@3Sandwich@1 in @3Spain@1 now, and the @3Duke@1 in Love, Let's with new @3Gen'ralls@1 a new @3Painter@1 prove. @3Lilly's@1 a @3Dutchman@1, danger in his Art: His Pencills may intelligence impart. Thou @3Gibson@1, that among thy Navy small Of marshall'd Shells commandest Admirall, Thy self so Slender that thou show'st no more Than Barnacle new hatcht of them before, Come, mix thy water colours, and expresse, Drawing in little, how we do yet lesse. First, paint me @3George@1 and @3Rupert@1, ratling far Within one box, like the two Dice of War: And let the terrour of their linked Name Fly through the aire like chainshot, tearing Fame. @3Jove@1 in one cloud did scarsely ever wrap Lightning so fierce, but never such a Clap. United @3Gen'ralls!@1 sure the only spell Wherewith @3United Provinces@1 to quell. Alas, ev'n they, though shell'd in treble Oake Will prove an addle Egge with double Yolke. And therefore next uncouple either Hound, And loo them at two Hares ere one be found. @3Rupert@1 to @3Beaufort@1 hollow: "Ay there, @3Rupert@1!" Like the phantastick hunting of @3St. Hubert@1, When he with airy Hounds, and Horn of aire, Pursues by @3Fountainbleau@1 the witchy Hare. Deep Providence of State, that could so soon Fight @3Beaufort@1 here ere he had quit @3Toulon@1! So have I seen, ere humane quarrells rise, Foreboding Meteors combate with the Skyes. But let the @3Prince@1 to fight with rumour goe: The @3Gen'rall@1 meets a more substantiall Foe. @3Ruyter@1 he spyes, and, full of youthful heat, Though half their Number, thinks his odds too great. The Fowler so watches the watry spot And, more the Fowle, hopes for the better shot. Though such a Limbe were from his Navy torn, He found no weaknesse yet, like @3Samson@1 shorn, But swoln with sense of former Glory won, Thought @3Monk@1 must be by @3Albemarle@1 outdon. Little he knew, with the Same Arm and Sword, How far the Gentleman outcuts the Lord. @3Ruyter@1, inferior unto none for Heart, Superior now in Number and in Art, Askt if he thought (as once our rebell Nation) To conquer theirs too by a Declaration. And threatens, though he now so proudly saile, He shall tread back his @3Iter Boreale@1. This said, he the short Period, ere it ends, With iron words from brazen mouths extends. @3Monk@1 yet prevents him ere the Navyes meet, And charges in, himself alone a Fleet. And with so quick and frequent motion wound His murd'ring sides about, the Ship seem'd round, And the Exchanges of his circling Tire Like Whirling hoopes show'd of triumphall Fire. Single he does at their whole Navy aime, And shoots them through, a Porcupine of Flame. He plays with danger, and his Bullets trowles, As 'twere at @3Trou Madam@1, through all their Howles. In noyse so regular his Cannon met, You'd think that Thunder were to Musick set. Ah, had the rest but kept a time as true, What Age could such a Martiall Consort shew? The listning aire, unto the distant shoare, Through secret Pipes conveys the tuned roare: Till, as the Echoes vanishing abate, Men feel a deaf sound, like the Pulse of Fate. If Fate expire, let @3Monk@1 her place supply: His Gunns determine who shall live or dye. But Victory does always hate a Rant: Valour her Brave, but Skill is her Galant. @3Ruyter@1 no lesse with virtuous envy burns, And Prodigyes for Miracles returns. Yet Shee observ'd how still his iron Balls Bricold in vain against our oaken Walls, And the hard Pellets fell away, as dead, Which our enchanted timber fillipped. "Leave then," said she, "th' invulnerable Keele: We'll find their foible, like @3Achilles@1' heele." He, quickly taught, pours in continuall clowds Of chaind Dilemmas through our sinewy Shrowds. Forrests of Masts fall with their rude embrace: Our stiffe Sailes masht are netted into Lace, Till our whole Navy lay their wanton Marke, Nor any Ship could saile but as the Arke. Shot in the wing, so, at the Powders call The disappointed Bird does flutt'ring fall. Yet @3Monk@1, disabled, still such Courage shows That none into his mortall gripe durst close. So an old Bustard, maim'd, yet loath to yeild, Duells the Fowler in @3Newmarket Field@1. But soon he found 'twas now in vain to fight And imps his Plumes the best he may for Flight. This, @3Painter@1, were a noble task, to tell What indignation his great Breast did swell. Not vertuous Men unworthily abus'd, Not constant Lovers without cause refus'd, Not honest Merchant broke, not skillfull Play'r Hist off the Stage, not Sinner in despayre, Not losing Rookes, not Favourites disgrac't, Not @3Rump@1 by @3Oliver@1 or @3Monk@1 displac't, Not Kings depos'd, not Prelates ere they dye, Feele half the rage of Gen'ralls when they fly. Ah, rather than transmit our scorn to Fame Draw Curtains, gentle @3Artist@1, o'er this Shame. Cashiere the Mem'ry of @3Dutell@1, raisd up To taste in stead of Death's, his @3Highnesse'@1 Cup. And, if the thing were true, yet paint it not: How @3Barclay@1, as he long deserv'd, was shot, Though others, that surveyd the Corpse so clear, Say he was only petrify'd with Fear, And the hard Statue, mummy'd without Gumme, Might the @3Dutch@1 Balm have spar'd and @3English@1 Tombe. Yet if thou wilt, paint @3Mings@1 turn'd all to Soule; And the great @3Harman@1 chark'd almost to coale: And @3fordan@1 old, thy Pencills worthy paine, Who all the way held up the @3Ducall@1 Traine. But in a dark cloud cover @3Askue@1, when He quit the Prince t' imbarke in @3Loovesten@1, And wounded Ships, which we immortall Boast, Now first led captive to an hostile Coast. But most, with story of his Hand or Thum, Conceale, as honour would, his @3Grace's@1 Bum. When the rude Bullet a large Collop tore Out of that Buttock, never turn'd before. Fortune it seem'd would give him, by that lash, Gentle correction for his Fight so rash. But should the @3Rump@1 perceive't, they'd say that @3Mars@1 Had now reveng'd them upon @3Aumarle's@1 Arse. The long disaster better o're to veile, Paint only @3Fonas@1 three days in the Whale, Then draw the youthfull @3Perseus@1, all in haste, From a Sea-Beast to free the Virgin chaste: But neither riding @3Pegasus@1 for speed, Nor with the @3Gorgon@1 sheilded at his need. For no lesse time did conqu'ring @3Ruyter@1 chaw Our flying Gen'rall in his spungy Jaw. So @3Rupert@1 the Sea-dragon did invade, But to save @3George@1 himself, and not the Maid, And so, arriving late, he quickly mist Ev'n Sailes to fly, unable to resist. Not @3Greenland@1 Seamen, that survive the fright Of the cold Chaos, and half-eternall Night, So gladly the returning Sun adore, Or run to spy their next years Fleet from Shoare, Hoping, yet once, within the oyly side Of the fat Whale againe their Spears to hide, As our glad Fleet, with universall shout, Salute the @3Prince@1, and wish the second bout. Nor Winds, long Pris'ners in Earth's hollow Vault, The fallow Seas so eagerly assault, As firy @3Rupert@1, with revengefull Joy, Does on the @3Dutch@1 his hungry Courage cloy. But, soon unrigg'd, lay like an uselesse board, As wounded in the wrist men drop the Sword; When a propitious Clowd betwixt us stept And in our aid did @3Ruyter@1 intercept. Old @3Homer@1 yet did never introduce, To save his Heroes, Mist of better use. Worship the Sun, who dwell where he does rise: This Mist does more deserve our Sacrifice. Now joyfull Fires, and the exalted Bell, And Court-gazets our empty Triumph tell; Alas: the time draws near, when overturn'd The lying Bells shall through the tongue be burn'd; Paper shall want to print that Lye of State, And our false Fires true Fires shall expiate. Stay, @3Painter@1, here awhile, and I will stay: Nor vex the future Times with nice survey. Sees't not the @3Monkey Dutchesse@1, all undrest? Paint thou but her, and she will paint the rest. The sad Tale found her in her outer Roome Nailing up Hangings, not of @3Persian@1 loome, Like chaste @3Penelope@1, that ne'r did rome, But made all fine against her @3George@1 came home; Upon a Ladder, in her coat most shorter, She stood, with Groome and Porter for Supporter. And carelesse what they saw, or what they thought, With @3Hony pensy@1 honestly shee wrought. For in She-Gen'rall's Britch, none could (she knows) Carry away the piece with Eyes or Nose. One Tenter drove, to lose no time nor place, At once the Ladder they remove and @3Grace@1. While thus they her translate from North to East, In posture just of a foure-footed Beast, She heard the News: but alter'd yet no more Than that what was behind she turn'd before; Nor would come down; but with an hankecher, Which pocket foule did to her neck prefer, She dry'd no Tears, for she was too viraginous: But only snuffing her Trunk cartilaginous, From scaling Ladder she began a Story, Worthy to be had in me (mento) mory, Arraigning past, and present, and futury; With a prophetick (if not spirit) Fury. Her Haire began to creep, her Belly sound, Her Eyes to startle, and her Udder bound. Half Witch, half Prophet, thus @3she-Albermarle@1, Like @3Presbyterian Sibyll@1, out did Snarle. "Traytors both to my @3Lord@1 and to the @3King@1, Nay now it grows beyond all suffering: One valiant Man on land, and he must be Commanded out to stop their leaks at Sea! Yet send him @3Rupert@1, as an helper meet: First the command dividing, ere the Fleet. One may, if they be beat, or both be hit, Or if they overcome, yet Honour's split; But reck'ning @3George@1 already knockt o' th' head, They cut him out like Beef, ere he be dead. Each for a quarter hopes: the first does skip, But shall snap short though, at the @3Gen'ralship@1: Next they for @3Master of the Horse@1 agree: A third the @3Cockpit@1 begs; not any mee. But they shall know, ay, marry shall they do, That who the @3Cockpit@1 has shall have me too. "I told @3George@1 first, as @3Calamy@1 did me, If the @3King@1 these brought over, how 'twould be: Men, that there pickt his Pocket to his Face, To sell intelligence or buy a Place, That their Religion pawn'd for Clothes; nor care ('T has run so long) now to redeem't, nor dare. O what egregious Loyalty to cheat! O what Fidelity it was to eat! While @3Langdales, Hoptons, Glenhams@1 Starv'd abroad, And here true @3Royalists@1 sunk beneath the load. Men that did there affront, defame, betray The @3King@1, and do so here, now who but they? What, say I Men? nay rather Monsters: Men Only in Bed, nor (to my knowledge) then. "See how they home return, in revell rout, With the same Measures that they first went out. Nor better grown, nor wiser all this while, Renew the causes of their first Exile, As if (to show you Fooles what 'tis I mean) I chose a foule Smock, when I might have clean. "First, they for Fear disband the Army tame And leave good @3George@1 a @3Gen'ralls@1 empty Name, Then Bishops must revive, and all unfix With discontent to content twenty six. The @3Lords House@1 drains the Houses of the Lord, For Bishops voices silencing the @3Word@1. O @3Bartlemew@1, Saint of their Calender! What's worse? thy @3Ejection@1 or thy @3Massacre@1? Then @3Culp'per, Gloster@1, ere the @3Princesse@1, dy'd: Nothing can live that interrupts an @3Hide@1. O more than human @3Gloster!@1 Fate did shew Thee but to Earth, and back againe withdrew. Then the fat @3Scriv'ner@1 durst begin to think 'Twas time to mix the royall Blood with ink. @3Barclay@1, that swore, as oft as she had Toes Does, kneeling, now her chastity depose, Just as the first @3French Card'nall@1 could restore Maidenhead to his Widdow-Niece and Whore. For Portion, if she should prove light when weigh'd, Four Millions shall within three years be paid. To raise it, we must have a Navall War: As if 'twere nothing but Tara-tan-tar. Abroad all Princes disobliging first, At home, all Partyes but the very worst. "To tell of @3Ireland, Scotland, Dunkirk's@1 sad, Or the @3Kings@1 Marriage; but he thinks I'm mad. And sweeter creature never saw the Sun, If we the @3King@1 wisht Monk, or @3Queen@1 a Nun. But a @3Dutch@1 war shall all these rumours still, Bleed out these Humours, and our Purses spill. Yet, after one Dayes trembling Fight, they saw 'Twas too much danger for a Son-in-Law. Hire him to leave with six score thousand pound; As with the @3Kings@1 Drumms men for sleep compound. Then modest @3Sandwith@1 thought it might agree With the State-prudence, to do lesse than he, And, to excuse their timrousnesse and sloth, They've found how @3George@1 might now do lesse than both. "First, @3Smith@1 must for @3Legorn@1, with Force enough To venture back againe, but not go through. @3Beaufort@1 is there, and, to their dazeling Eyes, The distance more the object magnifyes. Yet this they gain, that @3Smith@1 his time shall lose Herewith assembles the supream @3Divan@1, "But fearing that our Navy, @3George@1 to break, Might yet not be sufficiently weake, The @3Secretary@1 that had never yet Intelligence but from his own gazett, Discovers a great secret, fit to sell, And pays himself for't ere he would it tell. @3Beaufort@1 is in the @3Chanell@1. Hixy, here: Doxy, @3Toulon: Beaufort@1 is ev'ry where! Herewith assembles the supream @3Divan@1, Where enters none but @3Devill, Ned@1, and @3Nan@1: And, upon this pretence, they streight design'd The Fleet to sep'rate, and the world to blind. @3Monk@1 to the @3Dutch@1, and @3Rupert@1 (here the Wench Could not but smile) is destin'd to the @3French@1. To write the order @3Bristoll's Clerke@1 they chose; (One slit in's Pen, another in his Nose) For he first brought the News, and 'tis his Place: He'll see the Fleet devided like his Face, And through that cranny in his gristly part, To the @3Dutch@1 chink intelligence may start. The Plot succeeds: the @3Dutch@1 in haste prepare, And poore pilgarlick @3George's@1 Arse they share. And now, presuming of his certaine wrack, To help him late they write for @3Rupert@1 back. Officious @3Will@1 seem'd fittest, as afraid Lest @3George@1 should looke too far into his Trade. On the first draught they pause with Statesmen's care, Then write it faire, then copy't out as faire, Then they compare them; when at last 'tis sign'd, @3Will@1 soon his purstrings but no seale could find. At night he sends it by the common Post To save the @3King@1 of an Expresse the cost. Lord what adoe to pack one letter hence! Some Patents passe with lesse circumference. "Well, @3George@1, in spight of them thou safe dost ride, Lessen'd, I hope, in nought but thy Back-side. For as to reputation, this retreat Of thine exceeds their Victoryes so great. Nor shalt thou stirre from thence, by my consent, Till thou hast made the @3Dutch@1 and them repent. 'Tis true I want so long the nuptiall gift, But, as I oft have don, I'l make a Shift. Nor with vain Pomp will I accost the Shore To try thy Valour at the @3Buoy-i'th'-nore@1. Fall to thy worke there, @3George@1, as I do here: Cherish the valiant up, the cow'rd cashiere. See that the Men have Pay and Beef and Beere; Find out the cheats of the foure-millioneer. Out of the very Beer they steale the Malt, Powder out of Powder, from powder'd Beef the Salt. Put thy hand to the Tub: instead of Ox, They victuall with @3French@1 Pork that has the Pox. Never such Cotqueans by small arts to wring: Ne'r such ill Huswives in the managing. Pursers at Sea know fewer cheats than they: Mar'ners on Shore lesse madly spend their Pay. See that thou hast new Sailes thy self, and spoyle All their Sea-market and their cable-coyle. Tell the @3King@1 all, how him they countermine; Trust not, till don, him with thy own designe. Looke that good Chaplains on each Ship do wait, Nor the Sea-Diocesse be impropriate. Looke to the Pris'ners, sick, and wounded; all Is Prize: they rob even the Hospitall. Recover back the Prizes too: in vain Wee fight if all be taken that is ta'en. "Now by our Coast the @3Dutchmen@1, like a flight Of feeding Ducks, morning and ev'ning light. How our @3Land Hectors@1 tremble, voyd of sense! As if they came streight to transport them hence. Some Sheep are stoln, the Kingdome's all array'd: And ev'n @3Presbit'ry's@1 now call'd out for aid. They wish ev'n @3George@1 divided to command; One half of him the Sea, and one the Land. "What's that I see? ha! 'tis my @3George@1 agen: It seems they in sev'n weeks have rigg'd him then. The curious Heav'n with Lightning him surrounds To view him, and his name in Thunder sounds, But with the same shaft gores their Navy near, As ere we hunt, the Keeper shoots the Deere. Stay Heav'n a while, and thou shalt see him saile, And how @3George@1 too can lighten, thunder, haile. Happy the time that I thee wedded, @3George@1, The Sword of @3England@1, and of @3Holland@1 scourge. Avant @3Rotterdam-dog, Ruyter@1, avant! Thou Water-rat, thou shark, thou Cormorant: I'll teach thee to shoot scizzers! I'll repaire Each rope thou losest, @3George@1, out of this haire. Ere thou shalt lack a saile and lye a drift ('Tis strong and course enough) I'll cut this Shift. Bring home the old ones, I again will sew, And darn them up to be as good as new. What twice disabled? Never such a thing! Now, @3Souveraigne@1, help him that brought in the @3King;@1 Guard thy Posteriour left, lest all be gone: Though Jury-Masts, th' hast Jury-buttocks none. Courage! How bravely, whet with this disgrace, He turns, and Bullets spits in @3Ruyter's@1 Face! They fly, they fly! Their Fleet does now divide: But they discard their @3Trump@1; our @3Trump@1 is @3Hide@1. "Where are you now, @3De Ruyter@1, with your bears? See how your Merchants burn about your ears. Fire out the wasps, George, from their hollow trees, Cramm'd with the honey of our @3English@1 Bees. Ay, now they're paid for @3Guiny@1: ere they steere To the gold coast, they find it hotter here. Turn theyr ships all to Stoves, ere they set forth To warm their traffick in the frozen North. Ah @3Sandwich!@1 had thy conduct been the same, @3Bergen@1 had seen a lesse, but richer Flame, Nor @3Ruyter@1 liv'd new Battell to repeat, And oftner beaten be than we can beat. "Scarse has @3George@1 leisure, after all this pain, To tye his Briches: @3Ruyter's@1 out againe. Thrice in one year! why sure the man is wood: Beat him like Stockfish, or he'll ne'r be good. I see them both prepar'd againe to try: They first shoot through each other with the Eye; Then -- But that ruling Providence that must With humane Projects play as Winds with dust, Raises a Storm, (so Constables a fray Knock down) and sends them both well cuft away. Plant now @3Virginian@1 Firrs in @3English@1 Oke, Build your Ship-ribbs proof to the Cannon's stroke, To get a Fleet to Sea, exhaust the Land, Let longing Princes pine for the Command: Strong Marchpanes! Wafers light! so thin a puffe Of angry aire can ruine all that huffe! So Champions having shar'd the Lists and Sun, The Judge throws down his Warder and they've done. For shame come home, @3George@1: 'tis, for thee, too much To fight at once with @3Heaven@1 and the @3Dutch@1. "Woe's me, what see I next? Alas the Fate I see of @3England@1, and its utmost date. Those flames of theirs, at which we fondly smile, Kindled, like Torches, our Sepulchrall Pile. Warre, Fire, and Plague against us all conspire: We the Warre, @3God@1 the Plague, who rais'd the Fire? See how Men all, like Ghosts, while @3London@1 burns, Wander and each over his ashes mourns! Dear @3George@1, sad Fate, vain Mind that me didst please To meet thine with far other Flames than these! "Curst be the Man that first begot this Warre, In an ill houre, under a blazing Starre. For other's sport, two Nations fight a Prize: Between them both Religion wounded dyes. So of first @3Troy@1, the angry Gods unpaid, Ras'd the foundations which themselves had lay'd. "Welcome, though late, dear @3George:@1 here hadst thou been, We'd scap'd (let @3Rupert@1 bring the Navy in!) Thou still must help them out when in the mire: Gen'rall at Land, at Sea, at Plague, at Fire. Now thou art gone, see, @3Beaufort@1 dares approach: And our whole Fleet, angling, has catcht a Roach." @3Gibson@1, farewell, till next we put to Sea: Faith thou hast drawn her in effigie! @3To the King@1 Great @3Prince@1, and so much greater as more wise, Sweet as our Life, and dearer than our Eyes: What Servants will conceale, and Couns'lours spare To tell, the Painter and the Poet dare. And the assistance of an heavn'ly Muse And Pencill represents the Crimes abstruse. Here needs no Sword, no Fleet, no foraine Foe; Only let Vice be damm'd, and Justice flow. Shake but like @3Jove@1, thy locks divine, and frowne; Thy Scepter will suffice to guard thy Crowne. Hark to @3Cassandra's@1 Song, ere Fate destroy, By thy own Navy's wooden horse, thy @3Troy@1. Us our @3Apollo@1, from the Tumult's wave, And gentle gales, though but in Oares, will save. So @3Philomel@1 her sad embroyd'ry strung, And vocall silks tun'd with her Needle's tongue. (The Picture dumbe, in colours lowd, reveal'd The tragedy's of @3Court@1, so long conceal'd.) But, when restor'd to voice, increas'd with Wings, To Woods and Groves what once she painted sings. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...EPITAPH IN BALLADE FORM by FRANCOIS VILLON THE PLANTING OF THE APPLE TREE by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT THE FALL OF HYPERION; A DREAM by JOHN KEATS RAIN ON THE ROOF (1) by COATES KINNEY HERO TO LEANDER by ALFRED TENNYSON IDYLLS OF THE KING: MERLIN AND VIVIEN by ALFRED TENNYSON |