Bacchanalia :: :: University of Virginia Library

Another, he is all State-Policy;
Esteeming then Himself most wise
In Mysteries
Of Government, when he
Has lost the Hegemonique Faculty.
As if his Wine-soakt Brains
Like Rivers were,
Which ever deepest are,
In times of greatest Flouds, and Rains.
Or, as on watry Brook,
In Moon-shine Night, we look,
And see the Stars, how in their Orbs they move:
So, while with Wine
His liquid Brains do shine,
He sees the motions of the Powers above.
Europe, quoth he,
Is meerly lost, I see,
For lack of good Intelligence.
And understanding of Intrigues,
The Crafts of Treaties, and of Leagues,
This Spoils all States, and ruins Governments.
But, were I once in Secretaries Place,
I'd quickly bring things to a better pass.
Alas! Colbert's an Asse,
I'd Fox him with his own French Wine;
Then gage his Brains, and so the bottom find,
Extent, and Compass, of the French Design.
The Jesuits themselves I'd undermine;
Out-do th' Ignatian Creeples in their Play,
I'd halt e're I was Lame, as well, and better far, than they.