Speaks of all States and deeds that have been fincs The Spaniards came to th' lofs of Amyens. Like a big wife, at fight of loathed meat, Ready to travail: fo I figh, and fweat To hear this Makaron talk: in vain, for yet, Either my humour, or his own to fit.
He like a priviledg'd fpie, whom nothing can Difcredit, libels now 'gainst each great man. He names the price of ev'ry office paid; He faith our wars thrive ill because delaid; 'That Officer are intail'd, and that there are Perpetuities of them, lasting as far
As the laft day; and that great Officers Do with the Spaniards fhare, and Dunkirkers. I more amaz'd than Circes prifoners, when They felt themfelves turn beafts, felt myself then Becoming Traytor, and methought I faw One of our Giant Statutes ope his jaw To fuck me in for hearing him: I found That as burnt venemous Leachers do grow By giving others their fores, I might grow Guilty, and he free: Therefore I did show
VER. 167. fall endlong} The fudden effect of the transformation is strongly and finely painted to the imagination, not in the found, but in the sense of these two words.
Trim's Europe's balance, tops the ftatefman's part, And talks Gazettes and Poft-boys o'er by heart. 155 Like a big wife at fight of loathfome meat
Ready to caft, I yawn, I figh, and sweat.
Then as a licens'd spy, whom nothing can Silence or hurt, he libels the great Man; Swears ev'ry place entail'd for years to come, In fure fucceffion to the day of doom: He names the price for ev'ry office paid, And says our wars thrive ill, because delay'd: Nay hints, 'tis by connivance of the Court, That Spain robs on, and Dunkirk's still a Port. 165 Not more amazement feiz'd on Circe's guests, To fee themselves fall endlong into beasts, Than mine, to find a fubject ftay'd and wife Already half turn'd traytor by furprize.
I felt th'infection slide from him to me, As in the pox, fome give it to get free; And quick to fwallow me, methought I saw One of our Giant Statutes ope its jaw.
In that nice Moment, as another Lye Stood juft a-tilt, the Minifter came by. To him he flies, and bows, and bows again,
Vi
light, expref and h
it will
All figns of loathing; but fince I am in, I must pay mine, and my forefathers fin To the last farthing. Therefore to my power Toughly and stubbornly I bear; but th' hower Of mercy now was come: he tries to bring Me to pay a fine to 'fcape a torturing,
And fays, Sir, can you fpare me? I faid, Willingly; Nay, Sir, can you fpare me a crown? Thankfully I Gave it, as ranfom; but as fidlers, ftill,
Though they be paid to be gone, yet needs will Thrust one more jigg upon you: fo did he With his long complimental thanks vex me. But he is gone, thanks to his needy want, And the Prerogative of my Crown; fcant His thanks were ended, when I (which did fee All the Court fill'd with more ftrange things than he) Ran from thence with fuch, or more haft than one Who fears more actions, doth haft from prison. At home in wholesome folitariness
My piteous foul began the wretchedness Of fuiters at court to mourn, and a trance Like his, who dreamt he faw hell, did advance It felf o'er me: fuch men as he faw there I faw at court, and worfe and more. Low fear
VER. 184. Bear me,] These four lines are wonderfully fublime. His impatience in this region of vice, is like that of Virgil, in the region of beat. They both call out as if they were half ftifled by the fulphury air of the place,
« EelmineJätka » |