the word, and well could face about ;
Expectants pale, with hopes of spoil allured.
Though yet but pioneers, and led by Steward.

Then damning cowards ranged the vocal plain ;
Wood these commands, knight of the horn and

cane :
Still his hook-shoulder seems the blow to dread,
And under 's arm -pit he defends his head.
The posture strange men laugh at, of his poll
Hid with his elbow like the spice he stole :



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OF MARVKLL. 215

Headless St.