The Year of Wonders Being a literal and poetical translation of an old Latin prophecy, found near Merlin's cave, By S---n D---k [i.e. Stephen Duck] |
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 | The Year of Wonders |  |
How gloriously the Minister appears!
Faction be dumb! Read, read the Gazetteers!
What an immoderate Contempt for Vice!
For ev'ry Virtue what strange Avarice!
Ancient and Modern Histories they rake,
From Art and Nature best Materials take,
Cull each Perfection of each Character,
This Consummate must be the M---r.
Thus in Idea form him well they can,
A lovely Picture! Who e'er saw the Man;
This most excelling Vizier, I advise
To be just what these Scriblers say he is,
The surest way to silence Enemies.
Statesman, with Leave, I would lay down this Rule,
He that commences Knave, commences Fool.
Whoever deals in low Hypocrisies,
Whate'er his Knowledge is, he can't be wise.
I'd have a Premier satisfy'd, if clear
He saves a good Ten Thousand Pounds a Year;
Nor Envy, nor Detraction, nor Cabal
Could reach him, or in Norfolk, or Whitehall.
If former Fav'rites had no more engross'd,
We should have fewer Rivals for the Post.
But what will satisfy a Statesman's Pride?
Pow'r Profits, Honour ------ All we have beside.
Profits and Posts be theirs, who have just Claim,
Who have at Heart their Country, theirs be Fame.
The Statesman's Duty soon is understood,
It all consists in this ------ Be wise and Good.
Faction be dumb! Read, read the Gazetteers!
What an immoderate Contempt for Vice!
For ev'ry Virtue what strange Avarice!
Ancient and Modern Histories they rake,
From Art and Nature best Materials take,
Cull each Perfection of each Character,
This Consummate must be the M---r.
Thus in Idea form him well they can,
A lovely Picture! Who e'er saw the Man;
7
To be just what these Scriblers say he is,
The surest way to silence Enemies.
Statesman, with Leave, I would lay down this Rule,
He that commences Knave, commences Fool.
Whoever deals in low Hypocrisies,
Whate'er his Knowledge is, he can't be wise.
I'd have a Premier satisfy'd, if clear
He saves a good Ten Thousand Pounds a Year;
Nor Envy, nor Detraction, nor Cabal
Could reach him, or in Norfolk, or Whitehall.
If former Fav'rites had no more engross'd,
We should have fewer Rivals for the Post.
But what will satisfy a Statesman's Pride?
Pow'r Profits, Honour ------ All we have beside.
Profits and Posts be theirs, who have just Claim,
Who have at Heart their Country, theirs be Fame.
The Statesman's Duty soon is understood,
It all consists in this ------ Be wise and Good.
| The Year of Wonders | |