University of Virginia Library

CANTO XII. Of Mens Deportment in the Coffee-Houses, of the Mine-Adventure, The Affrican-Company, of those who desire War, and others Peace, with a Prayer for the Queen and Church.

Now Warm debates were carry'd on,
In e'ery Coffee-House Pro and Con;

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Where Whigs of e'ery sort and size,
Began aloud to Tyrannize;
Some Grave old Cits Nurs'd up in Trade,
Betwixt the Church and Meeting bred;
Amphibeous Christians who can run
To either, but be true to none;
Whose Dealings long have prov'd too plain,
They scarce know any God but Gain;
That Gold's the Standard of their Faith;
And Int'rest their Celestial Path;
Yet these will o'er their Jewish Liquor,
About Religion Jar and Bicker;
And rave till grown as Piping Hot,
As the dull Grout o'er which they sot,
But still they take all Modish Care
To tell what Sorts of Saints they are;
And by their Loud Revilings Show,
They're true Blew Protestants, but Low;
Affirm they Love with all their Souls,
The Church, but yet like Knaves or Fools;
Reproach all Goodmen that defend her,
And fain would make her bad to mend her;

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Thus those who've neither Will or Grace,
To mend themselves but still are Base;
We see cannot forbear pretending,
To reform that which needs no mending:
Tho' they're attended with the Curse,
Of allwayes making better Worse;

One by the Mine adventure Bit,
Will o'er their Coffee Railing sit;
Against the canting cunning Knight,
Who tho' a Rank old Jacobite;
Found out a lucky way to shew 'em,
In their own Art he could out do 'em:
And unsuspected Pitkinise,
The Crafty Saints Fanatick-wise,
Altho' they knew no Mortal fitter,
Than Good Sir Mac to Bite the Biter:
But sure those Saints had quite forgot,
Themselves who were so Wondrous hot;
To trust their Money in the Pow'r,
Of one who'd flown so high before,

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And oft Oppos'd in Books and Speeches,
Their sly Intrigues and Cunning Fetches;
But 'tis no Wonder since we find,
That Int'rest often makes Men blind;
And Tempts 'em by a Golden Bait,
To trust and Flatter those they Hate;

Some who are in Accounts Exact,
Demonstrate plainly that the Act,

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Which was of Late so timely made,
To Regulate the Size of Bread;
Has left it still i'th' Bakers Pow'r,
To Cheat their Customers much more,
Then e'er they us'd to do before;
Which shews how hard 'tis to Restrain,
The Knavish Practice of such Men;
Who will in Spite of Law persue it,
Because theyv'e been Accustom'd to it;
So the Sly Lass that has been Beded,
Before She's to her Lover Wedded;
Will alwayes after ready be
T'Improve an opportunity.

Some full of News Collected from,
The Prints Abroad and lies at Home;
Sit Gravely setting forth the whole,
That's said and done 'twixt Pole and Pole;
Tell you the very Day and Hour,
When we shall all our Foes o'erpow'r
What lucky Steps we wisely take,
And e'ery Progress that we make;

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When we shall give the French a Shock,
And at the Gates of Paris Knock;
What Wonders will at last befal,
And be the great Event of all;
Thus some in Earnest some in Jest,
With Groundless Whims Amuse the rest;
And what the Busy Knaves Invent,
The Foolish take upon Content.

Others come Puffing in to tell
The Tidings of the last New Mail;
That Peace is fresh again on Foot,
And all Sides are Inclining To't;
That France is forward to Comply,
And does no Terms we ask deny;
This vexes some who long have made
Advantage of a Secret Trade;
And Startles others who are for
No Peace, because they gain by War;
But highly pleases all the Rest,
Who truly wish the Nation Blest;

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And that Britanina's aweful Queen,
Who has in War so prosp'rous been;
May long enjoy in Downy Peace,
A sweet and unmolested Ease;
And those Calm Blessings that arise,
From all her Glorious Victories;
That then or sooner may She see,
Her Subjects from Contention free;
And all those Quarrels, Fewds and Heats,
That now Perplex her Throne by Fits;
And e'ery Breach our Foes improve,
Unite in Frindship and in Love;
May both the Names of High and Low,
To e'ery Party Odious grow;
Till by all Sides they're given o'er,
And ever Cease to be no more;
May we from Anna's Vertues Learn,
That good we no where else Discern;
And Labour to return the Throne,
Those Blessings She has made our own;

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May those who would invade or Lower,
The Lawful Rights of Sov'raign Pow'r;
And Struggle by designes Nefarious,
To make the Royal-Throne, Precarious;
Whether they're Jacobites or Whigs,
Be made as Black as their Intrigues;
Render'd unquailifi'd to be,
Entrusted with Authority;
And by the Reins of Human Law
Be alwayes Curb'd and kept in Awe.

May all good Men who ever lov'd
Their Queen and Country stand unmov'd;
And alwayes truly be agreed
To defend both in time of need,
Against all ill designes began
By Papist or Republican;
That no Attempt 'gainst Church or State,
May ever be oppos'd too late;
But in its Early Progress meet,
A timely and Intire Defeat;

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That Pride and Avarice may see,
In Spite of Man God still will be;
Th' all Powerful Guardian of the Throne,
He only makes the Monarch's own.

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