Though tymnts make laws, which they
strictly
proclaim.
Marvell - Poems
of Stuarts enough ;
None ever reigned like old Bess in the ruff.
Her Walsingham could dark counsels unriddle.
And our Sir Joseph write news, books, and fiddle.
WOOL-CHURCH.
Truth, brother, well said ; but that 's somewhat
bitter ;
His perfumed predecessor was never more
fitter :
Yet we have one secretary honest and wise ;
For that very reason, he 's never to rise.
But can'st thou devise when things will be
mended ?
Digitized by VjOOQIC
268 THE POEMS
CHARING.
When the reign of the line of the Stuarts is ended.
CONCLUSIOX.
If speeches from animals in Rome's first age,
Prodigious events did surely presage,
That should come to pass, all mankind may
swear
That which two inanimate horses declare.
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.
None ever reigned like old Bess in the ruff.
Her Walsingham could dark counsels unriddle.
And our Sir Joseph write news, books, and fiddle.
WOOL-CHURCH.
Truth, brother, well said ; but that 's somewhat
bitter ;
His perfumed predecessor was never more
fitter :
Yet we have one secretary honest and wise ;
For that very reason, he 's never to rise.
But can'st thou devise when things will be
mended ?
Digitized by VjOOQIC
268 THE POEMS
CHARING.
When the reign of the line of the Stuarts is ended.
CONCLUSIOX.
If speeches from animals in Rome's first age,
Prodigious events did surely presage,
That should come to pass, all mankind may
swear
That which two inanimate horses declare.
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.
