The Modern World disrob'd or, both sexes Stript of their pretended vertue. In Two Parts. First, Of the Ladies. Secondly, Of the Gentlemen. With Familiar Descant upon every Character [by Edward Ward] |
 | I. |
 | II. | PART II. |
 | The Modern World disrob'd |  |
119
II. PART II.
The Modish Gentleman:
OR, The Climbing Courtier.
125
Ne'er
think it strange, that Knaves should rise,
Whilst honest Men are laid by;
There's something that in private lies,
Which many a Man is made by.
Whilst honest Men are laid by;
There's something that in private lies,
Which many a Man is made by.
126
Some climb aloft, to little born,
But let it be no Wonder;
Perhaps he has the Luck to turn
Some pow'rful Lady under.
But let it be no Wonder;
Perhaps he has the Luck to turn
Some pow'rful Lady under.
Stage-Harlots we have often seen
Advanc'd to lofty Station,
And coach'd in State, like Madam Gwin,
To th'Scandal of the Nation.
Advanc'd to lofty Station,
And coach'd in State, like Madam Gwin,
To th'Scandal of the Nation.
Young cunning Jilts, we daily see,
Are kept in State by N---s,
And make those Men of high Degree,
Right honourable Bubbles.
Are kept in State by N---s,
And make those Men of high Degree,
Right honourable Bubbles.
Why therefore mayn't Sir Foplin rise
By Flatt'ries and Indearments,
And pass between a Lady's Thighs,
To very great Preferments?
By Flatt'ries and Indearments,
And pass between a Lady's Thighs,
To very great Preferments?
For Women that admire the Sport,
Will have their Sparks to ease 'em;
And will do any Kindness for't,
To Fav'rites that can please 'em.
Will have their Sparks to ease 'em;
And will do any Kindness for't,
To Fav'rites that can please 'em.
Ladies, who high and stately are,
May talk of being vertuous;
But Honour will not guard the Fair,
From being kind and courteous.
May talk of being vertuous;
But Honour will not guard the Fair,
From being kind and courteous.
Therefore, the fawning Beau-Gallant,
That can with Flatt'ries tongue 'em,
If he's but wise, need nothing want,
That gets but in among 'em.
That can with Flatt'ries tongue 'em,
If he's but wise, need nothing want,
That gets but in among 'em.
127
The Corrupt Statesman:
OR, The Compleat Courtier.
132
Ambition
is a noble Spur,
And the sublimest Passion;
It makes the Hero fly to War,
In Hopes to raise his Station.
And the sublimest Passion;
It makes the Hero fly to War,
In Hopes to raise his Station.
Th'aspiring Soul no Rest can find,
Ambition rides upon her;
And still provokes the gen'rous Mind
To soar in Search of Honour.
Ambition rides upon her;
And still provokes the gen'rous Mind
To soar in Search of Honour.
But Knaves, who by ignoble Ways
Shall hunt the Game that's noble,
And grow most infamously base,
To give their Country Trouble;
Shall hunt the Game that's noble,
And grow most infamously base,
To give their Country Trouble;
Are spurr'd by Av'rice, Pride, Revenge,
Such diabolick Passions,
To ruin Kingdoms, and unhinge
The Government of Nations.
Such diabolick Passions,
To ruin Kingdoms, and unhinge
The Government of Nations.
Such trayt'rous Sycophants profane
True Honour and Ambition,
In trampling over worthy'r Men,
To mend their own Condition.
True Honour and Ambition,
In trampling over worthy'r Men,
To mend their own Condition.
133
For he who does true Honour seek,
Is careful to maintain it,
And cannot do a shameful Trick,
Or cruel Deed, to gain it.
Is careful to maintain it,
And cannot do a shameful Trick,
Or cruel Deed, to gain it.
The Fool that does, must lose his End,
And be but Honour's Bubble;
For how can what's ignoble tend,
To make a Knave more noble?
And be but Honour's Bubble;
For how can what's ignoble tend,
To make a Knave more noble?
Climb as you can, but Spite of Pride,
Be just in e'ery Station;
For none but Villains e'er comply'd
To sell their King or Nation.
Be just in e'ery Station;
For none but Villains e'er comply'd
To sell their King or Nation.
138
The Trimming Guide:
OR, The Avaritious Priest.
140
When
Avarice, that evil Root,
I'th' Heart of Man is planted,
No Riches will content the Brute,
For more will still be wanted.
I'th' Heart of Man is planted,
No Riches will content the Brute,
For more will still be wanted.
But when 'tis rooted in a Priest,
'Tis worse than in a Lay-man;
He'll turn for Int'rest East or West,
And never be the same Man.
'Tis worse than in a Lay-man;
He'll turn for Int'rest East or West,
And never be the same Man.
Who would on such a Guide depend,
For Heavenly Instruction,
Who, to obtain his wealthy End,
Would side with any Faction?
For Heavenly Instruction,
Who, to obtain his wealthy End,
Would side with any Faction?
Expose his holy Mother, which
He should defend from Evil;
And would, no Doubt, to grow more rich,
Turn Vicar to the Devil?
He should defend from Evil;
And would, no Doubt, to grow more rich,
Turn Vicar to the Devil?
141
Well may the Flock their Bounds mistake,
When Shepherds that command 'em,
For Int'rest Sake the Fences break,
To let 'em run at Random.
When Shepherds that command 'em,
For Int'rest Sake the Fences break,
To let 'em run at Random.
If the poor Sheep must punish'd be,
For straying God knows whither,
The Pastor cannot sure go free,
That drives or leads 'em thither.
For straying God knows whither,
The Pastor cannot sure go free,
That drives or leads 'em thither.
He that presumes to be a Guide,
Ought well to know his Duty,
And, if he sees you step aside,
To instruct ye, and confute ye.
Ought well to know his Duty,
And, if he sees you step aside,
To instruct ye, and confute ye.
But Guides, that from Religion rove,
And on its Precepts trample,
Deserve some Judgment from above,
To make them an Example.
And on its Precepts trample,
Deserve some Judgment from above,
To make them an Example.
142
The Beau-Officer:
OR, The Coward in Commission.
146
True
Fortitude in Poor or Rich,
Is such a graceful Talent,
That ev'ry Coward has an Itch
To be accounted valiant.
Is such a graceful Talent,
That ev'ry Coward has an Itch
To be accounted valiant.
147
Some cheat the World with Soldiers Cloths,
And strut in Red, like Heroes,
When they've scarce Courage to oppose
An Army of Cock-Sparrows.
And strut in Red, like Heroes,
When they've scarce Courage to oppose
An Army of Cock-Sparrows.
Others in Publick fight Sham-Duels,
On Purpose to be parted,
And bully poor submissive Fools,
They know to be faint-hearted.
On Purpose to be parted,
And bully poor submissive Fools,
They know to be faint-hearted.
Or else in Play-house, at a Night,
Contend about their Doxies,
And draw their hurtless Blades, to fright
The Ladies in the Boxes:
Contend about their Doxies,
And draw their hurtless Blades, to fright
The Ladies in the Boxes:
Who squeak, that Men with brandish'd Swords
Should prove so rash and silly,
When they themselves, with fewer Words,
Would stand a Thrust more freely.
Should prove so rash and silly,
When they themselves, with fewer Words,
Would stand a Thrust more freely.
Thus Dastards many Ways contrive
To seem robust and froward,
And oft, against their Nature, strive
To shun the Name of Coward.
To seem robust and froward,
And oft, against their Nature, strive
To shun the Name of Coward.
Yet ev'ry Man, we plainly see,
Is fearful of his Brother;
Or why should one desire to be
Thought braver than another?
Is fearful of his Brother;
Or why should one desire to be
Thought braver than another?
Therefore, since Courage is a Name,
That most Men do delight in,
The Scarlet Beau we must condemn,
That is avers'd to fighting.
That most Men do delight in,
The Scarlet Beau we must condemn,
That is avers'd to fighting.
148
The Ambitious Mercenary:
OR, The Climbing Lawyer,
152
The
Law's a Labyrinth, that tries
The Patience of the Student,
Who knows it must be reckon'd wise,
Who shuns it, full as prudent.
The Patience of the Student,
Who knows it must be reckon'd wise,
Who shuns it, full as prudent.
153
It is so deep, so wide, so vast,
So powerful and commanding,
That, like God's Grace, 'tis almost past
All human Understanding.
So powerful and commanding,
That, like God's Grace, 'tis almost past
All human Understanding.
Of subtle Snares and Traps, 'tis full,
To catch unwary Fools in;
And has more cunning Paths, than all
The Kingdom that it rules in.
To catch unwary Fools in;
And has more cunning Paths, than all
The Kingdom that it rules in.
It makes the surly Clowns and Swains
Pay Homage to their Betters;
And binds the Rich with little Chains,
But loads the Poor with Fetters.
Pay Homage to their Betters;
And binds the Rich with little Chains,
But loads the Poor with Fetters.
It does the money'd Miser Right
Against his helpless Neighbour;
It gratifies the Great Man's Spite,
And makes the Needy labour.
Against his helpless Neighbour;
It gratifies the Great Man's Spite,
And makes the Needy labour.
It measures out the Bounds of Kings,
And keeps the Subject humble;
Who otherwise, at little Things,
Would be too apt to grumble.
And keeps the Subject humble;
Who otherwise, at little Things,
Would be too apt to grumble.
The Law it self is truly good;
Men would without be Devils;
But when not practis'd as it should,
It proves the worst of Evils.
Men would without be Devils;
But when not practis'd as it should,
It proves the worst of Evils.
Therefore, the Man, who, for a Fee
Or Bribe, shall misapply it,
In common Justice ought to be
Severely punish'd by it.
Or Bribe, shall misapply it,
In common Justice ought to be
Severely punish'd by it.
154
The Prodigal Upstart:
OR, The Citizen turn'd Gentleman.
160
Could
the rich Miser but foresee
How all h' as basely gotten,
By his proud Heir will lavish'd be,
When he is dead and rotten;
How all h' as basely gotten,
By his proud Heir will lavish'd be,
When he is dead and rotten;
Sure he would never be that Fool,
To toil away his Vigour,
Or cheat the World, and damn his Soul,
To live a wealthy Beggar!
To toil away his Vigour,
Or cheat the World, and damn his Soul,
To live a wealthy Beggar!
No mouldy Fragment would he eat,
And punish craving Nature,
To make his Hoards the more compleat
For others that come a'ter;
And punish craving Nature,
To make his Hoards the more compleat
For others that come a'ter;
But on expensive Dainties dine,
Enrich'd with noble Sauces,
And in salubrious Bowls of Wine
Drown all his Cares and Crosses:
Enrich'd with noble Sauces,
And in salubrious Bowls of Wine
Drown all his Cares and Crosses:
Live well on Earth, no Pleasures spare,
When Inclination offers;
And ne'er be damn'd, to give an Heir
The emptying of his Coffers.
When Inclination offers;
And ne'er be damn'd, to give an Heir
The emptying of his Coffers.
For who would toil to fill his Bags,
And trot with Bond and Tally,
For nothing but unwholsome Rags,
To hide an empty Belly?
And trot with Bond and Tally,
For nothing but unwholsome Rags,
To hide an empty Belly?
161
Such covetous unthinking Slaves,
Are doubly damn'd, most surely,
For getting Money first like Knaves,
And next for living poorly;
Are doubly damn'd, most surely,
For getting Money first like Knaves,
And next for living poorly;
That Spend-Thrifts, govern'd by no Rules,
When they are dead, may have it
To fling away as much like Fools,
As sordid Misers save it.
When they are dead, may have it
To fling away as much like Fools,
As sordid Misers save it.
162
The Severe Magistrate:
OR, The Proud Man in Authority.
167
Should
the great Ruler of the Whole,
Look down on human Nature,
With the same Scorn the haughty Soul
Beholds his Fellow-Creature,
Look down on human Nature,
With the same Scorn the haughty Soul
Beholds his Fellow-Creature,
The Proud would dread those Ills they do
To their inferior Brothers,
Should Heav'n no other Mercy shew
To them, than they to others.
To their inferior Brothers,
Should Heav'n no other Mercy shew
To them, than they to others.
With what strange Insolence can Man
Expect to be forgiven,
Who proves as cruel as he can
To all the Sons of Heav'n?
Expect to be forgiven,
Who proves as cruel as he can
To all the Sons of Heav'n?
Envy, Severity, and Pride,
Are Qualities so evil
In Magistrates, that they're ally'd
To Witchcraft and the Devil.
Are Qualities so evil
In Magistrates, that they're ally'd
To Witchcraft and the Devil.
168
Mildness and Mercy, ought to be
The gentle Gifts and Graces
Of Persons in Authority,
Who sit in lofty Places.
The gentle Gifts and Graces
Of Persons in Authority,
Who sit in lofty Places.
'Tis true, the awful Brow, we find,
Becomes a pow'rful Station;
But let the Heart be still inclin'd
To Mercy and Compassion.
Becomes a pow'rful Station;
But let the Heart be still inclin'd
To Mercy and Compassion.
The Sword of Justice cuts too keen,
If us'd with Heat and Passion;
It therefore should be lay'd on Men
With Christian Moderation.
If us'd with Heat and Passion;
It therefore should be lay'd on Men
With Christian Moderation.
The Wise, the Merciful, and Just,
Who've Consciences to bind 'em,
Are only fit for publick Trust:
But who knows where to find 'em?
Who've Consciences to bind 'em,
Are only fit for publick Trust:
But who knows where to find 'em?
169
Riches acquir'd before Discretion:
OR, The young Extravagant Heir just come to an Estate.
176
Av'ritious
Age, or vicious Youth,
I know not which are wiser,
Since Riches are a Curse to both
The Spend-thrift and the Miser.
I know not which are wiser,
Since Riches are a Curse to both
The Spend-thrift and the Miser.
The Rake that's govern'd by no Rule,
Has too much Wealth, if any,
Because he spends it like a Fool,
Whilst he commands a Penny.
Has too much Wealth, if any,
Because he spends it like a Fool,
Whilst he commands a Penny.
The Covetous, tho' rich in Store,
With Bars and Locks abuse it;
And in the mid'st of Wealth, are poor,
Because they fear to use it.
With Bars and Locks abuse it;
And in the mid'st of Wealth, are poor,
Because they fear to use it.
Thus one is with his Riches curs'd,
Because no Rules will bind him;
The other 'cause he starves, 'till forc'd
To leave his Wealth behind him.
Because no Rules will bind him;
The other 'cause he starves, 'till forc'd
To leave his Wealth behind him.
Both are made wretched by Extreams;
One spends without reserving;
Whilst t'other's plagu'd with restless Dreams
Of Robbers, and of starving.
One spends without reserving;
Whilst t'other's plagu'd with restless Dreams
Of Robbers, and of starving.
177
But he that's vicious and profuse,
Is thought to be the better,
Because the Publick have the Use
Of what such Block-heads scatter:
Is thought to be the better,
Because the Publick have the Use
Of what such Block-heads scatter:
Whilst he that doats upon his Pelf,
Does such an Idol make on't,
He'll neither use his Gold himself,
Nor let the World partake on't.
Does such an Idol make on't,
He'll neither use his Gold himself,
Nor let the World partake on't.
Therefore, since both deserv'dly fall
Beneath our Condemnation,
Be not too close, or prodigal,
But spend with Moderation.
Beneath our Condemnation,
Be not too close, or prodigal,
But spend with Moderation.
178
The States-man's Minion:
OR, The Politick Understrapper.
184
Whoever
hopes to rise aloft
Beneath a tow'ring Master,
Must think, in Spite of all his Craft,
To struggle with Disaster.
Beneath a tow'ring Master,
Must think, in Spite of all his Craft,
To struggle with Disaster.
Minions are necessary Tools
To cunning Politicians;
And prove of Use, like knavish Fools,
To travelling Physicians.
To cunning Politicians;
And prove of Use, like knavish Fools,
To travelling Physicians.
What, tho' he's able to advise,
When e'er his Lord shall need it?
In all Things, where the Man proves wise,
The Master has the Credit.
When e'er his Lord shall need it?
In all Things, where the Man proves wise,
The Master has the Credit.
But if my Lord mistakes his Aim,
And in his Project fumbles,
His Minion then must bear the Blame,
When e'er his Lordship stumbles.
And in his Project fumbles,
His Minion then must bear the Blame,
When e'er his Lordship stumbles.
So Madam, when a Trump is fled,
A modest Look will put on,
And charge the Fault upon her Maid,
Or else her Lap-dog Button.
A modest Look will put on,
And charge the Fault upon her Maid,
Or else her Lap-dog Button.
185
Great Quality must have their Skreens,
To blind a foolish Nation;
Or else their Faults, like other Men's,
Would soon have Publication.
To blind a foolish Nation;
Or else their Faults, like other Men's,
Would soon have Publication.
But they have twenty subtil Ways,
To hide their sully'd Honour;
Five Guineas to our Poet Bays,
Will make him praise the Donor.
To hide their sully'd Honour;
Five Guineas to our Poet Bays,
Will make him praise the Donor.
The Great, in short, disdain all Rules,
To steer by Inclination;
And must have fawning Knaves and Fools,
To save their Reputation.
To steer by Inclination;
And must have fawning Knaves and Fools,
To save their Reputation.
186
The Promissory Gentleman:
OR, The Fashionable Friend.
191
Friendship
, so much by Sots profess'd,
When o'er the merry Bottle,
Like Woman's Vertue, is at best
No more than Tittle Twattle.
When o'er the merry Bottle,
Like Woman's Vertue, is at best
No more than Tittle Twattle.
The Courtier vows he'll be your Friend,
And pawns his Life upon it;
Yet will not merit, in the End,
The waving of your Bonnet.
And pawns his Life upon it;
Yet will not merit, in the End,
The waving of your Bonnet.
The boon Companion, o'er his Wine,
Will promise to befriend you;
But when he finds you're bare of Coin,
The Dev'l a Sous he'll lend you.
Will promise to befriend you;
But when he finds you're bare of Coin,
The Dev'l a Sous he'll lend you.
Your Bosom-Lady now so kind,
Who swears she doats upon you,
Will fail you, if she once can find
You stand in need of Money.
Who swears she doats upon you,
Will fail you, if she once can find
You stand in need of Money.
192
Your very Brother will dispense
With all the Ties of Nature,
And take it for a great Offence,
You should become his Debtor.
With all the Ties of Nature,
And take it for a great Offence,
You should become his Debtor.
The Friend that you esteem the best,
And think the most deserving,
Should you by Fate be once depress'd,
He'd shun you when you're starving.
And think the most deserving,
Should you by Fate be once depress'd,
He'd shun you when you're starving.
But say, there is a Friend, and you've
The lucky Wit to chuse him;
Unless you can requite his Love,
You'll very quickly lose him.
The lucky Wit to chuse him;
Unless you can requite his Love,
You'll very quickly lose him.
For Friendship never long can thrive,
Whilst Int'rest is its Mother;
But soon must die, since all Men strive
To bubble one another.
Whilst Int'rest is its Mother;
But soon must die, since all Men strive
To bubble one another.
193
The Temporizing Zealot:
OR, The Religious Mammonist.
199
We
rave against the Whore of Rome;
But let our own Religion,
To th'Scandal of our Church, become
The Villain's Enchiridion.
But let our own Religion,
To th'Scandal of our Church, become
The Villain's Enchiridion.
'Tis the Knave's Handle to each Fraud,
By which he wrongs his Neighbours:
Each Robber too, implores his God
To bless his wicked Labours.
By which he wrongs his Neighbours:
Each Robber too, implores his God
To bless his wicked Labours.
The very Bawd, that odious Beast,
The worst of Female Creatures,
I'th' Church must twice a-day, at least,
Expose her wither'd Features.
The worst of Female Creatures,
I'th' Church must twice a-day, at least,
Expose her wither'd Features.
She vainly strives to hide her Crimes
With a religious Vizard,
Altho' the Sow is fifty Times
More wicked than a Wizard.
With a religious Vizard,
Altho' the Sow is fifty Times
More wicked than a Wizard.
The very Dame that lives by Love,
And by her Buttock's Motion,
In Publick will dishonour Jove
With outward sham-Devotion:
And by her Buttock's Motion,
In Publick will dishonour Jove
With outward sham-Devotion:
She too has learn'd the pious Way,
Like wanton holy Sister,
To blush and sin; then cry and pray,
As soon as Man has kiss'd her.
Like wanton holy Sister,
To blush and sin; then cry and pray,
As soon as Man has kiss'd her.
200
The Trader to his Interest bends
The Faith, that he inclines to,
And serves the Lord for private Ends;
And so do some Divines too.
The Faith, that he inclines to,
And serves the Lord for private Ends;
And so do some Divines too.
Vertue, in short, is so much sunk,
That by the Rich and Noble,
Down to the petty Knave and Punk,
Religion's made a Bubble.
That by the Rich and Noble,
Down to the petty Knave and Punk,
Religion's made a Bubble.
201
The Dignify'd Adulterer:
OR, The Libertine of Title.
208
The
mighty Man, that rides in State,
Puff'd up with Wealth and Title;
Altho' his Sins are ne'er so great,
The Scandal is but little.
Puff'd up with Wealth and Title;
Altho' his Sins are ne'er so great,
The Scandal is but little.
His publick Grandeur puts a Gloss
Upon his Crimes and Vices;
And tho' his Sins are ne'er so gross,
They never want Disguises.
Upon his Crimes and Vices;
And tho' his Sins are ne'er so gross,
They never want Disguises.
What tho' h' as basely kill'd a Man
Wallow'd in Fornications?
His Chaplain soon can wash him clean,
With pious Dedications.
Wallow'd in Fornications?
His Chaplain soon can wash him clean,
With pious Dedications.
The Poets too will draw their Pens,
To vindicate his Honour;
Because they hope, to make Amends,
He'll prove a lib'ral Donor.
To vindicate his Honour;
Because they hope, to make Amends,
He'll prove a lib'ral Donor.
Designing Rogues and humble Slaves,
For Riches only prize Men;
And he that wins the Fools and Knaves,
Need never fear the wise Men.
For Riches only prize Men;
And he that wins the Fools and Knaves,
Need never fear the wise Men.
Sappho obtain'd a God-like Fame,
By Parrots Proclamation;
So the rich Fool oft gets a Name,
By Poets Dedication.
By Parrots Proclamation;
So the rich Fool oft gets a Name,
By Poets Dedication.
209
If mighty Gods can thus be made,
By Birds unskilful chatt'ring;
What can't the Muses (if well pay'd)
Accomplish, by their flatt'ring?
By Birds unskilful chatt'ring;
What can't the Muses (if well pay'd)
Accomplish, by their flatt'ring?
'Tis they that cheat the Apes and Owls,
With Songs of Praise and Satyr;
And, by their Arts, draw little Fools
To idolize the greater.
With Songs of Praise and Satyr;
And, by their Arts, draw little Fools
To idolize the greater.
210
Sir Narcissus Foplin:
OR, The Self-Admirer.
215
How
cross a Jilt, how base a Trull,
Is purblind Madam Fortune,
Who proves so gen'rous to the Fool,
And to the Wise uncertain?
Is purblind Madam Fortune,
Who proves so gen'rous to the Fool,
And to the Wise uncertain?
What Fops and Monsters do we see
Sit lolling in their Coaches,
And haughty Apes, of high Degree,
Grow proud of their Debauches?
Sit lolling in their Coaches,
And haughty Apes, of high Degree,
Grow proud of their Debauches?
Whilst Men of Brains and Vertue, stand
Depending at a Distance;
And bowing down, with Cap in Hand,
Implore the Fools Assistance.
Depending at a Distance;
And bowing down, with Cap in Hand,
Implore the Fools Assistance.
One thinks, that Whoring is a Vice,
Of all the rest, most noble;
And, to enjoy his Paradise,
Becomes the Ladies Bubble.
Of all the rest, most noble;
And, to enjoy his Paradise,
Becomes the Ladies Bubble.
A second, finds another Trick,
Much worse than Fornication;
And, in his Lust, wants Grace to stick
At Male-Administration.
Much worse than Fornication;
And, in his Lust, wants Grace to stick
At Male-Administration.
A third, two powerful Vices join,
For want of sober Thinking;
And, adding Women to his Wine,
Delights in Love and Drinking.
For want of sober Thinking;
And, adding Women to his Wine,
Delights in Love and Drinking.
216
A fourth, becomes a Rake at large,
Pursues all wicked Measures,
And values no Expence or Charge,
To purchase sinful Pleasures.
Pursues all wicked Measures,
And values no Expence or Charge,
To purchase sinful Pleasures.
Yet, if they be but rich and great,
Tho' impious as the Devil,
They must be wise, in Spite of Fate,
And good, in Spite of Evil.
Tho' impious as the Devil,
They must be wise, in Spite of Fate,
And good, in Spite of Evil.
217
The Worthy Patriot:
OR, The True English Nobleman.
223
Some
boast of Honours, Wealth, and Blood,
Which they, by Birth inherit,
And aim to be thought great and good,
Without one Grain of Merit:
Which they, by Birth inherit,
And aim to be thought great and good,
Without one Grain of Merit:
But 'tis not Title or Degree,
That makes us truly noble,
Because a gilded Fool may be
A Coward and a Bubble.
That makes us truly noble,
Because a gilded Fool may be
A Coward and a Bubble.
Wealth may be got by knavish Craft,
Or be the Gift of Fortune;
And Honours be bestow'd as oft
For Pranks behind the Curtain:
Or be the Gift of Fortune;
And Honours be bestow'd as oft
For Pranks behind the Curtain:
These are not always the Reward
Of Vertue, or of Brav'ry;
But have been heretofore conferr'd
On Minions, for their Knav'ry.
Of Vertue, or of Brav'ry;
But have been heretofore conferr'd
On Minions, for their Knav'ry.
224
When Titles are of long Descent,
What Man can tell how Honour
Was first obtain'd, or how 'twas meant,
When given by the Donor?
What Man can tell how Honour
Was first obtain'd, or how 'twas meant,
When given by the Donor?
Sometimes we've seen the fawning Slave
Made great, for little Reason;
And Honour's heap'd upon a Knave,
To stop his hatching Treason.
Made great, for little Reason;
And Honour's heap'd upon a Knave,
To stop his hatching Treason.
What Mortal then would idolize
High Titles and Exteriors,
Unless his Worship was more wise
And just, than his Inferiors?
High Titles and Exteriors,
Unless his Worship was more wise
And just, than his Inferiors?
Let no Man boast his high Degree,
Wealth, Honour, Education,
Unless h'as Will and Pow'r to be
A Champion for his Nation.
Wealth, Honour, Education,
Unless h'as Will and Pow'r to be
A Champion for his Nation.
FINIS.
| The Modern World disrob'd | |