 | The poetical works of Sir John Denham |  |
[Political.]
A SPEECH AGAINST PEACE AT THE CLOSE COMMITTEE
But will you now to Peace incline,
And languish in the main design,
And leave us in the lurch?
I would not Monarchy destroy,
But as the only way to enjoy
The ruine of the Church.
And languish in the main design,
And leave us in the lurch?
I would not Monarchy destroy,
But as the only way to enjoy
The ruine of the Church.
123
Is not the Bishops Bill deny'd,
And we still threatned to be try'd?
You see the Kings embraces.
Those Councels he approv'd before:
Nor doth he promise, which is more,
That we shall have their Places.
And we still threatned to be try'd?
You see the Kings embraces.
Those Councels he approv'd before:
Nor doth he promise, which is more,
That we shall have their Places.
Did I for this bring in the Scot?
(For 'tis no Secret now) the Plot
Was Sayes and mine together:
Did I for this return again,
And spend a Winter there in vain,
Once more to invite them hither?
(For 'tis no Secret now) the Plot
Was Sayes and mine together:
Did I for this return again,
And spend a Winter there in vain,
Once more to invite them hither?
Though more our Money than our Cause
Their Brotherly assistance draws,
My labour was not lost.
At my return I brought you thence
Necessity, their strong Pretence,
And these shall quit the cost.
Their Brotherly assistance draws,
My labour was not lost.
At my return I brought you thence
Necessity, their strong Pretence,
And these shall quit the cost.
124
Did I for this my County bring
To help their Knight against their King,
And raise the first Sedition?
Though I the business did decline,
Yet I contriv'd the whole Design,
And sent them their Petition.
To help their Knight against their King,
And raise the first Sedition?
Though I the business did decline,
Yet I contriv'd the whole Design,
And sent them their Petition.
So many nights spent in the City
In that invisible Committee;
The Wheel that governs all.
From thence the Change in Church and State,
And all the Mischiefs bear the date
From Haberdashers Hall.
In that invisible Committee;
The Wheel that governs all.
From thence the Change in Church and State,
And all the Mischiefs bear the date
From Haberdashers Hall.
Did we force Ireland to despair,
Upon the King to cast the War,
To make the world abhor him:
Because the Rebells us'd his Name,
Though we ourselves can do the same,
While both alike were for him?
Upon the King to cast the War,
To make the world abhor him:
Because the Rebells us'd his Name,
Though we ourselves can do the same,
While both alike were for him?
125
Then the same fire we kindled here
With that was given to quench it there,
And wisely lost that Nation:
To do as crafty Beggars use,
To maim themselves thereby to abuse
The simple mans compassion.
With that was given to quench it there,
And wisely lost that Nation:
To do as crafty Beggars use,
To maim themselves thereby to abuse
The simple mans compassion.
Have I so often past between
Windsor and Westminster unseen,
And did my self divide:
To keep his Excellence in awe,
And give the Parliament the Law,
For they knew none beside?
Windsor and Westminster unseen,
And did my self divide:
To keep his Excellence in awe,
And give the Parliament the Law,
For they knew none beside?
Did I for this take pains to teach
Our zealous Ignorants to Preach,
And did their Lungs inspire,
Gave them their Text, set them their Parts,
And taught them all their little Arts,
To fling abroad the Fire?
Our zealous Ignorants to Preach,
And did their Lungs inspire,
Gave them their Text, set them their Parts,
And taught them all their little Arts,
To fling abroad the Fire?
Sometimes to beg, sometimes to threaten,
And say the Cavaliers are beaten,
To stroke the Peoples ears;
Then streight when Victory grows cheap,
And will no more advance the heap,
To raise the price of Fears.
And say the Cavaliers are beaten,
To stroke the Peoples ears;
Then streight when Victory grows cheap,
And will no more advance the heap,
To raise the price of Fears.
126
And now the Book's and now the Bells,
And now our Acts the Preacher tells,
To edifie the People;
All our Divinity is News,
And we have made of equal use
The Pulpit and the Steeple.
And now our Acts the Preacher tells,
To edifie the People;
All our Divinity is News,
And we have made of equal use
The Pulpit and the Steeple.
And shall we kindle all this Flame
Only to put it out again,
And must we now give o're,
And only end where we begun?
In vain this Mischief we have done,
If we can do no more.
Only to put it out again,
And must we now give o're,
And only end where we begun?
In vain this Mischief we have done,
If we can do no more.
If men in Peace can have their right,
Where's the necessity to fight,
That breaks both Law, and Oath?
They'l say they fight not for the Cause,
Nor to defend the King and Laws,
But us against them both.
Where's the necessity to fight,
That breaks both Law, and Oath?
They'l say they fight not for the Cause,
Nor to defend the King and Laws,
But us against them both.
127
Either the cause at first was ill,
Or being good it is so still;
And thence they will infer,
That either now, or at the first
They were deceiv'd; or which is worst,
That we our selves may erre.
Or being good it is so still;
And thence they will infer,
That either now, or at the first
They were deceiv'd; or which is worst,
That we our selves may erre.
But Plague and Famine will come in,
For they and we are near of kin,
And cannot go asunder:
But while the wicked starve, indeed
The Saints have ready at their need
Gods Providence and Plunder.
For they and we are near of kin,
And cannot go asunder:
But while the wicked starve, indeed
The Saints have ready at their need
Gods Providence and Plunder.
Princes we are if we prevail,
And Gallant Villains if we fail,
When to our Fame 'tis told;
It will not be our least of praise,
Sin' a new State we could not raise,
To have destroy'd the old.
And Gallant Villains if we fail,
When to our Fame 'tis told;
It will not be our least of praise,
Sin' a new State we could not raise,
To have destroy'd the old.
Then let us stay and fight, and vote,
Till London is not worth a Groat;
Oh 'tis a patient Beast!
When we have gall'd and tyr'd the Mule,
And can no longer have the rule,
We'le have the spoyl at least.
Till London is not worth a Groat;
Oh 'tis a patient Beast!
When we have gall'd and tyr'd the Mule,
And can no longer have the rule,
We'le have the spoyl at least.
128
TO THE FIVE MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF COMMONS. THE HUMBLE PETITION OF THE POETS
After so many Concurring PetitionsFrom all Ages and Sexes, and all conditions,
We come in the rear to present our Follies
To Pym, Stroude, Haslerig, H. and H.
Though set form of Prayer be an Abomination,
Set forms of Petitions find great Approbation:
Therefore, as others from th'bottom of their souls,
So we from the depth and bottom of our Bowls,
According unto the blessed form you have taught us,
We thank you first for the Ills you have brought us,
For the Good we receive we thank him that gave it,
And you for the Confidence only to crave it.
Next in course, we Complain of the great violation
Of Priviledge (like the rest of our Nation)
But 'tis none of yours of which we have spoken
Which never had being, until they were broken:
But ours is a Priviledge Antient and Native,
Hangs not on an Ordinance, or power Legislative.
And first, 'tis to speak whatever we please
Without fear of a Prison, or Pursuivants fees.
Next, that we only may lye by Authority,
But in that also you have got the Priority.
Next, an old Custom, our Fathers did name it
129
By this we have power to change Age into Youth,
Turn Non-sence to Sence, and Falshood to Truth;
In brief, to make good whatsoever is faulty,
This art some Poet, or the Devil has taught ye:
And this our Property you have invaded,
And a Priviledge of both Houses have made it:
But that trust above all in Poets reposed,
That Kings by them only are made and Deposed,
This though you cannot do, yet you are willing;
But when we undertake Deposing or Killing,
They're Tyrants and Monsters, and yet then the Poet
Takes full Revenge on the Villains that do it:
And when we resume a Scepter or a Crown,
We are Modest, and seek not to make it our own.
But is't not presumption to write Verses to you,
Who make the better Poems of the two?
For all those pretty Knacks you compose,
Alas, what are they but Poems in prose?
And between those and ours there's no difference,
But that yours want the rhime, the wit and the sense:
But for lying (the most noble part of a Poet)
You have it abundantly, and your selves know it,
And though you are modest, and seem to abhor it,
'T has done you good service, and thank Hell for it:
Although the old Maxime remains still in force,
That a Sanctified Cause, must have a Sanctified Course.
If poverty be a part of our Trade,
So far the whole Kingdom Poets you have made,
Nay even so far as undoing will do it,
You have made King Charles himself a Poet:
But provoke not his Muse, for all the world knows,
Already you have had too much of his Prose.
130
A WESTERN WONDER
Do you not know, not a fortnight ago,
How they brag'd of a Western wonder?
When a hundred and ten, slew five thousand men,
With the help of Lightning and Thunder.
How they brag'd of a Western wonder?
When a hundred and ten, slew five thousand men,
With the help of Lightning and Thunder.
There Hopton was slain, again and again,
Or else my Author did lye;
With a new Thanksgiving, for the Dead who are living,
To God, and his Servant Chidleigh.
Or else my Author did lye;
131
To God, and his Servant Chidleigh.
But now on which side was this Miracle try'd,
I hope we at last are even;
For Sir Ralph and his Knaves, are risen from their Graves,
To Cudgel the Clowns of Devon.
I hope we at last are even;
For Sir Ralph and his Knaves, are risen from their Graves,
To Cudgel the Clowns of Devon.
And there Stamford came, for his Honour was lame
Of the Gout three months together;
But it prov'd when they fought, but a running Gout,
For his heels were lighter then ever.
Of the Gout three months together;
But it prov'd when they fought, but a running Gout,
For his heels were lighter then ever.
For now he out-runs his Arms and his Guns,
And leaves all his money behind him;
But they follow after, unless he take water
At Plymouth again, they will find him.
And leaves all his money behind him;
But they follow after, unless he take water
At Plymouth again, they will find him.
What Reading hath cost, and Stamford hath lost,
Goes deep in the Sequestrations;
These wounds will not heal, with your new Great Seal,
Nor Jepsons Declarations.
Goes deep in the Sequestrations;
These wounds will not heal, with your new Great Seal,
Nor Jepsons Declarations.
132
Now Peters, and Case, in your Prayer and Grace
Remember the new Thanksgiving;
Isaac and his Wife, now dig for your life,
Or shortly you'l dig for your living.
Remember the new Thanksgiving;
Isaac and his Wife, now dig for your life,
Or shortly you'l dig for your living.
133
A SECOND WESTERN WONDER
You heard of that wonder, of the Lightning and Thunder,
Which made the lye so much the louder;
Now list to another, that Miracles Brother,
Which was done with a Firkin of powder.
Which made the lye so much the louder;
Now list to another, that Miracles Brother,
Which was done with a Firkin of powder.
Oh what a damp, it struck through the Camp!
But as for honest Sir Ralph,
It blew him to the Vies, without beard, or eyes,
But at least three heads and a half.
But as for honest Sir Ralph,
It blew him to the Vies, without beard, or eyes,
But at least three heads and a half.
When out came the book, which the News-Monger took
From the Preaching Ladies Letter,
Where in the first place, stood the Conquerours face,
Which made it shew much the better.
From the Preaching Ladies Letter,
134
Which made it shew much the better.
But now without lying, you may paint him flying,
At Bristol they say you may find him
Great William the Con so fast he did run,
That he left half his name behind him.
At Bristol they say you may find him
Great William the Con so fast he did run,
That he left half his name behind him.
And now came the Post, saves all that was lost,
But alas, we are past deceiving,
By a trick so stale, or else such a tale
Might amount to a new Thanksgiving.
But alas, we are past deceiving,
By a trick so stale, or else such a tale
Might amount to a new Thanksgiving.
This made Mr. Case, with a pitiful face,
In the Pulpit to fall a weeping,
Though his mouth utter'd lyes, truth fell from his eyes,
Which kept the Lord Maior from sleeping.
In the Pulpit to fall a weeping,
Though his mouth utter'd lyes, truth fell from his eyes,
Which kept the Lord Maior from sleeping.
Now shut up shops, and spend your last drops,
For the Laws not your Cause, you that loath 'um,
Lest Essex should start, and play the Second part,
Of Worshipful Sir John Hotham.
For the Laws not your Cause, you that loath 'um,
Lest Essex should start, and play the Second part,
Of Worshipful Sir John Hotham.
135
VERSES ON THE CAVALIERS IMPRISONED IN 1655
Though the goveringe part cannot finde in their heart
To free the Imprisoned throng,
Yett I dare affirme, next Michaelmas terme
Wee'l sett them all out in a Song.
To free the Imprisoned throng,
Yett I dare affirme, next Michaelmas terme
Wee'l sett them all out in a Song.
Then Marshall draw neare lett the Prisoners appeare
And read us theyre treasons at large,
For men thinke itt hard to lye under a Guard
Without any probable Chardge.
And read us theyre treasons at large,
For men thinke itt hard to lye under a Guard
Without any probable Chardge.
136
Lord Peter wee wonder, what Crime hee fals under,
Unless it bee Legem pone;
Hee has ended the Strife, betwixt hym and his wife,
But now the State wants Alimonie.
Unless it bee Legem pone;
Hee has ended the Strife, betwixt hym and his wife,
But now the State wants Alimonie.
Since the whip's in the hand of an other Command,
Lord Maynard must have a smart jerke,
For the love that hee beares to the new Cavaliers,
The Presbetrye, and the Kirke.
Lord Maynard must have a smart jerke,
For the love that hee beares to the new Cavaliers,
The Presbetrye, and the Kirke.
137
Lord Coventry's in, but for what Loyall Synne,
His fellows can hardly gather,
Yett hee ought to disburse, for the Seale and the Purse
Which were soe long kept by his father.
His fellows can hardly gather,
Yett hee ought to disburse, for the Seale and the Purse
Which were soe long kept by his father.
Lord Biron wee know was accus'd of a Bow
Or of some other dangerous Plott
But hee's noe such foole, for then (by the rule)
His Bolt had bynne sooner shott.
Or of some other dangerous Plott
But hee's noe such foole, for then (by the rule)
His Bolt had bynne sooner shott.
Lord Lucas is fast, and will bee the Last
Because hee's soe learned a Peere.
His Law will not doe't nor his Logicke to boot,
Though hee make the cause never so cleare.
Because hee's soe learned a Peere.
His Law will not doe't nor his Logicke to boot,
Though hee make the cause never so cleare.
Lord St Johns indeed was presently freed
For which hee may thanke his wife,
Shee did promise and vow hee was innocent now
And would be soe all his life.
For which hee may thanke his wife,
Shee did promise and vow hee was innocent now
And would be soe all his life.
138
There's dainty Jack Russell, that makes a great bustle
And bledd three tymes in a day;
But a Caulier swore that hee was to bleed more
Before hee gott cleare away.
And bledd three tymes in a day;
But a Caulier swore that hee was to bleed more
Before hee gott cleare away.
Sir Fredericke Cornwallis, without any malice
Who carryes more gutts then crimes,
Has the fortune to hitt, and bee counted a witt,
Which hee could not in former tymes.
Who carryes more gutts then crimes,
Has the fortune to hitt, and bee counted a witt,
Which hee could not in former tymes.
Ned Progers looks pale, but what does hee ayle?
(For hee dyetts with that fatt Drolle.)
Hee must dwindle at length, that spends all his strength
Att the grill and the litle hole.
(For hee dyetts with that fatt Drolle.)
Hee must dwindle at length, that spends all his strength
Att the grill and the litle hole.
139
Wee prisoners all pray, that brave Shirley may
Bee gently assest in your books,
Cause under the line, hee has payd a good fine
To the poore Common-wealth of the Rooks.
Bee gently assest in your books,
Cause under the line, hee has payd a good fine
To the poore Common-wealth of the Rooks.
Dicke Nicols (they say) and Littleton stay
For the Governour's owne delight;
One serves hym with play, att Tennis by day,
And the other with smoaking at night.
For the Governour's owne delight;
One serves hym with play, att Tennis by day,
And the other with smoaking at night.
Jacke Paston was quitt, by his hand underwritt,
But his freedome hee hardly enjoyed,
For as it is sayd, hee drunke hymselfe dead
On purpose to make his bond voyde.
But his freedome hee hardly enjoyed,
For as it is sayd, hee drunke hymselfe dead
On purpose to make his bond voyde.
Tom Panton wee thinke, is ready to sinke
If his friends doe not lend theyr hands;
Still lower hee goes, and all men suppose
Bee swallow'd up in the quicke sands.
If his friends doe not lend theyr hands;
140
Bee swallow'd up in the quicke sands.
For the rest nott here nam'd I would not bee blam'd,
As if they were scorn'd by our Lyricke,
For Waller intends to use them as ends
To patch up his next Panegyrick.
As if they were scorn'd by our Lyricke,
For Waller intends to use them as ends
To patch up his next Panegyrick.
And now to conclude, I would not bee rude,
Nor presse into Reason of State,
But surely some cause besydes the knowne laws
Has brought us unto this sad fate.
Nor presse into Reason of State,
But surely some cause besydes the knowne laws
Has brought us unto this sad fate.
Must wee pay the faults, of our Argonauts,
And suffer for other men's synns?
Cause like sylly Geese they have mist of the fleece
Poor Prisoners are shorne to their skyns.
And suffer for other men's synns?
Cause like sylly Geese they have mist of the fleece
Poor Prisoners are shorne to their skyns.
Jaymaica relations soe tickle the nations,
And Venables looks soe sullen
That everyone cryes the designe was as wise
As those that are fram'd att Cullen.
And Venables looks soe sullen
That everyone cryes the designe was as wise
As those that are fram'd att Cullen.
Lett them turne but our Taxe into paper and waxe
(As some able men have endeavour'd)
And wee shall not stand for notes of our hand;
They're sealed, and wee are delivered.
(As some able men have endeavour'd)
And wee shall not stand for notes of our hand;
They're sealed, and wee are delivered.
141
Yett the Bonds they exact, destroy their own Act
Of pardon, which all men extoll.
Wee thought wee should bee, good subjects and free,
But now wee are Bondmen to Noll.
Of pardon, which all men extoll.
Wee thought wee should bee, good subjects and free,
But now wee are Bondmen to Noll.
| The poetical works of Sir John Denham | |