No More Learning

* Queen Catherine wus suspected to be in a plot against
the king's life.



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OF MARVELL. 275

There, in a bribed committee, they contrive
To give our birthrights to prerogative :
Give, did I say ? They sell, and sell so dear
That half each tax Danby distributes there.
Danby, 'tis fit the price so great shall be,
They sell religion, sell their liberty.
These vipers have their mother's entrails torn,
And would by force a second time be born.
They haunt the place to which you once were sent,
This ghost of a departed parliament.
Gibbets and haltei*s, countrymen, prepare,
Let none, let none their renegadoes spare.
When that day comes, we '11 part the sheep and

goats.
The spruce bribed monsieurs from the true gray

coats.
New parliaments, like manna, all tastes please,
But kept too long, our food turns our disease.
From that loathed sight, Hodge turned his weep-
ing eyes.
And London thus alarms with loyal cries :
** Though common danger does approach so nigh.
This stupid town sleeps in security.
Out of your golden dreams awake, awake,
Your all, though you see not, your all 's at

stake !
More dreadful fires approach your falling town ^

Than those which burned your stately struc- I

tures down, j

Such fatal fires as once in Smithfield shone. ''



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276 THE POEMS

If then je fftaj till Edwards orders give,*
No mortal arm your safety can retrieve.
See how with golden baits the crafly Gaul
Has bribed our geese to yield the capitoL
And will ye tamely see yourselves betrayed ?
Will none stand up in our dear country's aid ?

<' Self-preservation, nature's first great law,
All the creation, except man, does awe :
'Twas in him fixed, till lying priests defaced
His heaven-bom mind, and nature's tablets

rased.
Tell me, ye forging crew, what law revealed
By God, to kings iha jus dluinum sealed?
If to do good, yeju9 divtmcm call.
It is the grand pi^erogative of all :
If to do ill, unpunished^ be their right,
Such power's not granted that great king of

night.
Man's life moves on the poles of hope and fear,
Keward and pain all ordei*s do revere.
But if your dear lord sovereign you would spare,
Admonish him in his blood-thii*sty heir.
So when the royal lion does offend,
The beaten cur*s example makes him mend. *'
This said, poor Hodge, then in a broken tone.
Cried out, "Oh Charles! thy life, thy life, thy
crown !

♦ Edwards, then lorJ-mayor.



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OF MARVELL.