Ii

ON THE YOUNG STATESMEN.

WRITTEN IN 1680.

1 CLARENDON had law and sense, Clifford was fierce and brave; Bennet's grave look was a pretence, And Danby's matchless impudence Help'd to support the knave.

2 But Sunderland, Godolphin, Lory, These will appear such chits in story, 'Twill turn all politics to jests, To be repeated like John Dory, When fiddlers sing at feasts.

3 Protect us, mighty Providence! What would these madmen have? First, they would bribe us without pence, Deceive us without common sense, And without power enslave.

4 Shall free-torn men, in humble awe, Submit to servile shame; Who from consent and custom draw The same right to be ruled by law, Which kings pretend to reign?

5 The duke shall wield his conquering sword, The chancellor make a speech, The king shall pass his honest word, The pawn'd revenue sums afford, And then, come kiss my breech.

6 So have I seen a king on chess (His rooks and knights withdrawn, His queen and bishops in distress) Shifting about, grow less and less, With here and there a pawn.

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