 | Poems on Affairs of State |  |
The Ghost of K. C*****ll.
Written about the Year 1692.
As in a Dream our thinking Monarch lay,
E'er Night gave place to the approaching Day,
A Ghastly Phantom at his Pillow reer'd,
And with wide Mouth, broad Eyes, thin Cheeks appear'd;
Which in a Flash of Lightning crown'd with Smoke,
Thus his Bat---an Successor bespoke.
E'er Night gave place to the approaching Day,
A Ghastly Phantom at his Pillow reer'd,
And with wide Mouth, broad Eyes, thin Cheeks appear'd;
Which in a Flash of Lightning crown'd with Smoke,
Thus his Bat---an Successor bespoke.
Hail my blest Nephew, whom the Fates ordain
To fill the Measure of the St---rts Reign;
That all the Ills by our whole Race design'd,
In thee their full Accomplishment might find:
'Tis thou that art decreed this Point to clear,
Which we have labour'd for these fourscore Year:
Lest then thou fail'st in this high Enterprize,
I'm come to steel thee with my best Advice.
To fill the Measure of the St---rts Reign;
That all the Ills by our whole Race design'd,
In thee their full Accomplishment might find:
'Tis thou that art decreed this Point to clear,
Which we have labour'd for these fourscore Year:
Lest then thou fail'st in this high Enterprize,
I'm come to steel thee with my best Advice.
First cast all idle Thoughts of Heaven away,
Those pious Clogs to Arbitrary Sway,
Which serve to sink a Subject to a Slave,
But must not check the Actions of the Brave.
Kings are free Agents, and their Wills are Laws,
Which they may break or keep as they see cause,
And claim a Share in the Almighty Power
Which Heaven assumes, to nourish or devour.
And when thy Fear of God abates its Force,
Thy Gratitude to Man will fail of course:
And these must be subdu'd e'er thou obtain
The pleasing Fruits of Arbitrary Reign.
Yet still the Church must be thy chiefest Care,
For Kings (you know) their nursing Fathers are:
That Set of Blockheads are the Monarch's Tools,
To keep the Knaves in awe, and banter Fools.
Keep them but under, Spaniel-like, and tame,
They'l be of use to point thee out thy Game;
Make 'em believe thou'rt theirs, but trust them not,
More than to serve thy Lust, or hunt a Plot.
If thy dull Father had these Measures ta'en,
Thy Attempt to th'English Throne had been in vain.
Those pious Clogs to Arbitrary Sway,
Which serve to sink a Subject to a Slave,
But must not check the Actions of the Brave.
Kings are free Agents, and their Wills are Laws,
Which they may break or keep as they see cause,
And claim a Share in the Almighty Power
Which Heaven assumes, to nourish or devour.
And when thy Fear of God abates its Force,
Thy Gratitude to Man will fail of course:
318
The pleasing Fruits of Arbitrary Reign.
Yet still the Church must be thy chiefest Care,
For Kings (you know) their nursing Fathers are:
That Set of Blockheads are the Monarch's Tools,
To keep the Knaves in awe, and banter Fools.
Keep them but under, Spaniel-like, and tame,
They'l be of use to point thee out thy Game;
Make 'em believe thou'rt theirs, but trust them not,
More than to serve thy Lust, or hunt a Plot.
If thy dull Father had these Measures ta'en,
Thy Attempt to th'English Throne had been in vain.
Next, let thy Ministers consist of those
Who either are thy own or England's Foes:
Take them of Men impeach'd of former Crimes,
Or else obnoxious to the present Times.
Such as thy Father rais'd, and him betray'd,
Must be the Objects of thy Favour made;
Or that oppos'd thy coming to the Throne,
Take these into thy Bosom, they're thy own:
While such as have thy Int'rest truly serv'd,
May thank their own Estates they are not starv'd.
Avoid the Wise and Honest all you can,
For Monarchy will bear no Virtuous Man.
In all Employs be careful to select
Those that will give from those that do expect:
Mankind's alike, Distinction's hard to make;
The Mony then must guide you whom to take.
Who either are thy own or England's Foes:
Take them of Men impeach'd of former Crimes,
Or else obnoxious to the present Times.
Such as thy Father rais'd, and him betray'd,
Must be the Objects of thy Favour made;
Or that oppos'd thy coming to the Throne,
Take these into thy Bosom, they're thy own:
While such as have thy Int'rest truly serv'd,
May thank their own Estates they are not starv'd.
Avoid the Wise and Honest all you can,
For Monarchy will bear no Virtuous Man.
In all Employs be careful to select
Those that will give from those that do expect:
Mankind's alike, Distinction's hard to make;
The Mony then must guide you whom to take.
Another piece of Kingly Craft occurs,
Which is to manage right Intestine Stirs.
Of this I will but one short instance give,
To shew you how this Nail of State to drive.
A Race of Men, unknown in former Story,
Had split this Kingdom into Whig and Tory;
Both Factions grew in Country and in Court,
And both to me did mutually resort;
To whom I gave a subalternate Power
T'enable them each other to devour.
This Artifice of State, had I liv'd on,
Would in short time have fix'd the Imperial Throne:
But when I fell, that Abdicated Goose,
Thy Father, left the Game at fast and loose;
And vent'ring to pluck off the Mask too soon,
United them, and was himself undone.
This Game revive again, pursue it close,
And thou the Fate of England may'st dispose.
Which is to manage right Intestine Stirs.
Of this I will but one short instance give,
To shew you how this Nail of State to drive.
A Race of Men, unknown in former Story,
Had split this Kingdom into Whig and Tory;
Both Factions grew in Country and in Court,
And both to me did mutually resort;
To whom I gave a subalternate Power
T'enable them each other to devour.
319
Would in short time have fix'd the Imperial Throne:
But when I fell, that Abdicated Goose,
Thy Father, left the Game at fast and loose;
And vent'ring to pluck off the Mask too soon,
United them, and was himself undone.
This Game revive again, pursue it close,
And thou the Fate of England may'st dispose.
Lastly, to crown the Work, keep fair and even
With the Enchanted Chappel of St. Stephen;
That Politick Ware-house, whence a King may draw
Fit Tools to overturn both Right and Law.
Fail not to bait the Trap, these Gulls to please
With Hopes of Pensions, Gifts, and Offices:
Keep there the Poison strong, supply the Spring
With fresh Corruptions, and be ever King.
With the Enchanted Chappel of St. Stephen;
That Politick Ware-house, whence a King may draw
Fit Tools to overturn both Right and Law.
Fail not to bait the Trap, these Gulls to please
With Hopes of Pensions, Gifts, and Offices:
Keep there the Poison strong, supply the Spring
With fresh Corruptions, and be ever King.
More might be said, but I am call'd away
By a shrill Voice which ushers in the Day;
Speak quickly, if thou'ast any thing to say.
The Pensive Prince, not given to Replies,
By a shrill Voice which ushers in the Day;
Speak quickly, if thou'ast any thing to say.
Upon his Bed a while revolving lies;
Then starting up, to's Cabinet he went,
And shew'd the Ghost his Scheme of Government:
Which when he'ad seen, away the Goblin spun,
Frighted to see himself so much out done.
| Poems on Affairs of State | |