 | Poems on Affairs of State |  |
The Address, 1704.
Ye Men of Might, and muckle Power,
Our Representing K---s;
Who High-Church Zealots to restore,
And Toleration Acts devour,
Would make us all your Slaves.
Our Representing K---s;
Who High-Church Zealots to restore,
And Toleration Acts devour,
Would make us all your Slaves.
You lately told her Majesty,
You would retrieve her Honour;
'Tis plain you meant it to deceive:
And you'l the Nation's Faults retrieve,
By bringing new ones on her.
You would retrieve her Honour;
'Tis plain you meant it to deceive:
And you'l the Nation's Faults retrieve,
By bringing new ones on her.
If you would have us think you're true,
Let Actions make it known;
The Nation's Happiness persue,
Her old Miscarriages review,
But don't forget your own.
Let Actions make it known;
The Nation's Happiness persue,
Her old Miscarriages review,
But don't forget your own.
Tell us, ye Sons of Emptiness.
Explain this Contradiction:
How can Contention bring forth Peace,
Or how a Nation have Success,
Without the Laws Protection?
Explain this Contradiction:
How can Contention bring forth Peace,
Or how a Nation have Success,
Without the Laws Protection?
69
You that with Lawyers so abound,
And Men of Elocution;
Your M---h, W---t, and N---y send,
See if they can your Works defend,
As well as Constitution.
And Men of Elocution;
Your M---h, W---t, and N---y send,
See if they can your Works defend,
As well as Constitution.
You meet in Clubs, and strong Cabals,
To controvert Elections:
But Party Interest there prevails,
Merit and Sense of Honour fails,
And meets with no Protection.
To controvert Elections:
But Party Interest there prevails,
Merit and Sense of Honour fails,
And meets with no Protection.
With House of Peers you're wondrous Nice,
Of Reputation tender;
But they see thro the thin disguise,
And where you're foolish, they're as wise,
And they're our true Defenders.
Of Reputation tender;
But they see thro the thin disguise,
And where you're foolish, they're as wise,
And they're our true Defenders.
In Reason, Management, and Law,
They turn you round and round;
No Age such Bubbles ever saw,
The Lines of Justice thwart you draw,
And all your Plots confound.
They turn you round and round;
No Age such Bubbles ever saw,
The Lines of Justice thwart you draw,
And all your Plots confound.
With mighty Votes, and furious Bill,
You keep a wretched pother;
But M--- manag'd it so ill,
The Cheat came out against your Will,
And sav'd Dissenting Brother.
You keep a wretched pother;
But M--- manag'd it so ill,
The Cheat came out against your Will,
And sav'd Dissenting Brother.
The blundring Orator betray'd
The Snake of Persecution;
The Trojan Ass so loudly bray'd,
It made the Nation all afraid,
In spite of Elocution.
The Snake of Persecution;
The Trojan Ass so loudly bray'd,
It made the Nation all afraid,
In spite of Elocution.
70
He told you Places were ingross'd
In all the wiser Nations,
By those that worship God the most;
But we have found it to our cost,
'T has here been out of Fashion.
In all the wiser Nations,
By those that worship God the most;
But we have found it to our cost,
'T has here been out of Fashion.
For Rogues get into Church and State,
And wise Men circumvent;
Leudness directs the Magistrate,
Knaves rule the Cash, and Fools the Fleet,
And both the P---t.
And wise Men circumvent;
Leudness directs the Magistrate,
Knaves rule the Cash, and Fools the Fleet,
And both the P---t.
With Royal Faith her Majesty
Had back'd the Toleration;
And you, with English Honesty,
Wou'd have her Faith and Vows deny,
And ruin all the Nation.
Had back'd the Toleration;
And you, with English Honesty,
Wou'd have her Faith and Vows deny,
And ruin all the Nation.
No wonder you're asham'd to print
The Votes of your Proceeding;
The Nation soon knew what you meant,
And that there would be something in't,
That would not bear the reading.
The Votes of your Proceeding;
The Nation soon knew what you meant,
And that there would be something in't,
That would not bear the reading.
Of VVilliam's Grants you now complain,
Without regard to Merit;
But the leud Gifts of former Reigns,
To Whores and Papists, you maintain,
And Bastards may inherit.
Without regard to Merit;
But the leud Gifts of former Reigns,
To Whores and Papists, you maintain,
And Bastards may inherit.
You recognize wise N---m,
As one that did his Duty;
And there are other Rogues of Fame,
To whom you ought to do the same,
Because they are so true t'ye.
As one that did his Duty;
And there are other Rogues of Fame,
To whom you ought to do the same,
Because they are so true t'ye.
71
But here the Mischief of it lies,
Your Character's a Scandal;
For any Knaves in Church-disguise,
And any Fool you like's as wise,
When we're to be trapan'd all.
Your Character's a Scandal;
For any Knaves in Church-disguise,
And any Fool you like's as wise,
When we're to be trapan'd all.
You are the Men that once cry'd down
The Treaty of Partition;
After the mighty things y' have done,
Pray have you not reduc'd the Crown
Into a worse Condition?
The Treaty of Partition;
After the mighty things y' have done,
Pray have you not reduc'd the Crown
Into a worse Condition?
We wou'd be glad you'd make it plain,
And fain we would believe it,
When better Terms you'l for us gain,
And how those better Terms maintain,
That we might all perceive it.
And fain we would believe it,
When better Terms you'l for us gain,
And how those better Terms maintain,
That we might all perceive it.
The very day you first began
Dissenters to reform,
Heaven told you 'twou'd be all in vain,
And did its just Dislike explain,
In a prodigious Storm.
Dissenters to reform,
Heaven told you 'twou'd be all in vain,
And did its just Dislike explain,
In a prodigious Storm.
But Heaven those Men corrects in vain,
Who are for Judgment worse;
Who still their Vices will retain,
Who first the Blessing dare disdain,
And then despise the Curse.
Who are for Judgment worse;
Who still their Vices will retain,
Who first the Blessing dare disdain,
And then despise the Curse.
In all the grand Faux-Pa's you make,
Cou'd you be curs'd alone,
Wou'd Heaven such proper Vengeance take,
We might not suffer for your sake,
You were welcome to go on.
Cou'd you be curs'd alone,
Wou'd Heaven such proper Vengeance take,
We might not suffer for your sake,
You were welcome to go on.
72
Then you might all your selves undo,
And for the time to come
Make out this Riddle to be true,
How you can foreign Wars pursue,
By raising Feuds at home.
And for the time to come
Make out this Riddle to be true,
How you can foreign Wars pursue,
By raising Feuds at home.
When you look back on William's Reign,
And his Mistakes disclose,
Of his bad Conduct you complain;
But if you'd view it o'er again,
'Twou'd all your own expose.
And his Mistakes disclose,
Of his bad Conduct you complain;
But if you'd view it o'er again,
'Twou'd all your own expose.
Your want of Temper to the last,
Did his Designs defeat,
Always too slow, or else too fast,
Too backward, or in too much hast,
Too cold or else too hot.
Did his Designs defeat,
Always too slow, or else too fast,
Too backward, or in too much hast,
Too cold or else too hot.
We wish you would look back upon
The modern things you boast,
The great Exploits your Fleets have done,
The Glory gain'd, the Conquest won,
And how much all has cost.
The modern things you boast,
The great Exploits your Fleets have done,
The Glory gain'd, the Conquest won,
And how much all has cost.
With wonted Courage and Success
Sir R---k invaded Spain;
His wonted Conduct we confess,
And all Men own the Happiness,
That he's come home again.
Sir R---k invaded Spain;
His wonted Conduct we confess,
And all Men own the Happiness,
That he's come home again.
The Lords have now thrown out your Bill,
Which moves your Indignation;
But you betray your want of Skill,
And manage your Revenge so ill,
You're the jest of all the Nation.
Which moves your Indignation;
But you betray your want of Skill,
And manage your Revenge so ill,
You're the jest of all the Nation.
73
Your Ancestors with one Consent,
Complain'd of Lawless Power;
Made Laws our Bondage to prevent,
And you of those good Deeds repent,
And all those Laws devour.
Complain'd of Lawless Power;
Made Laws our Bondage to prevent,
And you of those good Deeds repent,
And all those Laws devour.
You are the first that are apply'd
T'exalt th'encroaching Crown,
As if you did not know that Pride,
When mounted up, and ask'd to ride,
Wou'd pull Religion down.
T'exalt th'encroaching Crown,
As if you did not know that Pride,
When mounted up, and ask'd to ride,
Wou'd pull Religion down.
Your Strange Unparallel'd Address
No less affronts the Queen,
Prompts her the lawful Power t'abuse,
Tells her she holds the Reins too loose,
And knows not how to reign.
No less affronts the Queen,
Prompts her the lawful Power t'abuse,
Tells her she holds the Reins too loose,
And knows not how to reign.
Did ever House of K--- but you,
Like this betray the Nation?
Is this our Freedom to pursue,
Pray what's Prerogative to you,
In representing Station?
Like this betray the Nation?
Is this our Freedom to pursue,
Pray what's Prerogative to you,
In representing Station?
Your Business is, as all Men know,
Our Grievance to redress,
Supply the Crown, support it too,
But not to prompt, the Lord knows who,
The People to oppress.
Our Grievance to redress,
Supply the Crown, support it too,
But not to prompt, the Lord knows who,
The People to oppress.
In former time, when Tyrants reign'd,
Your Treatments were too rough;
But if you'd have your Sense explain'd,
You give the Queen to understand,
She's not severe enough.
Your Treatments were too rough;
But if you'd have your Sense explain'd,
You give the Queen to understand,
She's not severe enough.
74
Is this the blessed way you take
Our Freedoms to defend,
To force the Queen her Vows to break,
And all her soft Resolves forsake,
And abs'lute Power extend?
Our Freedoms to defend,
To force the Queen her Vows to break,
And all her soft Resolves forsake,
And abs'lute Power extend?
This Nation has had Kings enough
That rul'd with Power Despotick,
Who of Tyrannick Arts made Proof,
And us'd the Nation much too rough,
By means and ways Exotic.
That rul'd with Power Despotick,
Who of Tyrannick Arts made Proof,
And us'd the Nation much too rough,
By means and ways Exotic.
At these you always snarl'd, and show'd
Your discontented Spirit,
And now you would be understood,
Because you have a Queen too good,
You know not how to bear it.
Your discontented Spirit,
And now you would be understood,
Because you have a Queen too good,
You know not how to bear it.
With humble Cant, and lowly Speech,
How you besiege her Throne,
Tell her She is too mild, by Mich,
That she must whip the Nation's B---h,
And make her Power be known.
How you besiege her Throne,
Tell her She is too mild, by Mich,
That she must whip the Nation's B---h,
And make her Power be known.
Have Patience, till by Management
You bring your King from France;
'Tis plain, the scope of your Intent
Is there, or else the Devils in't,
And you're all mad by chance.
You bring your King from France;
'Tis plain, the scope of your Intent
Is there, or else the Devils in't,
And you're all mad by chance.
When your young Hero mounts the Throne,
You'll quickly have a Proof;
He'll quickly make the difference known,
And take just Care to have it shown,
He'll tyrannize enough.
You'll quickly have a Proof;
He'll quickly make the difference known,
And take just Care to have it shown,
He'll tyrannize enough.
75
What Pity 'tis you should be fool'd,
And balk'd in your Petition?
They who with Scorpions will be rul'd,
And they who will be ruin'd, should
Be mock'd in their Submission.
And balk'd in your Petition?
They who with Scorpions will be rul'd,
And they who will be ruin'd, should
Be mock'd in their Submission.
If e'er Tyrannick Powers possess,
And re-reduce the Nation,
They'l bear their Date from this Address,
And you'l too late your Crimes confess,
But merit no Compassion.
And re-reduce the Nation,
They'l bear their Date from this Address,
And you'l too late your Crimes confess,
But merit no Compassion.
Now you fall foul upon the Press,
And talk of Regulation;
When you our Libelling suppress,
Pray drop your Votes among the rest,
For they lampoon the Nation.
And talk of Regulation;
When you our Libelling suppress,
Pray drop your Votes among the rest,
For they lampoon the Nation.
You are the Monkeys of the State,
And Ape our true Defenders;
Heav'n guard us from the hasty Fate,
Which wise Men look for from the Cheat
Of all such vile Pretenders.
And Ape our true Defenders;
Heav'n guard us from the hasty Fate,
Which wise Men look for from the Cheat
Of all such vile Pretenders.
You are the Nation's true Lampoon,
In Banter be it spoken:
If you wou'd save us, 'Tis too soon;
And 'tis too late to be undone,
Because our Eyes are open.
In Banter be it spoken:
If you wou'd save us, 'Tis too soon;
And 'tis too late to be undone,
Because our Eyes are open.
And now you stand in Peer's Records,
Usurpers of the Nation;
No Men regard your forfeit Words,
The Nation's Eyes are on the Lords,
And there's our Expectation.
Usurpers of the Nation;
No Men regard your forfeit Words,
The Nation's Eyes are on the Lords,
And there's our Expectation.
76
Your G---s, W---s, R---s shall there
Their due Deserts encounter,
And in due time Vile R---r
And N---m may both appear
To give a black Account there.
Their due Deserts encounter,
And in due time Vile R---r
And N---m may both appear
To give a black Account there.
Assure your selves the Nation will
The House of Lords defend,
You've lost your Interest and your Skill,
And never will regain it, till
Your Manners come to mend.
The House of Lords defend,
You've lost your Interest and your Skill,
And never will regain it, till
Your Manners come to mend.
That you betray the People's Trust,
The Nation knows is true,
Are Arbitrary and Unjust;
And if we will be sav'd, we must
Find other Men than You.
The Nation knows is true,
Are Arbitrary and Unjust;
And if we will be sav'd, we must
Find other Men than You.
And now you cavil with the Lords,
Because they first reprov'd you;
Your Manners just Remark affords,
But most of all your Decent Words,
Have R---s and S---s prov'd you.
Because they first reprov'd you;
Your Manners just Remark affords,
But most of all your Decent Words,
Have R---s and S---s prov'd you.
Go home for shame; But first the Queen
Address for Dissolution,
No more in that high House be seen,
Where such a Scandal you ha' been
To th'English Constitution.
Address for Dissolution,
No more in that high House be seen,
Where such a Scandal you ha' been
To th'English Constitution.
| Poems on Affairs of State | |