No More Learning

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OP MARVELL. 209

Where like the new comptroller all men laugh^
To see a tall louse brandish a white staff,
Else shall thou ofl thy guiltless pencil curse,
Stamp on thy pallet, not perhaps the worse.
The painter having so long vexed his cloth,
Of his hound's mouth to feign the raging froth,
His desperate pencil at the work did dart ;
His anger reached that rage which passed-

his art ;
Chance finished that, which art could not begin,.
And he sat smiting as his dog did grin.
So mayest thou perfect by a lucky blow,
What all thy soflest touches cannot do.

Paint then St. Alban's full of soup and gold,.
The new court's pattern, stallion of the old,
Him neither wit nor courage did exalt,
But Fortune chose him for her pleasure's salt.
Paint him with drayman's shoulders, butcher's

mien,
Membered like mule, with elephantine chin.
Well he the title of St. Alban's bore.
For never Bacon studied nature more ;
But age, allaying now that youthful heat,
Fits him in France to play at cards, and cheat;

Draw no commission, lest the court should lie.
And, disavowing treaty, ask supply.
He needs no seal but to St. James's lease.
Whose breeches were the instruments of peace ;
14



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^0 THE POEMS

Who, if the French dispute his power, from

thence
Can straight produce them a plenipotence.
Nor fears he the Most Christian should trepan
Two saints at once, St German and Alban ;
But thought the golden age was now restored.
When men and women took each other's word.

Paint then again her highness to the life,
Philosopher beyond Newcastle's wife.
She naked can Archimedes' self put down.
For an experiment upon the crown.
She perfected that engine oft essayed,
How after child-birth to renew a maid ;
And found how royal heirs might be matured
In fewer months than mothers once endured.
Hence Crowder made the rare inventress free
Of *s Highness's Royal Society.
Happiest of women if she were but able
To make her glassen Duke once malleable !
Paint her with oyster-lip, and breath of fame,
Wide mouth, that sparagus may well proclaim ;
With chancellor's belly, and so large a rump.
Where (not behind the coach) h(-r pages jump.
Express her studying now, if Clnna clay
Can, without breaking, venomed juice convey :
Or how a mortal poison she may draw
Out of the cordial meal of the cocoa.
Witness ye stars oi' night, and thou the pale
Moon, thato'ercome with the su k steam, didst fail:



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OF MARVELL. 211

Ye neighbVing elms, which your green leaves

did slied,
And fawns which from the womb abortive fled.
Not unprovoked she tries forbidden arts,
But in her soft- breast love's hid cancer smarts,
While she resolves at once Sydney's disgrace.
And herself scorned for emulous Denham's

face ; *
And nightly hears the hated guard, away
Galloping with the Duke to other prey.