That Offices are intail'd, and that there are
Perpetuities of them, lafting as far

As the last day; and that great Officers
Do with the Spaniards fhare, and Dunkirkers.

I

more amaz'd than Circes prifoners, when They felt themselves turn beafts, felt myself then Becoming Traytor, and methought I faw

One of our Giant Statutes ope his jaw,
To fuck me in for hearing him: I found
That as burnt venemous Leachers do grow found
By giving others their fores, I might grow
Guilty, and he free: Therefore I did show
All figns of loathing; but fince I am in,
I must pay mine, and my forefathers fin
To the laft farthing. Therefore to my power
Toughly and ftubbornly I bear; but th' hower
Of mercy now was come: he tries to bring
Me to pay a fine to 'fcape a torturing,

And fays, Sir, can you fpare me-? I faid, Willingly,
Nay, Sir, can you fpare me a crown? Thankfully I
Gave it, as ranfom; but as fidlers, ftill,

Though they be paid to be gone, yet needs will
Thrust one more jigg upon you: so did he
With his long complimental thanks vex me.
But he is gone, thanks to his needy want,
And the Prerogative of my Crown; fcant
His thanks were ended, when I (which did fee

All the Court fill'd with more ftrange things than he)

NOTES.

VER. 167. fall endlong] The fudden effect of the tranfformation is ftrongly and finely painted to the imagina

Nay hints, 'tis by connivance of the Court,

That Spain robs on, and Dunkirk's ftill a Port. 165
Not more amazement seiz'd on Circe's guests,
To see themselves fall endlong into beasts,
Than mine, to find a subject stay'd and wise
Already half turn'd traytor by surprize.
I felt th' infection flide from him to me,
As in the pox, fome give it to get free;

And quick to swallow me, methought I saw
One of our Giant Statutes ope its jaw.

In that nice moment, as another Lye
Stood juft a-tilt, the Minister came by.

To him he flies, and bows, and bows again,
Then, close as Umbra, joins the dirty train.
Not Fannius' felf more impudently near,
When half his nofe is in his Prince's ear.

170

175

I quak'd at heart; and ftill afraid, to fee

All the Court fill'd with ftranger things than he,

Ran out as fast, as one that pays his bail

180

And dreads more actions, hurries from a jail.

Bear me, fome God!

oh quickly bear me hence

To wholfome Solitude, the nurse of sense:

Where Contemplation prunes her ruffled wings,
And the free foul looks down to pity Kings!

NOTES.

185

tion, not in the found, but in the sense of these two words. VER. 184. Bear me,] These four lines are wonderfully

Ran from thence with such, or more haft than one
Who fears more actions, doth haft from prison.
At home in wholefome folitarinefs

My piteous foul began the wretchedness

Of fuiters at court to mourn, and a trance
Like his, who dreamt he faw hell, did advance
It felf o'er me: fuch men as he saw there

I faw at court, and worse and more. Low fear
Becomes the guilty, not th' accuser: Then,
Shall I, none's flave, of high-born or rais'd men
Fear frowns; and my mistress truth, betray thee
For th' huffing, bragart, puft nobility?

No, no, thou which since yesterday hast been,
Almoft about the whole world, haft thou seen,
O fun, in all thy journey, vanity,

Such as fwells the bladder of our court? I

b

Think he which made your Waxen garden, and
Transported it from Italy, to ftand

With us at London, flouts our Courtiers; for
Juft fuch gay painted things, which no fap, nor

NOTES.

fublime. His impatience in this region of vice, is like that of Virgil, in the region of heat. They both call out as if they were half itifled by the fulphury air of the place,

O qui me gelidis

O quickly bear me bence.

b A fhow of the Italian Gardens in Waxwork, in the time of King James the Firft.

P.

There fober thought purfu'd th' amufing theme,

Till Fancy colour'd it, and form'd a Dream.

A Vifion hermits can to Hell transport,

190

And forc'd ev'n me to fee the damn'd at Court.

Not Dante dreaming all th' infernal state,

Beheld such scenes of envy, fin, and hate.
Base Fear becomes the guilty, not the free;
Suits Tyrants, Plunderers, but suits not me:
Shall I, the Terror of this finful town,

195

Care, if a liv'ry'd Lord or fmile or frown?
Who cannot flatter, and deteft who can,
Tremble before a noble Serving-man?
O my fair mistress, Truth! fhall I quit thee
For huffing, braggart, puft Nobility?
Thou, who fince yesterday haft roll'd o'er all
The bufy, idle blockheads of the ball,

Haft thou, oh Sun beheld an emptier fort,
Than fuch as fwell this bladder of a court?
Now pox on those who shew a Court in wax !
It ought to bring all courtiers on their backs :
Such painted puppets! fuch a varnish'd race
Of hollow gew-gaws, only drefs and face!

NOTES.

200

205

VER. 188. There fober thought] Thefe two lines are remarkable for the delicacy and propriety of the expreffion.

VER. 194. Bafe Fear] These four admirable lines become the high office he had affumed, and fo nobly fuftained.

t

Taft have in them, ours are; and natural

Some of the stocks are; their fruits baftard all.

'Tis ten a Clock and paft; all whom the mues,
Baloun, or tennis, diet, or the stews

Had all the morning held, now the fecond
Time made ready, that day, in flocks are found
In the Prefence, and I (God pardon me)

As fresh and sweet their Apparels be, as be
Their fields they fold to buy them. For a king
Thofe hofe are, cry the flatterers: and bring
Them next week to the theatre to fell.

Wants reach all ftates: me feems they do as well
At ftage, as courts; all are players. Whoe'er looks,
(For themselves dare not go) o'er Cheapfide books,
Shall find their wardrobes inventory. Now
The Ladies come. As pirates (which do know
That there came weak ships fraught with Cutchanel)
The men board them; and praise (as they think) well,

NOTES.

< That is, of wood.

VER. 206. Court in wax!] A famous fhow of the Court of Françe, in Wax-work.

P.

VER. 213. At Fig's, at White's,] White's was a noted