No More Learning

But I should have told you before the jades

parted,
Both galloped to Whitehall, and there humbly

farted;
Which tyranny's downfall portended much more.
Than all that the beasts had spoken before.
If the Delphic Sibyl's oracular speeches
(As learned men say) came out of their breeches.
Why might not our hoi*ses, since words are but

wind.
Have the spirit of prophecy likewise behind ?
Though tymnts make laws, which they strictly

proclaim.
To conceal their own faults and to cover their

shame, [the wall,

Yet the beasts in the field, and the stones in
Will publish their faults and prophesy their fall ;
When they take from the people the freedom of

words.
They teach them the sooner to fall to their swords.



Digitized by VjOOQIC



OP MAUVELL. 269

Let the city drink coffee and quietly groan, —
They who conquered the father won't be slaves

to the son.
For wine and strong drink make tumults increase,
Chocolate, tea, and coffee, are liquors of peace ;
No quarrels, or oaths are among those who drink

'em,
'Tis Bacchus and the brewer swear, damn *em /

and sink *em !
Then Charles thy edict against coffee recall,
There 's ten times more treason in brandy and ale.



Digitized by VjOOQIC



270 THE POEMS



HODGE'S VISION FROM THE MONUMENT,

DECEMBER 1675.

A conntiy clown called Hodoe, went up to yiew
The pjrramid; pray mark what did ensue.



1



When Hodge had numbered up how many score
The airy pyramid contained, he swore
No mortal wight e'er climbed so high before.
To the best vantage placed, he views around
The imperial town, with lofty turrets crowned ;
That wealthy storehouse of the bounteous flood.
Whose peaceful tides o'erflow our land with

good;
Confused forms flit by his wandering eyes,
And his rapped soul *s o'erwhelmed with extasies.
Some god it seems has entered his plain breast,
And with 's abode the rustic mansion blessed ;
A mighty change he feels in every part.
Light shines in 's eyes, and wisdom rules his

heart.
So when her pious son fair Venus showed
His flaming Troy, with slaughtered Dardans

strewed,



Digitized by VjOOQIC



OP MARYELL. 271

She purged his optics, filled with mortal night.
And Troy's sad doom he read by heaven's light.
Such light divine broke on the clouded eyes
Of humble Hodge.

Regions remote, courts, councils, policies,
The circling wiles of tyrants* treacheries
He views, discerns, unciphers, penetrates,
From Charles's Dukes, to Europe's armed

states.
First he beholds proud Rome and France com-
bined,
By double vassalage to enslave mankind ;
That would the soul, this would the body sway,
Their bulls and edicts none must disobey.
For these with war sad Europe they inflame,
Rome says for God, and France declares for

fame.
See, soni^ of Satan, how religion's force
Is gentleness, fame bought with blood a curse.
He whom all styled ^ Delight of human kind,"
Justice and mercy, truth with honour joined ;
His kindly rays cherished the teeming earth.
And struggling virtue blessed with prosperous

birth.
Like Chaos you the tottering globe invade,
Religion cheat, and war ye make a trade.
Next the lewd palace of the plotting King,
To 's eyes new scenes of frantic folly bring.