No More Learning

Though oft bound to the peace.

Yet he never would cease
To vex his poor neighbours with quarrels ;

And when he was beat,

He still made his retreat
To his Clevelands, his Nells, and his Carwells.

Naj, his company lewd

Were twice grown so rude.
That had not fear taught him sobriety,

And the house being wcU barred.

With guard upon guard,
They 'd robbed us of all our propriety.

X.

Such a plot was laid,
Had not Ashley betrayed.
As had cancelled all former disasters ;

And your wives had been strumpets
To his highness's trumpets,



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OF MARVELL. 289

And footboys bad all been your masters.

XI.

So many are tbe debts,

And tbe bastards be gets,
Wbicb must all be defrayed by London ;

Tbat notwitbstanding the care

Of Sir Thomas Player,
The chamber must needs be undone.

XII.

His words or his oath

Cannot bind him to troth,
And he values not credit or history ;

And though he has served through

Two 'prenticeships now,
He knows not his trade nor his mystery.

xin.

Then,.
London,, rejoice* In thy fortunate choice.
To have him made free of thy spices;

And do not mistrust,

He may once grow more just.
When he 's worn off his follies and vices.

XIV.
And what little thing
Is that which you bring
To the Duke, the kingdom's darling ?
19



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290 THE POEMS

Ye hug it, and draw
Like ants at a straw,
Though too small for the gristle of sterling.

XV.

It is a hox of pills

To cure the Duke's ills ?
He is too far gone to begin it !

Or does your fine show

In processioning go,
With the pyx and the host within it ?

XVI.

The very first head

Of the oath you him read,

Show you all how fit he 's to govern.

When in heart, you all knew,
He ne'er was, nor '11 be, true

To his country or to his sovereign.

XVII.

And wJio, pray, could swear,

That he would forbear
To cull out the good of an alien,

Who still doth advance

The government of France
With a wife and religion Italian ?

XVIII.