Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE SECOND ADVICE TO A PAINTER FOR DRAWING HISTORY .. NAVAL BUSYNESSE by ANDREW MARVELL

Poet Analysis

First Line: NAY PAINTER, IF THOU DAR'ST DESIGN THAT FIGHT
Last Line: KINGS ARE IN WAR BUT CARDS: THEY'RE GODS IN PEACE.
Subject(s): GREAT BRITAIN - DUTCH WAR (1664-1667); PAINTINGS AND PAINTERS; SEA BATTLES; WALLER, EDMUND (1606-1687); NAVAL WARFARE;

@3London, Aprill 1666@1
Nay @3Painter@1, if thou dar'st designe that Fight
Which @3Waller@1 only Courage had to write;
If thy bold hand can without shaking draw
What ev'n the Actors trembled when they saw;
Enough to make thy colours change, like theirs,
And all thy Pencills bristle like their haires;
First, in fit distance of the Prospect vain,
Paint @3Allen@1 tilting at the coast of @3Spain@1:
Heroick act, and never heard till now,
Stemming of @3Herc'les Pillars@1 with his Prow!
And how two Ships he left the Hills to waft
And with new Sea-marks @3Dov'r@1 and @3Calais@1 graft;
Next, let the flaming @3London@1 come in view
Like @3Nero's Rome@1, burnt to rebuild it new.
What lesser Sacrifice than this was meet
To offer for the safety of the Fleet?
Blow one Ship up, another thence does grow:
See what free Cityes and wise Courts can do!
So some old Merchant, to ensure his Name
Marries afresh, and Courtiers share the Dame.
So whatsoere is broke the Servants pay't;
And Glasses are more durable than Plate.
No May'r till now so rich a Pageant feign'd
Nor one Barge all the Companyes contain'd.
Then, @3Painter@1, draw cerulean @3Coventry@1,
Keeper, or rather Chanc'lour of the Sea:
And more exactly to expresse his hew,
Use nothing but ultramarinish blew.
To pay his Fees the silver Trumpet spends:
And Boatswains whistle for his Place depends:
Pilots in vain repeat the Compasse ore
Untill of him they learn that one point more.
The constant Magnet to the Pole does hold,
Steele to the Magnet, @3Coventry@1 to Gold.
@3Muscovy@1 sells up hemp and pitch and tarre;
Iron and copper @3Sweden, Munster@1 Warre,
Ashley, prize, Warwick, customs, Cart'ret, pay;
But Coventry sells the whole Fleet away.
Now let our navy stretch its canvas Wings
Swoln like his Purse, with tackling like its strings,
By slow degrees of the increasing gaile,
First under Sale, and after under Saile.
Then, in kind visit unto @3Opdams@1 Gout,
Hedge the @3Dutch@1 in only to let them out.
(So Huntsmen faire unto the Hares give Law,
First find them, and then civilly withdraw)
That the blind @3Archer@1, when they take the Seas,
The Hamburgh Convoy may betray at ease.
(So that the fish may more securely bite
The Fisher baits the River over night.)
But @3Painter@1 now prepare, t'inrich thy Piece,
Pencill of Ermins, Oyle of Ambergris.
See where the @3Dutchesse@1, with triumphant taile
Of num'rous Coaches @3Harwich@1 does assaile.
So the Land-Crabbs at Natures kindly call,
Down to engender at the Sea do crawle.
See then the Admirall, with navy whole
To Harwich through the Ocean caracole.
So Swallows bury'd in the Sea, at Spring
Returne to Land with Summer in their Wing.
One thrifty Ferry-boat of Mother-Pearl
Suffic'd of old the @3Cytherean Girle@1.
Yet Navys are but Properties when here,
A small Sea-masque, and built to court you, Dear;
Three Goddesses in one: @3Pallas@1 for Art,
@3Venus@1 for sport, and @3funo@1 in your Heart.
O @3Dutchesse@1, if thy nuptiall Pomp were mean,
Tis payd with intrest in this navall Scene!
Never did @3Roman Mark@1, within the @3Nile@1,
So feast the faire @3Egiptian Crocodile@1,
Nor the @3Venetian Duke@1, with such a State,
The @3Adriatick@1 marry at that rate.
Now, @3Painter@1, spare thy weaker art, forbear
To draw her parting Passions and each Tear;
For Love, alas, has but a short delight:
The Winds, the @3Dutch@1, the @3King@1, all call to fight.
She therefore the @3Dukes@1 person recommends
To @3Bronkard, Pen@1, and @3Coventry@1, as Friends:
(@3Pen@1 much, more @3Bronkard@1, most to @3Coventry@1)
For they, she knew, were all more 'fraid than shee.
Of flying Fishes one had sav'd the finne,
And hop'd with these he through the Aire might spinne,
The other thought he might avoid his Knell
In the invention of the diving Bell,
The third had try'd it and affirm'd a Cable
Coyl'd round about men was impenetrable.
But these the @3Duke@1 rejected, only chose
To keep far off, and others interpose.
@3Rupert@1, that knew not fear but health did want,
Kept State suspended in a @3Chais-volant@1.
All, save his head, shut in that wooden case,
He show'd but like a broken Weather-glasse:
But arm'd in a whole Lion Cap-a-chin,
Did represent the @3Hercules@1 within.
Dear shall the @3Dutch@1 his twinging anguish know
And feele what Valour, whet with Pain, can do.
Curst in the mean time be the Traitresse @3fael@1
That through his Princely Temples drove the Naile.
@3Rupert@1 resolv'd to fight it like a Lyon.
But @3Sandwich@1 hop'd to fight it like @3Arion@1:
He, to prolong his Life in the dispute,
And charm the @3Holland@1 Pirats, tun'd his Lute:
Till some judicious Dolphin might approach,
And land him safe and sound as any Roach.
Now @3Painter@1 reassume thy Pencill's care,
It hath but skirmisht yet, now Fight prepare,
And draw the Battell terribler to show
Than the @3Last fudgment@1 was of @3Angelo@1.
First, let our Navy scowr through Silver Froath,
The Ocean's burthen, and the Kingdomes both:
Whose ev'ry Bulk may represent its Birth
From @3Hide@1, and @3Paston@1, Burthens of the Earth:
@3Hide@1, whose transcendent Paunch so swells of late,
That he the Rupture seems of Law, and State;
@3Paston@1, whose Belly bears more Millions
Than @3Indian@1 Caricks, and contains more Tunns.
Let sholes of Porpisses on evry side
Wonder in swimming by our Oakes outvy'd:
And the Sea Fowle at gaze behold a thing
So vast, more strong, and swift than they of Wing:
But with presaging Gorge yet keep in sight,
And follow for the Relicks of a Fight.
Then let the @3Dutch@1 with well dissembled Fear
Or bold Despaire, more than we wish draw near.
At which our Gallants, to the Sea but tender,
And more to fight, their easy Stomachs render:
With Breast so panting that at evry stroke
You might have felt their Hearts beat through the Oake.
While one, concern'd most, in the intervall
Of straining Choler, thus did cast his Gall.
"@3Noah@1 be damn'd and all his Race accurst,
That in Sea brine did pickle Timber first.
What though he planted Vines! he Pines cut down.
He taught us how to drink, and how to drown.
He first built ships, and in the wooden Wall
Saving but Eight, ere since indangers all.
And thou @3Dutch@1 necromantic Friar, damn'd
And in thine own first Mortar-piece be ram'd,
Who first inventedst Cannon in thy Cell,
Nitre from Earth, and Brimstone fetcht from hell,
But damn'd and treble damn'd be @3Clarendine@1
Our Seventh @3Edward@1 and his House and Line,
Who, to divert the danger of the Warre
With @3Bristoll@1, hounds us on the @3Hollander@1;
Foole-coated Gown-man, sells, to fight with @3Hans@1,
@3Dunkirk@1; dismantling @3Scotland@1 quarrels @3France@1,
And hopes he now hath bus' nesse shap't and Pow'r
T'outlast his Life or ours, and scape the @3Tow'r@1:
And that he yet may see, ere he go down,
His dear @3Clarinda@1 circled in a Crown."
By this time both the Fleets in reach debute
And each the other mortally salute.
Draw pensive @3Neptune@1 biting of his Thumms,
To think himself a Slave whos'ere orecomes,
The frighted Nymphs retreating to the Rocks,
Beating their blew Breasts, tearing their green Locks;
Paint @3Echo@1 slain: only th' alternate Sound
From the repeating Canon does rebound.
@3Opdam@1 sailes in, plac'd in his navall Throne,
Assuming Courage greater than his own;
Makes to the @3Duke@1, and threatens him from farr
To naile himself to's Board like a Petarre:
But in the vain attempt takes Fire too soon,
And flyes up in his Ship to catch the Moon.
Monsieurs like Rockets mount aloft, and crack
In thousand Sparks, then dansingly fall back.
Yet ere this happen'd Destiny allow'd
Him his Revenge, to make his Death more proud.
A fatall Bullet from his Side did range,
And batter'd @3Lawson@1, O too dear Exchange!
He led our Fleet that Day, too short a Space,
But lost his Knee, (dy'd since) in Gloryes Race,
@3Lawson@1, whose Valour beyond Fate did go
And still fights @3Opdam@1 through the Lakes below.
The @3Duke@1 himself, though @3Pen@1 did not forget,
Yet was not out of dangers random set.
@3Falmouth@1 was there, I know not what to act
(Some say 'twas to grow Duke too by Contact.)
An untaught Bullet in its wanton Scope
Quashes him all to pieces, and his Hope.
Such as his Rise such was his Fall, unprais'd;
A Chance-shot sooner took than Chance him rais'd:
His Shatterd Head the fearlesse @3Duke@1 distains,
And gave the last first proof that he had Brains.
@3Barkley@1 had heard it soon, and thought not good
To venture more of Royall @3Harding's@1 Blood.
To be immortall he was not of Age
(And did ev'n now the @3Indian@1 Prize presage),
But judg'd it safe and decent, cost what cost,
To lose the Day, since his Dear Brother's lost.
With his whole Squadron streight away he bore
And, like good Boy, promist to fight no more.
The @3Dutch Urania@1 carelesse at us saild,
And promises to do what @3Opdam@1 faild.
@3Smith@1 to the @3Duke@1 does intercept her Way
And cleaves t' her closer than the @3Remora@1.
The Captaine wonder'd, and withall disdain'd
So strongly by a thing so small detain'd:
And in a raging Brav'ry to him runs.
They stab their Ships with one anothers Guns,
They fight so near it seems to be on Ground,
And ev'n the Bullets meeting Bullets wound.
The Noise, the Smoak, the Sweat, the Fire, the Blood
Is not to be exprest nor understood.
Each Captaine from the Quarter-deck commands,
They wave their bright Swords glitt'ring in their hands;
All Luxury of Warre, all Man can do
In a Sea-fight, did passe betwixt them two.
But one must conquer whosoever fight:
@3Smith@1 tooke the Giant, and is since made Knight.
@3Marleburgh@1, that knew and dar'd too more than all,
Falls undistinguisht by an Iron Ball.
Dear Lord, but born under a Starre ingrate!
No Soule so clear, and no more gloomy Fate.
Who would set up Warr's Trade that meant to thrive?
Death picks the Valiant out, the Cow'rds survive.
What the Brave merit th'Impudent do vaunt,
And none's rewarded but the Sycophant.
Hence, all his Life he against Fortune fenc'd;
Or not well known, or not well recompens'd.
But envy not this Praise to's Memory:
None more prepar'd was or lesse fit to dye.
@3Rupert@1 did others and himself excell:
@3Holmes, Teddyman, Minns@1; bravely @3Samson@1 fell.
What others did let none omitted blame:
I shall record whos'ere brings in his Name.
But unlesse after Storyes disagree,
Nine onely came to fight, the rest to see.
Now all conspires unto the Dutchmen's Losse:
The Wind, the Fire, we, they themselves do crosse.
When a Sweet Sleep the @3Duke@1 began to drown,
And with soft Diadem his Temples crown.
But first he orders all beside to watch;
And they the Foe while he a Nap should catch.
But @3Bronkard@1, by a secreter instinct,
Slept not, nor needs it; he all Day had wink't.
The @3Duke@1 in Bed, he then first draws his Steele,
Whose Virtue makes the misled Compasse wheele:
So ere he wak'd, both Fleets were innocent,
And @3Bronkard@1 Member is of Parliament.
And now, dear @3Painter@1, after pains like those
'Twere time that thou and I too should repose.
But all our Navy scap'd so sound of Limm
That a small space serv'd to refresh its trimm.
And a tame Fleet of theirs does Convoy want,
Laden with both the @3Indyes@1 and @3Levant@1.
Paint but this one Scene more, the world's our own:
The @3Halcyon Sandwich@1 does command alone.
To @3Bergen@1 now with better Maw we haste,
And the sweet spoyles in Hope already taste,
Though @3Clifford@1 in the Character appears
Of @3Supracargo@1 to our Fleet and theirs,
Wearing a signet ready to clap on,
And seize all for his Master @3Arlington@1.
@3Ruyter@1, whose little Squadron skim'd the Seas
And wasted our remotest Colonyes,
With Ships all foule return'd upon our Way;
@3Sandwich@1 would not disperse, nor yet delay,
And therefore, like Commander grave and wise,
To scape his Sight and Fight, shut both his Eyes,
And, for more State and surenesse, @3Cuttins@1 true
The left Eye closes, the right @3Montague@1,
And even @3Clifford@1 profer'd, in his Zeale
To make all safe, t'apply to both his Seale.
@3Ulisses@1 so, till he the @3Syrens@1 past,
Would by his Mates be pinion'd to the Mast.
Now may our Navy view the wished Port
But there too (see the Fortune!) was a Fort.
@3Sandwich@1 would not be beaten, nor yet beat:
Fooles only fight, the Prudent use to treat.
His Cousin @3Montague@1, by Court disaster
Dwindled into the wooden Horse's Master,
To speak of Peace seem'd among all most proper,
Had @3Talbot@1 then treated of nought but Copper,
For what are Forts when void of Ammunition?
With Friend or Foe what would we more condition?
Yet we three dayes, till the @3Dutch@1 furnisht all --
Men, Powder, Cannon, Money -- treat with @3Wall@1.
Then @3Teddy@1, finding that the @3Dane@1 would not,
Sends in Six Captains bravely to be shot.
And @3Montague@1, though drest like any Bride,
Though aboard him too, yet was reacht and dy'd.
Sad was this Chance, and yet a deeper Care
Wrinkles our Membranes under Forehead faire.
The @3Dutch Armada@1 yet had th' Impudence
To put to Sea, to waft their Merchants hence.
For, as if all their Ships of Wall-nut were,
The more we beat them, still the more they bear.
But a good Pilot and a fav'ring Winde
Bring @3Sandwich@1 back, and once again did blind.
Now gentle @3Painter@1, ere we leap on Shore,
With thy last strokes ruffle a Tempest o'er:
As if in our Reproach, the Winds and Seas
Would undertake the @3Dutch@1 while we take Ease,
The Seas their Spoiles within our Hatches throw,
The Winds both Fleets into our Mouthes do blow,
Strew all their Ships along the Coast by ours,
As easy to be gather'd up as Flow'rs.
But @3Sandwich@1 fears for Merchants to mistake
A Man of Warre, and among Flow'rs a Snake.
Two @3Indian@1 Ships pregnant with Eastern Pearle
And Di'monds sate the Officers and @3Earle@1;
Then warning of our Fleet, he it divides
Into the Ports, and he to @3Oxford@1 rides,
While the @3Dutch@1 reuniting, to our Shames,
Ride all insulting o'er the @3Downs@1 and @3Thames@1.
Now treating @3Sandwich@1 seems the fittest choice
For @3Spain@1, there to condole and to rejoyce.
He meets the @3French@1, but, to avoyd all harms,
Slips to the @3Groyne@1 (Embassyes bear not Arms!)
There let him languish a long @3Quarantain@1,
And ne'er to @3England@1 come till he be clean.
Thus having fought we know not why, as yet,
We've done we know not what, nor what we get.
If to espouse the Ocean all this paines,
Princes unite and will forbid the Baines;
If to discharge Fanaticks, this makes more,
For all Fanatick turn when sick or poore;
Or if the @3House of Commons@1 to repay,
Their Prize Commissions are transfer'd away;
But for triumphant Checkstones, if, and Shell
For @3Dutchesse'@1 Closet, 't has succeeded well.
If to make Parliaments all odious passe,
If to reserve a Standing Force, alas,
Or if, as just, @3Orange@1 to reinstate,
Instead of that, he is regenerate;
And with four Millions vainly giv'n, as spent,
And with five Millions more of detriment,
Our Summe amounts yet only to have won
A Bastard @3Orange@1 for Pimp @3Arlington@1.
Now may Historians argue Con and Pro:
@3Denham@1 saith thus, though @3Waller@1 always so,
But he, good Man, in his long Sheet and Staffe
This Penance did for @3Cromwell's@1 Epitaph.
And his next Theme must be of @3th' Duke's Maistress@1:
Advice to draw @3Madam Edificatresse@1.
Henceforth, O Gemini! two @3Dukes@1 command:
@3Castor@1 and @3Pollux, Aumarle, Cumberland@1.
Since in one Ship, it had been fit they went
In @3Petty's@1 double-keel'd @3Experiment@1.

@3To the King@1
Imperiall @3Prince@1, King of the Seas and Isles,
Dear Object of our Joys and Heaven's Smiles,
What boots it that thy Light does guild our Dayes
And we lye basking by thy milder Rayes,
While Swarms of Insects, from thy warmth begun,
Our Land devour, and intercept our Sunn?
Thou, like @3Jove's Minos@1, rul'st a greater @3Crete@1
(And for its hundred Cityes count thy Fleet.)
Why wilt thou that @3State-Dedalus@1 allow,
Who builds thee but a Lab'rinth and a Cow?
If thou art @3Minos@1, be a Judge Severe,
And in's own Maze confine the Engineer,
Or if our Sunn, since he so near presumes,
Melt the soft wax with which he imps his Plumes,
And let him falling leave his hated Name
Unto those Seas his Warre hath set on Flame.
From that Enchanter having clear'd thine Eyes,
Thy Native Sight will pierce within the Skyes,
And view those Kingdomes calm of Joy and Light
Where's universall Triumph but no Fight,
Since both from Heav'n thy Race and Pow'r descend,
Rule by its pattern, there to reascend.
Let Justice only draw: and Battell cease.
Kings are in War but Cards: they're Gods in Peace.



Home: PoetryExplorer.net