The works of John Dryden Illustrated with notes, historical, critical, and explanatory, and a life of the author, by Sir Walter Scott |
11 | IX. |
1 | X. |
6 | XI. |
4 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 | XII. |
26 | XIII. |
60 | XIV, XV. |
The works of John Dryden | ||
255
ON THE YOUNG STATESMEN.
Clarendon had law and sense,
Clifford was fierce and brave;
Bennet's grave look was a pretence,
And Danby's matchless impudence
Helped to support the knave.
Clifford was fierce and brave;
Bennet's grave look was a pretence,
And Danby's matchless impudence
Helped to support the knave.
But Sunderland, Godolphin, Lory,
These will appear such chits in story,
'Twill turn all politics to jests,
To be repeated like John Dory,
When fiddlers sing at feasts.
These will appear such chits in story,
'Twill turn all politics to jests,
To be repeated like John Dory,
When fiddlers sing at feasts.
Protect us, mighty Providence!
What would these madmen have?
First, they would bribe us without pence,
Deceive us without common sense,
And without power enslave.
What would these madmen have?
First, they would bribe us without pence,
Deceive us without common sense,
And without power enslave.
Shall free-born men, in humble awe,
Submit to servile shame,
Who from consent and custom draw
The same right to be ruled by law,
Which kings pretend, to reign?
Submit to servile shame,
Who from consent and custom draw
The same right to be ruled by law,
Which kings pretend, to reign?
256
The Duke shall wield his conquering sword,
The Chancellor make a speech,
The King shall pledge his honest word,
The pawned revenue sums afford,
And then, come kiss my breech.
The Chancellor make a speech,
The King shall pledge his honest word,
The pawned revenue sums afford,
And then, come kiss my breech.
So have I seen a king in chess
(His rooks and knights withdrawn,
His queen and bishops in distress),
Shifting about grow less and less,
With here and there a pawn.
(His rooks and knights withdrawn,
His queen and bishops in distress),
Shifting about grow less and less,
With here and there a pawn.
The works of John Dryden | ||