University of Virginia Library

Sidrophel

Imploy your old Malitious Arts
To undermine all Mens Deserts,
And, like a Pauper, question those
Who you believe have most to loose,
Discover Counterfets and Fooles
By your own Practices and Rules,
Fall foul on all that's good, or Rare,
To gaine a Base Informers share,
And lewdly intitle others to
What you your self are wont to do,
Although it yeald you in Returne,
Nothing but Infamy, and Scorne.
Provoke the Enemy by whom
Y' have been Subdu'd, and overcome
And by the Law's, and Right of war
Have forfited t' your Conqueror
All Right and Title you had once
T' your Inward, and Outward Dunce.
You take a Right Course to reclame
The world from Infamy and Shame:
For Slander e're so foul, or true,
Turnes Honor when it comes from you,
And though no Flesh can 'scape the wrong
Of your unworm'd, Impetuous Tongue,
That still stand's ready to attack
Th' unknown, and known behinde his Back
(As Cutpurses nere minde what Sum
Nor who it is they take it from)
You never slip the least occasion
T' invade the Instant Reputation:
As Heraulds in a wolf or Beare
Make Tongue, and Nayles one Culler weare,
So you, whose valour's to defame,
Make Slander, and Revenge the same;
And, as when haughty Sathan fell
From Heaven, to the Pit of Hell,
He made it his first worke t' intice
Mankind to fall from Paradise:
So 'tis your Aime to bring all down
To that lewd Infamy of your own;
An Envoy to negociate in
Transactions of Decrepit Sin,
In Baudery a Heretique
And Pimp to those, that whip and Lick,
Has vented many a Strange opinion
As if the Dev'l himself were in him.