The Works of John Sheffield Earl of Mulgrave, Marquis of Normanby, and Duke of Buckingham. In two volumes ... The third edition, Corrected |
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STANZAS.
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 | The Works of John Sheffield |  |
193
STANZAS.
[Whene'er my foolish Bent to Publick Good]
Whene'er my foolish Bent to Publick Good,
Or fonder Zeal for some misguided Prince,
Shall make my dang'rous Humour understood,
For changing Ministers for Men of Sense:
Or fonder Zeal for some misguided Prince,
Shall make my dang'rous Humour understood,
For changing Ministers for Men of Sense:
When vainly proud to shew my publick Care,
And ev'n asham'd to see three Nations fool'd,
I shall no longer bear a wretched Share
In ruling ill, or being over-rul'd:
And ev'n asham'd to see three Nations fool'd,
I shall no longer bear a wretched Share
In ruling ill, or being over-rul'd:
Then, as old Letchers in a Winter's Night
To yawning Hearers all their Pranks disclose;
And what Decay deprives them of Delight,
Supply with vain Endeavours to impose:
To yawning Hearers all their Pranks disclose;
And what Decay deprives them of Delight,
Supply with vain Endeavours to impose:
194
Just so shall I as idly entertain
Some stripling Patriots, fond of seeming wise;
Tell, how I still cou'd great Employments gain,
Without concealing Truths, or whisp'ring Lyes;
Some stripling Patriots, fond of seeming wise;
Tell, how I still cou'd great Employments gain,
Without concealing Truths, or whisp'ring Lyes;
Boast of succeeding in my Country's Cause
Ev'n against some almost too high to blame;
Whom, when advanc'd beyond the Reach of Laws,
I oft have ridicul'd to Sense and Shame:
Ev'n against some almost too high to blame;
Whom, when advanc'd beyond the Reach of Laws,
I oft have ridicul'd to Sense and Shame:
Say, I resisted the most potent Fraud;
But friendless Merit openly approv'd;
And that I was above the being aw'd
Not only by my Prince, but those he lov'd:
But friendless Merit openly approv'd;
And that I was above the being aw'd
Not only by my Prince, but those he lov'd:
Who knows but my Example then may please
Such noble, hopeful Spirits as appear
Willing to slight their Pleasures, and their Ease,
For Fame and Honour? Till at last they hear,
Such noble, hopeful Spirits as appear
Willing to slight their Pleasures, and their Ease,
For Fame and Honour? Till at last they hear,
195
After much Trouble borne, and Danger run,
The Crown assisted, and my Country serv'd;
Without good Fortune I had been undone,
Without a good Estate I might have starv'd.
The Crown assisted, and my Country serv'd;
Without good Fortune I had been undone,
Without a good Estate I might have starv'd.
| The Works of John Sheffield | |