University of Virginia Library

Portsmouth's Looking-Glass.

Methinks I see you newly risen,
From your Embriodered Bed and pissing;
With studied Mien and much Grimace,
Present your self before your Glass,
To varnish and rub o're those Graces,
You rubb'd off in your Night Embraces:
To set your Hair, your Eyes, your Teeth,
And all those Powers you conquer with;
Lay trains of Love and State-Intrigues,
In Powders, Trimmings, and curl'd Wigs:
And nicely chuse, and neatly spread,
Upon your Cheeks the best French Red.
Indeed for Whites none can compare,
With those you naturally wear;
And though her Highness much delights
To laugh and talk about your Whites,
I never could perceive your Grace
Made use of any for your Face.
Here 'tis you practice all your Art,
To triumph o're a Monarch's Heart;
Tattle and smile, and wink and twink on't,
It almost makes me sp--- to think on't.
These are your master-strokes of Beauty,
That keeps poor Rowley to hard Duty:
And how can all these be withstood,
By frail amorous Flesh and Blood?
These are the Charms that have bewitch't him,
As if a Conjurer's Rod had switch't him:
Made him he knows not what to doe,
But loll and fumble here with you.
Amongst your Ladies, and his Chitts,
At Cards and Council here he sits:
Yet minds not how they play at either,
Nor cares not when 'tis walking weather:
Business and Power he has resign'd,
And all things to your mighty Mind.
Is there a Minister of State,
Or any Treasurer of late,
That's fawning and imperious too?
He owes his Greatness all to you:
And as you see just cause to doe it,
You keep him in, or turn him out.
Hence 'tis you give us War and Peace,
Raise Men, disband them as you please:
Take any Pensions, retrench Wages,
For Petticoats, and lusty Pages:
Contrive and Execute all Laws,
Suiting the Judges to the Cause.
Learn'd Scroggs and honest Jeffreys,
A Faithfull Friend to you who e're is;
He made the Jury come in booty,
And for your service wou'd hang Doughty.
You govern every Council meeting,
Making th'Fools do as you think fitting:
Your Royal Cully has command,
Onely from you at second hand;
He does but at the helm appear,
Sits there and sleeps while your Slaves steer:
And you are the bright Northern Star,
By which they guide this Man of War;
Yet without doubt they might conduct
Him better were you better f---
Many begin to think of late
His Crown and C---ds have both one date,
For as they fall so falls the State.
And as his Reins prove loose and weak,
The Reigns of Government must break