Matthew Prior. Dialogues of the Dead and Other Works ::

Since the King like a venterous Gamster at Loo
Threw by his old Courtiers, and took in for new
Till by shuffling and drawing the cards were so mix't
That those which Won this deal were laid aside next
The Sons of the Muses began to repine
That who e'er was turn'd out John Dryden kept in
So, Numerous and Noisy to Phœbus they came
To ask why of All the Knaves he shou'd be Pam.

John Dryden appear'd at the head of the Gang,
And with a low bow and learned Harangue
He said with Submission he thought t'wou'd be hard
If he of the Bays shou'd at length be debar'd
Who so well had writ and so frankly declar'd.
Declaring says Phœbus, concerns not this court;
They that set you at work let 'em e'en pay you for't
Whats Religion to Us, tis well known that many
Have manag'd the Place well without having Any.
For matter of Writing 'tis frankly confest
If we'l take your bare word for't You do it much best.

[OMITTED] next thing that advances
Is the Priest to the Sacrifice honest St Francis
Ochanti, Huy Hannon, Rozarno, Tzinzummey
Bloody hands, blazing Comets, Priests devils and Mummy
Sure this will engage You? Apollo says No
All these pritty tricks Lee in Bedlam can show
Why then (tho Despina and Tamerlane fail)
I'm my Lord Dorsets Friend, I hope that may prevail,
Apollo bow'd low at the name, and declar'd
What a just Veneration he had for my Lord.
But heark'yee Sir Knight, says the God, that wont do
For if he had the Bays whom his honor best knew
W. R. has fairer pretences than You.

300

Old Waller came next, and handsomly pleaded
That none writ so neat and so calmly as he did
That with very much Wit he no anger exprest
Nor sharpen'd his Verse with a Venemous Jest.
And granting all this, said Apollo, old Friend
'Twil signify little to'th' business in hand
For as he that's dubb'd Hero, must first to the Wars
And bring home sore bruises and hazardous scars
So, he that wou'd rise and be prov'd a true Bays
(To be fitted in every respect to the Place)
Must be damn'd for his plays and for Satyr Sustain
To beatings at least in a little By-Lane.

Next little Tom Durfey demanded the Bays
For the sense of his Songs and the Plot of his Plays
A double pretence which I'l vow very Strong
But I've heard says Apollo a Scurrilous Song
In which You've affronted my friend Mrs. Long
And heark-yee Squire Durfey the Man that refuses
Respect to the Sex is no friend to the Muses.

Next Maidwel who young Poetasters can bring
As some do tame Blackbirds, to Whistle and Sing
His Tropes and his Figures most finely employs
To purchace the Wreath for himself and his Boys
For if he that Taught best had most right to the Laurel
Old Busby not he must determine the Quarrel
Apollo inform'd him he shou'd be most glad
If from his own Works any Plea cou'd be made
But at present he thought his pretences but bad.

From the Island of Love with a Shipload of Verse
Comes Afra and asks the Court leave to Rehearse
Enjoyment and Raptures and pretty Devises
Enamell'd on Watches for Damon and Isis
The Poetess Sung: at length swore She'd prove
That She and Jack Hoyle taught the whole Age to Love
And on with't She ran, nor had ended till now
But Phœbus reprov'd her, and gave her to know
That her Tongue went too fast, and her Love watch too Slow.
[OMITTED] If e'er he was found
To chuse words for any thing else but the sound.

301

The next that put in for't was little Jo Crown
He swore his Sir Courtly had ravish'd the Town.
Then Shadwel too sweated amain in the Praise
Of the language and Plot of his Squire of Alsace
They both were put by, So were two or three more
That fell short of the Lawrel the Session before
For they cou'd no more their Pretensions repeat
Than a horse thats once distanc'd may run second heat.

With a bundle of Poetry Settle was there
Some brought from the Play-house, and some from the Fair.
But Apollo assur'd him, he never wou'd chuse
The Laurel from such Demi Poets as those
Who write Treason in Verse, and recant but in Prose.

Sir Ch:**** that can write and better Translate
Was likewise Deny'd it for he'd an Estate
And from Homer to D****n it never was known
That the Laureat had three Pence a Year of his own.

Tom Wicherly challeng'd the Bays as his Due
And brought the plain Dealer to prove his words true.
I own says Apollo the Strength of Your Plea
But e'er You've the Place, there's one rub in Your way
The Test my Dear Friend, You must certainly take
Wou'd to God we cou'd get it repeal'd for your Sake.

After these a whole Gang with ill looks and hard Names
Thrust up to Apollo and forc'd in their Claims.

University of Virginia Library

A Session of the Poets [_] (imperfect).

A Session of the Poets
[_]

(imperfect).