Poems or, A Miscellany of Sonnets, Satyrs, Drollery, Panegyricks, Elegies, &c. At the Instance, and Request of Several Friends, Times, and Occasions, Composed; and now at their command Collected, and Committed to the Press. By the Author, M. Stevenson |
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Defiance to the Dutch.
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 | Poems |  |
Defiance to the Dutch.
Rob'd of our Rights? and by such Water-rats?
We'l doff their Heads, if they wo'nt doff their Hats;
Affront too Hogen-Mogen to Endure!
'Tis time to box these Butter-Boxes sure.
If they the Flags undoubted Right deny Us?
Who wo'nt strike to us, must be stricken by Us.
A Crew of Boars, and Sooterkins, that know,
Themselves, they to our Blood and Valour owe.
Did we for this, knock off their Spanish fetters,
To make 'um able to abuse their betters?
If at this Rate they Rave; I think 'tis good,
Not to omit the Spring, but let 'um blood.
We'l doff their Heads, if they wo'nt doff their Hats;
Affront too Hogen-Mogen to Endure!
'Tis time to box these Butter-Boxes sure.
If they the Flags undoubted Right deny Us?
Who wo'nt strike to us, must be stricken by Us.
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Themselves, they to our Blood and Valour owe.
Did we for this, knock off their Spanish fetters,
To make 'um able to abuse their betters?
If at this Rate they Rave; I think 'tis good,
Not to omit the Spring, but let 'um blood.
Rouz then Heroick Brittains, 'tis not words,
But wounds must work with Leather-Apron Lords.
Since they are deaf, to them your meaning break,
With mouths of brass, that words of Iron speak.
I hope we shall to purpose the next bout
Cure 'um, as we did Opdam of the Gout.
And when i'th bottom of the Sea they come,
They'l have enough of Mare Liberum.
Our brandisht steel, though now they seem so tall,
Shall make 'um lower than Low-Country, fall.
But they'l e're long, come to themselves you'l see,
VVhen we in Earnest are at Snick a Snee.
When once the Boars perceive our Swords are drawn
And we converting are those Boars to brawn.
But wounds must work with Leather-Apron Lords.
Since they are deaf, to them your meaning break,
With mouths of brass, that words of Iron speak.
I hope we shall to purpose the next bout
Cure 'um, as we did Opdam of the Gout.
And when i'th bottom of the Sea they come,
They'l have enough of Mare Liberum.
Our brandisht steel, though now they seem so tall,
Shall make 'um lower than Low-Country, fall.
But they'l e're long, come to themselves you'l see,
VVhen we in Earnest are at Snick a Snee.
When once the Boars perceive our Swords are drawn
And we converting are those Boars to brawn.
Me thinks the Ruine of their Belgick banners
Last Fight, almost as ragged as their manners,
Might have perswaded 'um to better things,
Than be so sawcy to their betters, Kings.
Is it of Wealth they are so proud become?
Charles has a Wain I hope to fetch it home:
And with it pay himself his just Arrears,
Of Fishing Tribute for this Hundred Years.
That we may say, as all the store comes in,
The Dutch, alas, have but our Factors bin.
They fathom Sea and Land, we when we please
Have both the Indies brought to our own Seas.
For Rich, and proud, they bring in Ships by shoals,
And then we humble them to save their Souls.
Last Fight, almost as ragged as their manners,
Might have perswaded 'um to better things,
Than be so sawcy to their betters, Kings.
Is it of Wealth they are so proud become?
Charles has a Wain I hope to fetch it home:
And with it pay himself his just Arrears,
Of Fishing Tribute for this Hundred Years.
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The Dutch, alas, have but our Factors bin.
They fathom Sea and Land, we when we please
Have both the Indies brought to our own Seas.
For Rich, and proud, they bring in Ships by shoals,
And then we humble them to save their Souls.
Pox of their Pictures, if we had 'um here,
We'd find 'um frames at Tyburn or else where.
The next they draw, be it their Admirals
Transpeciated into Fynnes, and Scales;
Or, which wou'd do as well, draw if they please
Opdam, with the Seven sinking Provinces:
Or draw their Captains from the conquering Main
First beaten home, then beaten back again,
And after this so just, though fatal strife,
Draw their dead Boars again unto the Life:
Lastly, remember to prevent all laughter,
Drawing goes first, but hanging follows after.
If then Lampooning thus be their undoing,
Who pities them, that purchase their own ruine?
Or will hereafter trust their Treacheries,
Until they leave their Heads for Hostages.
For, as the Proverb has of VVomen said—
Believe 'um not, nay though you'd swear th' are dead.
The Dutch are stubborn, and will yield no fruit,
Till, like the Wallnut Tree, ye beat 'um to't.
We'd find 'um frames at Tyburn or else where.
The next they draw, be it their Admirals
Transpeciated into Fynnes, and Scales;
Or, which wou'd do as well, draw if they please
Opdam, with the Seven sinking Provinces:
Or draw their Captains from the conquering Main
First beaten home, then beaten back again,
And after this so just, though fatal strife,
Draw their dead Boars again unto the Life:
Lastly, remember to prevent all laughter,
Drawing goes first, but hanging follows after.
If then Lampooning thus be their undoing,
Who pities them, that purchase their own ruine?
Or will hereafter trust their Treacheries,
Until they leave their Heads for Hostages.
For, as the Proverb has of VVomen said—
Believe 'um not, nay though you'd swear th' are dead.
The Dutch are stubborn, and will yield no fruit,
Till, like the Wallnut Tree, ye beat 'um to't.
L. Orat. Injurias & non redditas, causam hujusce esse belli audisse videor.
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