No More Learning

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. In the year 1671, she and her brother mot
Ht Dover. When she returned into France, the Duke of
Orleans, who had received very strange accounts of her
behaviour in England, ordered a great dose of sublimate to
be given her in a glass of succory water, of whicli* she died
in great torment.



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OF MARY ELL. 303

Riches and honour they from laymen reap
And with dull crambo teed the silly sheep.
As Killigrew buffoons his master, they
Droll on their god, but a much duller way.
With hocus-pocus, and their heavenly fight,
They gain on tender consciences at night.
Whoever has an over-zealous wife.
Becomes the priest's Amphitryo during life.
Who would such men heaven's messengers

believe,
Who from the sacred pulpit dare deceive ?
Baal's wretched curates legerdemained it so.
And never durst their tricks above-board show.

When our first parents Paradise did grace,
The serpent was the prelate of the place ;
Fond Eve did, for this subtle tempter's sake.
From the forbidden tree the pippin take ;
His God and Lord this preacher did betray,
To have the weaker vessel made his prey.