The School of Politicks or, the humours of a coffee-house: a poem. The Second Edition Corrected and much Enlarged by the Author [i.e. Edward Ward] |
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 | The School of Politicks |  |
VIII.
[At which by accident (no doubt) were got]
At which by accident (no doubt) were gotDemurely grave of Citizens a knot,
With shaking Heads and lift up Eyes,
Discoursing upon Prodigies.
9
Although the Wicked still remain as bad
As if all things were setled—T'other Night,
As very late by Westminster I came,
Methought the Element was all on flame,
And one of th'Heads upon the Iron Spire
Over the Hall, distinctly cried out Fire:
Nay, I a while ago was told,
That, at Noon, day, the Horse which stands
In the Stocks-Market neigh'd aloud
For Provender, while the affrighted Croud
Stood shivering both with Fear and Cold:
Now when Vice grows so strong, and Faith so weak,
No wonder 'tis the very Stones should speak:
What these unlucky Signs portend
I must confess I cannot comprehend;
Let God (and then he'd off his Hat)
In his good time discover that.
Why, Neighbour, (says his Elbow-Friend,)
For certain 'tis, you cannot be
So blind as not to see,
The Head which cried out Fire denotes
A disagreement in the Senate's Votes;
But Heav'n avert the Prodigy;
And th'Horses Neighing speaks as plain
This Summer's scarcity of Grain:
But I'm no Prophet, if I were,
Events more wonderful I'd shew,
Than ever Gadbury or Lilly knew,
Events should make the Nation stare;
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What pity 'tis, (thought I) thou are not plac'd
In Bedlam, where there cannot be
One half so Lunatick as thee:
Darkness, fresh Straw, and slender Diet,
And shaving th'Hair from thy thick Skull,
May make thy Brains and Tongue more quiet;
But leaving this so very dull,
Most whimsical, and senseless Crew,
I softly to another place withdrew.
| The School of Politicks | |