The Fourth Volume of the Writings Of the Author of the London-Spy Prose and Verse [by Edward Ward] |
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The Riddle.
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 | The Fourth Volume of the Writings Of the Author of the London-Spy |  |
The Riddle.
A whim there is, that's valu'd much by Fools,
A windy Gugaw, tho a Sovereign Cheat,
Contriv'd by Tyrants to advance their Tools,
For Flatt'ry more than Honesty or Wit.
A windy Gugaw, tho a Sovereign Cheat,
Contriv'd by Tyrants to advance their Tools,
For Flatt'ry more than Honesty or Wit.
A Royal Fly-blow that Engenders Pride,
An empty Something that has nothing in't,
In Thought exists and no were else beside,
Tho often nam'd in Writing and in Print.
An empty Something that has nothing in't,
In Thought exists and no were else beside,
Tho often nam'd in Writing and in Print.
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The happy Man that does the Prize possess,
Altho he's forc'd to give it to his Wife,
Yet cannot find he has a jot the less,
Because he ne'er cou'd see it in his Life.
Altho he's forc'd to give it to his Wife,
Yet cannot find he has a jot the less,
Because he ne'er cou'd see it in his Life.
To those that wear it, we that are without,
Bow low, yet scarce can give a reason why,
For those that have it we have cause to doubt,
First got it by some secret steps awry.
Bow low, yet scarce can give a reason why,
For those that have it we have cause to doubt,
First got it by some secret steps awry.
Tho that strange Hidra, the misjudging Crowd
Thinks Vertue can alone the Prize obtain,
But wiser Heads can see 'tis oft bestow'd,
For wicked Actions, upon wicked Men.
Thinks Vertue can alone the Prize obtain,
But wiser Heads can see 'tis oft bestow'd,
For wicked Actions, upon wicked Men.
Fools, Traytors, Bastards, very oft we find
Blest with the Bauble, look Austere and Great,
Then who would such a vain distinction mind,
That lies expos'd at such an odious rate.
Blest with the Bauble, look Austere and Great,
Then who would such a vain distinction mind,
That lies expos'd at such an odious rate.
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Tho oft 'tis join'd with Power and Command,
And makes a mighty blust'ring noise at Court,
Yet like an Adjective that cannot stand
Without substantial Wealth for its support.
And makes a mighty blust'ring noise at Court,
Yet like an Adjective that cannot stand
Without substantial Wealth for its support.
When poor 'tis scandalous, when rich 'tis proud.
Despis'd by wise Men, and by Fools admir'd;
By a strange Hocus it refines the Blood,
But without Wealth it seldom is desired,
Despis'd by wise Men, and by Fools admir'd;
By a strange Hocus it refines the Blood,
But without Wealth it seldom is desired,
The Woman shares the Blessing with the Man,
No Lord or Lady is without the Toy;
Then tell me, honest Reader, if you can,
What 'tis so many Sons of Whores enjoy.
No Lord or Lady is without the Toy;
Then tell me, honest Reader, if you can,
What 'tis so many Sons of Whores enjoy.
| The Fourth Volume of the Writings Of the Author of the London-Spy | |