No More Learning

Shall pray to Jove to take him back again.



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296 THE POEMS



ROYAL RESOLUTIONS.



When plate was at pawn, and fob at an ebb.

And spider might weave in bowels its weby

And stomach as empty as brain ;

Then Charles without acre.

Did swear by his Maker,

If e'er I see England again,

I '11 have a religion all of my own,

Whether Popish or Protestant shall not be

known ;
And if it prove troublesome, I will have none.

II.
I '11 have a long parliament always to friend.
And furnish my treasure as fast as I spend,
And if they will not, they shall have an end.

m.
I '11 have a council shall sit always still.
And give me a license to do what I will ;
And two secrer-aries shall piss through a quill.



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OF MARVELL. 297



IV.

Mj insolent brother shall bear all the sway ;
If parliaments murmur, I '11 send him away.
And call him again as soon as I may.
I *11 have a rare son, in marrying though marred,
Shall govern (if not my kingdom) my guard,
And shall be successor to me or Gerard.

VI.

I '11 have a new London instead of the old.
With wide streets and uniform to my old mould ;
But if they build too fast, I '11 bid 'em hold.

VII.

The ancient nobility I will lay by,

And new ones create their rooms to supply,

And they shall raise fortunes for my own fry.

VIII.

Some one I '11 advance from a common descent.
So high that he shall hector the parliament^
And all wholesome laws for the public prevent,

IX.

And I will assert him to such a degree

That all his foul treasons, though daring and high.

Under my hand and seal shall have indemnity.



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298 THE POEMS



X.

And, whftte'er it cost me, I'll have a French

wliore,
As bold as Alice Pierce, and as fair as Jane

Shore;
And when I am weary of her, I *11 have more.

XI.

Which if anj bold commoner dare to oppose,
I '11 order my bravos to cut off his nose,*
Tliough for 't I a branch of prerogative lose.

XII.