No More Learning

From the French court she haughty topics

brings.
Deludes their pliant nature with vain things ;
Her mischief-breeding breast did so prevail.
The new-got Flemish town was set to sale ;
For these, and Germain's sins, she founds a

church.
So slips away, and leaves us in the lurch.
Now the court-sins did every place defile,
And plagues and war fall heavy on the isle ;
Pride nourished folly, folly a delight.
With the Batavian commonwealth to fight.
But the Dutch fleet fled suddenly with fear.
Death and the duke so dreadful did appear.



* The Duke of Gloucester, third brother to the king. He
was much more loved than the Duke of York.



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OF MAUVKLL. 301

The dreadful victor took his soft repose,
Scorning pursuit of such mechanic foes'.

But now York's genitals grew over hot,
With Denham's and Carnegie's infected plot.
Which, with religion so inflamed his ire.
He left the city when 'twas set on fire.
So Philip's son, inflamed with a miss,
Burned down the palace of Persepolis.
Toiled thus by Venus, he Bellona woos,
And with the Dutch a second wai* renews ;
But here his French-bred prowess proved in vain,
De Ruyter claps him in Solebay again.

This isle was well reformed, and gained renown,
Whilst the brave Tudors wore the imperial

crown :
But since the royal race of Stuarts came,
It was recoiled to popery and shame ;
Misguided monarchs, rarely wise and just.
Tainted with pride, and with impetuous lust.

Should we the Blackheath project here <v
relate, I

Or count the various blemishes of state, [

My muse would on the reader's patience grate. ^
The poor Priapus king, led by the nose,
Looks as a thing set up to scare the crows ;
Yet, in the mimics of the spinstrian sporty
Outdoes Tiberius, and his goatish court



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302 Tnc roEMS

In* love's delights none did them e'er excel,
Not Tereus with his sister Philomel ;
As they at Athens, we ut Dover meet.
And gentlier far Uie Orleans duche^ treaL
What sad event attended on the same.
We '11 leave to the report of comoum fame.
The senate, which should headstrong princes

sUy,
Let loose tlie reins, and gave the realm away ;
With lavish bands they constant tributes give.
And annual stipends for their guilt receive ;
Ck>rrupt with gold, they wives and daughters

bring
To the black idol for an offering.
All but religious cheats might justly swear,
He true vicegerent to old Moloch were.

Priests were the first deluders of mankind.
Who with vain faith made all their reason blind ;
Not Lucifer himself more proud than they.
And yet persuade the world they must obey ;
Of avarice and luxury complain.
And practise all the vices they arraign.



♦ The king's sister, the Duchess of Orleans, was a woman
of great intrigue.