University of Virginia Library

The Prologue, by way of Dialogue, between Heraclitus Ridens, the Observator, and his Country-man.

Spoken by Mr. Powel, Mr. Booth, and Mr. Pack.
Heracl.
Well—Since we're met, our Business is to try
Which is the better Subject, you or I;
You that by clipping English, clip the Throne,
Or I that regal Power extensive own?

Observ.
Thou Slave to Scepters, hug thy pleasing Chains,
And under no Restriction publish Reigns;
Make Crowns unlimited, unquestion'd be,
And blame the Queen's best Friend, in blaming me:
Thy weak Productions nothing fertile yield,
Nor hast thou digg'd like me in Learning's Field.

Heracl.
The Queen! O mention not that Sacred Word!
Thou mean'st the People for thy Sovereign Lord;
The Scum of which thou factiously would'st raise,
And blend with Royalty by dint of Praise.
But thy Designs will unsuccessful prove,
She stands possess'd of Power as well as Love,
Has those that guard her Rights with watchful Eyes,
And sees an Enemy in a Friend's Disguise.

Countr.
An't please your Worship—How this Fellow prates!
He and his Arguments for four Estates:
Down with the Beast of Burden with his Pack,
And lay him, like John's Wife, upon his Back.
Hark you, Friend, whence is this Presumption grown?
I have a hugeous mind to rub you down;
But that would hinder the Design in view,
It is my Master's Task to conquer you.

Observ.
On Chops of Logick have I lately fed,
And quoted far more Books than e'er I read;
Have I pretended Bracton to peruse,
And made the Laws their Explanation lose:
And yet dar'st thou my Knowledg to decry,
And with my Learned Observations vie?
Oh! Barlipton, furnish me with Sense,
And be my Advocates both Mood and Tense;
Assert my Cause, and Fallacies provide,
To vindicate my dear Republick Side,
As I with Major and with Minor rise,
And call the Champion forth to syllogize.

Heracl.
I take the Combat, and accept the Strife;
And in the Crown's behalf would wager Life:
As I with Loyal Soul defy thy Spleen,
And all my Wishes center in the Queen;
The Queen descended from so just a Line,
That makes her Claim, as are her Thoughts Divine.

Observ.
Thus by the help of Analytick Sense,
And five Pair of true-blue Predicaments;
I lay down this for Truth in form Categ---
And with Affirmative oppose your Neg.
Those that create, may their own Creature blame,
And call him to account, when lost to shame:
But Kings their Rights from our Creation take,
Therefore we may account with Kings we make.

Heracl.
Your Major's false, as is your Minor bold,
And you Positions most audacious hold:
Kings cannot err like those of vulgar Soul,
All they must needs surpass, that all controul.

Observ.
If the Queen holds her Title from our Choice,
Then Kings are made Elective by our Voice;
But English Senates call'd her to the Throne,
Therefore Crown'd Heads must our Election own.

Heracl.
Grant that their Choice confirm'd the Royal Dame,
Their Choice was not precedent to her Claim.
From Stuart's Race the mighty Princess sprung,
A Race that ever shall demand my Song;
That has her Heroes and her Martyrs giv'n,
And with unnumber'd Princes peopled Heav'n:
Tho blacken'd by thy Pen, their Deeds are stain'd,
And thou no Hero own'st, or Martyr reign'd.

Observ.
Think of my Wrongs, and I must stand excus'd;
How has that Family our Sect abus'd!
Suppress'd our Hopes, and our Ambition quell'd,
And Force by Force unhappily repell'd.
How from Sedition has this Land been purg'd,
And I my self been sentenc'd to be scourg'd?
Fin'd for High-Treason, more than I could pay,
And close confin'd with all this Tympany of Clay.

Heracl.
Thy Wrongs dost call what thou shouldst term thy Crimes;
Thou Scandal to the past and present Times;
Thou Western Rebel, undeserving Grace,
Deform'd in Soul, and horrible in Face:
Thou Reprobate from factious Parents sprung,
Whose Father taught for what thy Spouse's hung.
That Prince was gracious, as his Birth was true,
And ne'er did more amiss than sparing you:
Had he but granted what you humbly sought,
And hang'd you like your Kinsman for your Fault,
You had not liv'd to deal about your Spleen,
And wrong him dead in his Remains the Queen.

Observ.
Dare but assert what thou hast lately spoke,
Slaughter's the Word, and wait th'impending Stroke;
With Hand and Heart erected see me frown,
The People I affirm should awe the Crown.

Heracl.
Thy Frowns and Smiles I equally despise,
He that talks most of Fighting oftnest flies:
Cowards are ever Champions in pretence,
As Fools in their Opinion Men of Sense.
Boast of thy Courage where there's none to fight,
Neither thy Pen nor Staff can do thee Right.
What hast thou not malignant daily spread?
How not defam'd the Living with the Dead?
By thee twice martyr'd Royal Charles is known,
And more than twice exil'd his hapless Son;
Injur'd, traduc'd in Person and in Fame,
And impiously deny'd a Subject's Claim;
Tho he might undisturb'd in silence rest,
And having suffer'd here, in Death be bless'd.
By thee the Grand-daughter's precarious made,
Able to govern us without thy Aid;
Wise as she's Just, and providently Good,
To save her Peoples Treasure with their Blood.

Observ.
Thou base High-flier, and Tantivy Fiend,
Dar'st thou to Popish Ashes be a Friend?
Know I'll inform, for I am skill'd in Harms,
And when my Foes appear can sound Alarms;
Can swear, accuse the Persons that are clear,
And make great Men 'fore greater Men appear.

Heracl.
Well have I known thy Conduct and thy Life,
Ever contending thou art still at strife;
In all Conditions infamous and loose,
Ready to burst with Hatred and Abuse;
Unlearn'd, yet others eager to direct,
The Laystall to receive the Offals of thy Sect;
Whose idle Schemes thy hungry Labours lard,
And aim at Governments they say they guard.

Countr.
I'faith, the Man talks notably, and well,
And like my Team's Forehorse will bear the Bell;
'Slife, I could almost venture to desert,
And with this oaken Towel take his part.
And so I will—You, Master, may be gone,
Good-night—You are no more to visit Joan—
Dine at my Farm, or feed on Roast and Boil'd,
That have my Loyalty and Truth defil'd.

[Here the Countryman walks off, and compliments Heraclitus.]
Observ.
On pain of Scandal issuing from my Pen,
Return to thy old Principles agen;
If thou wouldst follow Precepts just and right,
Without the odious Name of Jacobite.
Not that I want Assistance to defend
Those Arguments no Casuist can mend;
But for thy Good these Precepts I bestow,
Therefore thy wonted Prudence wisely show:
Like the bright Moon at Midnight I appear,
And unconcern'd my wonted Lustre wear;
Tho barking Curs, offended at my Light,
Bawl at my Splendor with successless Spight.

Countr.
Hey day! You're fit indeed to teach us Rules,
And to make Saints of Men, and Men of Fools,
That steal from Sign-posts, and Reproaches take
From Houses fam'd for Custard, and for Cake:
There's not a Prentice-boy, but knows from whence
You borrow this bright Argument of Sense,
That has on Farthing-pyes on Sunday fed,
And on the House's Sign these Lines has read:
Ye bawling Dogs, why bark you so,
Since I am high, and you are low?

Heracl.
Fear not, my Friend, his Doctrines to disclaim,
Yours will the Credit be, and his the Shame;
For Crimes are pass'd Repentance will suffice,
Then as you've been inveterate, be wise;
Be watchful for th'Establish'd Church and State,
And pay Allegiance where you paid your Hate.

Countr.
And so I will—But first it is but fit,
He that has thus seduc'd me, should be beat.
Villain, away—No more Sedition prate,
Spite of thy bulky Club I'll thwack thy Pate.
Hence in an instant to thy Garret gang,
And like despairing Judas, laugh and hang .
He's gone—Now Master, I espouse your Cause,
And am a Convert to the Throne and Laws.

Heracl.
Protect them still, ye Powers that both maintain,
And make them flourish in this glorious Reign;
The best of Queens, and most belov'd of Names,
The best of Subjects, and of Wishes claims.