* The Enii of
Clarendon
hud a grant from Khig Charles
the Second, for a piece of ground near St.
the Second, for a piece of ground near St.
Marvell - Poems
" with that his eyes did roll,
His body fell, out fled his frighted soul.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
278 THE POEMS
CLARENDON'S HOUSE-WABMING.
When Clarendon had discerned beforehand
(As the cause can easily foretell the effect)
At once three deluges threatening our land,*
'Twas the season, he thought, to turn architect
Us Mars, and Apollo, and Vulcan consume ;
While he the betrayer of England and
Flanders,
Like the kingfisher chooseth to build in the
broom,
And nestles in flames like the salamander.
But observing that mortals run oflen behind,
(So unreasonable are the rates they buy at)
His omnipotence therefore much rather designed.
How he might create a house with a fiat
He had read of Rhodope, a lady of Thrace,
Who was digged up so often ere she did marry ;
* The Dutch war, the plague, and the fire of London.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
OP MARYELL. 279
And wished that his daughter had had as much
grace,
To erect him a pyramid out of her quarry.
But then recollecting how the harper Aniphion
Made Thebes dance aloft while he fiddled and
sung.
He thought, as an instrument he was most free on,
To build with the Jew's-trump of his own tongue.
Yet a precedent fitter in Virgil he found,
Of African Poultney, and Tyrian Dide ;
That he begged for a palace so much of his
ground,*
As might carry the measure and name of a
Hyde.
Thus daily his gouty inventions him pained,
And all for to save the expenses of brickbat ;
That engine so fatal which Denham had brained.
And too much resembled this wife's chocolate.
But while these devices he all doth compare.
None solid enough seemed for his strong castor ;
He himself would not dwell in a castle of air.
Though he had built full many a one for his
master.
* The Enii of Clarendon hud a grant from Khig Charles
the Second, for a piece of ground near St. James's, to build
% house on.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
280 THE POEMS
Already he had got all our money and cattle,
To buy us for slaves and purcliase our lands
What Joseph by famine, lie wrought by sea battle ;
Nay, scarce the priest's portion could 'scape
from his hands.
And hence like Pharaoh that Israel pressed
To make mortar and brick, yet allowed *em no
straw,
He cared not though Eg}'pt's ten plagues us
distressed,
So he could to build but make policy law.
The Scotch forts and Dunkirk, but that they
were sold,
He would have demolished to raise up his
walls ;
Nay e'en fi-om Tangier have sent back for the
mould,
But that he had nearer the stones of St.
Paul's. *
His woods would come in at the easier rate.
So long as the yards had a deal or a spar :
His friend in the navy would not be ingrate,
To grudge him some timber, who fi-amcd him
the war.
* There was then a design of repairing St. PauPs, which
was afterwards laid aside, and the stones intended for that,
were bought by the Lord Cl;irendon to build his house with.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
OF MARVELL. 281
To proceed in the model, he called in his Aliens,
The two Aliens when jovial, who ply him with
gallons ;
The two Aliens who served his blind justice for
balance,
The two Aliens who served his injustice for
talons.
Thej approve it thus far, and said it was fine ;
Yet his lordship to finish it would be unable,
Unless all abroad he divulged the design,
For his house then would grow like a vegetable.
His rent would no more in arrear run to Wor'ster ;
He should dwell more noble and cheap too at
home.
While into a fabric the presents would muster ;
As by hook and by crook the world clustered
of atom.
He liked the advice and then soon it essayed,
And presents crowd headlong to give good
example.
His body fell, out fled his frighted soul.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
278 THE POEMS
CLARENDON'S HOUSE-WABMING.
When Clarendon had discerned beforehand
(As the cause can easily foretell the effect)
At once three deluges threatening our land,*
'Twas the season, he thought, to turn architect
Us Mars, and Apollo, and Vulcan consume ;
While he the betrayer of England and
Flanders,
Like the kingfisher chooseth to build in the
broom,
And nestles in flames like the salamander.
But observing that mortals run oflen behind,
(So unreasonable are the rates they buy at)
His omnipotence therefore much rather designed.
How he might create a house with a fiat
He had read of Rhodope, a lady of Thrace,
Who was digged up so often ere she did marry ;
* The Dutch war, the plague, and the fire of London.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
OP MARYELL. 279
And wished that his daughter had had as much
grace,
To erect him a pyramid out of her quarry.
But then recollecting how the harper Aniphion
Made Thebes dance aloft while he fiddled and
sung.
He thought, as an instrument he was most free on,
To build with the Jew's-trump of his own tongue.
Yet a precedent fitter in Virgil he found,
Of African Poultney, and Tyrian Dide ;
That he begged for a palace so much of his
ground,*
As might carry the measure and name of a
Hyde.
Thus daily his gouty inventions him pained,
And all for to save the expenses of brickbat ;
That engine so fatal which Denham had brained.
And too much resembled this wife's chocolate.
But while these devices he all doth compare.
None solid enough seemed for his strong castor ;
He himself would not dwell in a castle of air.
Though he had built full many a one for his
master.
* The Enii of Clarendon hud a grant from Khig Charles
the Second, for a piece of ground near St. James's, to build
% house on.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
280 THE POEMS
Already he had got all our money and cattle,
To buy us for slaves and purcliase our lands
What Joseph by famine, lie wrought by sea battle ;
Nay, scarce the priest's portion could 'scape
from his hands.
And hence like Pharaoh that Israel pressed
To make mortar and brick, yet allowed *em no
straw,
He cared not though Eg}'pt's ten plagues us
distressed,
So he could to build but make policy law.
The Scotch forts and Dunkirk, but that they
were sold,
He would have demolished to raise up his
walls ;
Nay e'en fi-om Tangier have sent back for the
mould,
But that he had nearer the stones of St.
Paul's. *
His woods would come in at the easier rate.
So long as the yards had a deal or a spar :
His friend in the navy would not be ingrate,
To grudge him some timber, who fi-amcd him
the war.
* There was then a design of repairing St. PauPs, which
was afterwards laid aside, and the stones intended for that,
were bought by the Lord Cl;irendon to build his house with.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
OF MARVELL. 281
To proceed in the model, he called in his Aliens,
The two Aliens when jovial, who ply him with
gallons ;
The two Aliens who served his blind justice for
balance,
The two Aliens who served his injustice for
talons.
Thej approve it thus far, and said it was fine ;
Yet his lordship to finish it would be unable,
Unless all abroad he divulged the design,
For his house then would grow like a vegetable.
His rent would no more in arrear run to Wor'ster ;
He should dwell more noble and cheap too at
home.
While into a fabric the presents would muster ;
As by hook and by crook the world clustered
of atom.
He liked the advice and then soon it essayed,
And presents crowd headlong to give good
example.
