a

He strives to look worse; he keeps all in awe; Jests like a licens'd fool, commands like law.

Tir'd, now I leave this place, and but pleas'd so As men from gaols to execution go, Go, through the great chamber (why is it hung With the seven deadly fins ?) being among Those Akaparts", men big enough to throw Charing-Cross for a bar, men that do know No token of worth, but Queens man, and fine Living ; barrels of beef, flaggons of wine. I shook like a spied Spie---Preachers which are Seas of Wit and Arts, you can, then dare, Drown the fins of this place, but as for me Which am but a scant brook, enough shall be To wash the stains away: Although I yet (With Maccabees modesty) the known merit Of my work lessen, yet some wise men shall,

' I hope, esteem my Writs Canonical.

a

Scarecrow to boys, the breeding woman's curse,
Has yet a strange ambition to look worse ;
Confounds the civil, keeps the rude in awe,
Jests like a licens’d fool, commands like law. 270

Frighted, I quit the room, but leave it so
As men from Jayls to execution

go; For hung with deadly sins I see the wall, And lin'd with Giants deadlier than 'em all: 275 Each man an Askapart, of strength to toss For Quoits, both Temple-bar and Charing-cross. Scar'd at the grizly forms, I sweat, I fly, And shake all o'er, like a discover'd spy.

Courts are too much for wits so weak as mine: Charge them with Heav'n's Artill’ry, bold Divine! From such alone the Great rebukes endure, Whose Satire's facred, and whose

rage

secure: 'Tis mine to wash a few light stains, but theirs To deluge sin, and drown a Court in tears. 285 Howe'er what's now Apocrypha, my Wit, In time to come, may pass for holy writ.

a

NOTES, Ver. 274. For hung with deadly fins] The Room hung with old Tapestry, representing the seven deadly fins, P.

EPILOGUE

TO THE

SA TI T E S.

In Two DIALOGUES.

Written in MDCCXXXVIII.