No More Learning

Hyde stamps, and straight upon the ground the

swarms
Of current myrmidons appear in arms :



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228 THE POEMS

And for their pay ho writes as from the king,
With that cursed quill plucked from a vulture's

wing,
Of the whole nation now to ask a loan ;
The eighteen hundred thousand pounds are gone.
This done, he pens a proclamation stout
In rescue of the bankers banquerout,
Ui. s minion imps, which in his secret part
Lie nuzzling at the sacramental wart,
Horse-leeches sucking at the hemorrhoid vein ;
lie sucks the king, they him, he them again.
Ti\e kingdom's farm he lets to them bid least,
(Greater the bribe) and cheats at interest.
Here men induced by safety, gain, and ease,
Tlieir money lodge, confiscate when he please ;
These can at need, at instant with a scrip,
(This hked him best) his cash beyond sea whip.
When Dutch invade, and parliament prepare ;
How can he engines so convenient spare ?
Let no man touch them, or demand his own.
Pain of displeasure of great Clarendon.

The state-afifairs thus marshalled, for the rest,
Monk in his shirt against the Duteli is pressed.
Often, dear Painter, have I sat and nuiscd
Why he should be on all adventures used ;
Do they for nothing ill, like ashen wood,
Oi* think him, like Herb-John, for nothing good ?
Whether his valour they so much admire,
Or that for cowardice they all retiie,



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OF MARVELL. 229

As heaven in storms, they call, in gusts of state,
On Monk and Parliament, — yet both do hate.
All causes sure concur, but most they think
Under Herculean labours he may sink.
Soon then the independent troops would close,
And Hyde's last project of his place dispose.

Ruyter, the while,* that had our ocean curbed,
Sailed now amongst our rivers undisturbed ;
Surveyed their crystal streams and banks so

green.
And beauties ere this never naked seen :
Through the vain sedge the bashful nymphs he

eyed.
Bosoms, and all which from themselves they hide.
The sun much brighter, and tlie sky more clear.
He finds, the air and all things sweeter heru ;
The sudden change, and such a tempting sight,
Swells his old veins with fresh blood, fresh

delight ;
Like amorous victors he begins to shave,
And his new face looks in the English wave ;
His sporting navy all about him swim,
And witness their complacence in their trim ;
Their streaming silks play through the weather

fair.
And with inveigling colours court the air,
While the red fiags breathe on their topmasts high
Terror and war, but want an enemy.
* The Dutch Admiral who burned our i^hips tii (l. iitham.



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230 THK rOKMS

Among the shrouds the seamen sit and sing,
And wanton boys on every rope do cling :
Old Neptune springs the tides, and waters lent,
(The Gods themselves do help the provident)
And where the deep keel on the shallow cleave? ,
With trident's lever and great shoulder heaves ;
^olus their sails inspires with eastern wind,
Puffs them along, and breathes upon them kind ;
With pearly shell the Tritons all the while
Sound the sea-march, and guide to Sheppy isle.

So have I seen in April's bud arise
A fleet of clouds sailing along the skies ;
The liquid region with their squadrons filled.
Their airy sterns the sun behind doth gild.
And gentle gales them steer, and heaven drives,
When all on sudden their calm bosom rives,
With thunder and lightning from each armed

cloud ;
Shepherds themselves in vain in bushes shroud ; —
So up the stream the Belgic navy glides,
And at Sheerness unloads its stormy sides.

Sprag there, though practised in the sr:i-
command.
With panting heart lay like a fish on land,
And quickly judged the fort was not tenal'lc
Which if a house, yet were not tenantabic ;
Ko man can sit there safe, the cannon pours
Through walls untight, and through the bullci
showers.



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OF MARVELL. 231

The neighbourhood ill, and an unwholsome seat,

He at the first salute resolves retreat;

And swore that he would never more dwell

there,
Until the city put it in repair ;
So he in front, his garrison in rear,
Marched straight to Chatham to increase their

fear.