No More Learning

Hyde's flippant style there pleasantly curvets,
Still his sharp wit on states and princes whets :
So Spain could not escape his laughter's spleen,
None but himself must choose the king and queen.
But when he came the odious clause to pen,
That summons up the parliament agen,
His writing-master many times he banned,
And wished himself the gout to seize his hand.
Never old lecher more repugnant felt,
Consenting for his rupture to be gelt.
But still in hope he solaced, ere they come
To work the peace, and so to send them home ;
Or in their hasty call to find a flaw.
Their acts to vitiate, and them overawe :
But more relied upon tin's Dutch pretence,
To raise a two-edged army for *s defence.

First then he marched our whole militia's force,
(As if, alas ! we ships, or Dutch had horse ;)
Then from the usual commonplace he blames
These, and in standing armies' praise declaims ;
And the wise court, that always loved it dear.
Now thinks all but too little for their fe^ir.
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?