 | Poems on Affairs of State |  |
63
The Country Parson's Advice to those little Scriblers, who pretend to write better Sense than Great Secretaries: Or, Mr. Stephens's Triumph over the Pillory, 1706.
Be wise as Ad---n, as Br---ne be brave,
As Philips Airy, and as Jones look Grave;
Humble as Prior be; Sachev'rell's Zeal,
For Church and Loyalty, will fit you well;
Like Pittis, I would have you love the Church,
But not like him, be by her left i'th' Lurch,
For the well governing your Poetry,
Rymer and Dennis let your Patterns be:
And if it be at last your Scribling Fate
To triumph o'er a Pill'ry, e'er too late,
Like me recant, and be not obstinate.
As Philips Airy, and as Jones look Grave;
Humble as Prior be; Sachev'rell's Zeal,
For Church and Loyalty, will fit you well;
Like Pittis, I would have you love the Church,
But not like him, be by her left i'th' Lurch,
For the well governing your Poetry,
Rymer and Dennis let your Patterns be:
And if it be at last your Scribling Fate
To triumph o'er a Pill'ry, e'er too late,
Like me recant, and be not obstinate.
Remember Tutchin's Boldness for his Cause,
That stood the fiery Trial of the Laws.
When sneaking Scriblers poorly sue for Grace,
He triumphs o'er 'em with an honest Face.
So Ridpath smiles at all Fate's harsh Decrees,
But can't be pleas'd, when forc'd to pay his Fees,
When Parchment-Rolls, like murd'ring War appears,
Libels, that raise the trembling Poets fears,
And set Mankind together by the Ears.
These to avoid, in dull Translation Trade,
Bowyer, and Savage, and Oldmixon read;
Or deal in News, and write whate'er you will,
But mind you Scrible on the right Side still:
Then you may Letters from Altea bring,
If like Fontvive, 'tis with a just Design
To please the Government and serve the Queen.
That stood the fiery Trial of the Laws.
When sneaking Scriblers poorly sue for Grace,
He triumphs o'er 'em with an honest Face.
So Ridpath smiles at all Fate's harsh Decrees,
But can't be pleas'd, when forc'd to pay his Fees,
When Parchment-Rolls, like murd'ring War appears,
Libels, that raise the trembling Poets fears,
And set Mankind together by the Ears.
These to avoid, in dull Translation Trade,
Bowyer, and Savage, and Oldmixon read;
Or deal in News, and write whate'er you will,
But mind you Scrible on the right Side still:
64
If like Fontvive, 'tis with a just Design
To please the Government and serve the Queen.
So writes De Foe, an Author now in Vogue,
Who was so lately Pillor'd for a R*****;
Therefore let his Example, yours be made;
Neither of Fines, nor Pillories, be afraid.
Lesly wites on, and Gildon still is free
To laugh at Ward for writing Poetry;
Whose Prose escapes the Censure of the Times,
And Informations fall on jingling Rhymes.
To sum up all; let Drake's just Merit be
A Caution to Poetick Liberty.
Since Ward's true Genius, and since Gildon's Sense,
At last has brought them to a Dearth of Pence,
'Tis hard their Learning, and each Turn of Wit,
Should only make them for this Triumph fit.
Who was so lately Pillor'd for a R*****;
Therefore let his Example, yours be made;
Neither of Fines, nor Pillories, be afraid.
Lesly wites on, and Gildon still is free
To laugh at Ward for writing Poetry;
Whose Prose escapes the Censure of the Times,
And Informations fall on jingling Rhymes.
To sum up all; let Drake's just Merit be
A Caution to Poetick Liberty.
Since Ward's true Genius, and since Gildon's Sense,
At last has brought them to a Dearth of Pence,
'Tis hard their Learning, and each Turn of Wit,
Should only make them for this Triumph fit.
| Poems on Affairs of State | |