DIALOGUE.  M. 

WHY am I daily thus perplexed?  
Why beyond Woman's patience vexed?  
Your Spurious Issue grow and thrive;  
While mine are dead ere well alive.  
If they survive a nine days wonder,  
Suspicious Tongues aloud do thunder;  
And straight accuse my Chastity,  
For your damned Insufficiency:  
You meet my Love with no desire,  
My Altar damps your feeble fire:  
Though I have infinite more Charms  
Than all you e'er took to your Arms.   

The Priest at th' Altar bows to me;  
When I appear he bends the knee.  
His Eyes are on my Beauties fixed,  
His Prayers to Heaven and Me are mixed;  
Confusedly he tells his Beads,  
Is out both when he Prays and Reads.   

I travelled farther for your Love  
Than Sheba's Queen, I'll fairly prove.  
She from the South, 'tis said did room,  
And I as far from East did come.  
But here the difference does arise,  
Though equally we sought the Prize;  
What that great Queen desired she gained,  
But I soon found your Treasury drained,  
Your Veins corrupted in your Youth,  
'Tis sad Experience tells this Truth:  
Though I had caution long before  
Of that which I too late deplore.   J. 

Pray, Madam, let me silence break,  
As I have you, now hear me speak.  
These stories sure must please you well,  
You're apt so often them to tell.  
But, if you'll smooth your brow a while,  
And turn that Pout into a Smile,  
I doubt not, but to make't appear,  
That you the great'st Aggressor are.   

I took you with an empty Purse,  
Which was to me no trivial Curse.  
No Dowry could your Parents give;  
They'd but a Competence to live.  
When you appeared, your charming Eyes  
(As you relate) did me surprise,  
With Wonder, not with Admiration,  
Astonishment, but no Temptation:  
Nor did I see in all your frame  
Ought could create an amorous flame,  
Or raise the least Desire in me,  
Save only for Variety.  
I paid such Service as was due,  
Worthy myself, and worthy you:  
Caressed you far above the rate  
Both of your Birth and your Estate.  
When soon I found your haughty mind  
Was unto Sovereignty inclined;  
And first you practised over me  
The heavy Yoke of Tyranny,  
While I your Property was made,  
And you, not I, was still obeyed:  
Nor durst I call my Soul my own,  
You managed me as if I'd none.  
I took such measures as you gave,  
All day your Fool, all night your Slave.   

Nor was Ambition bounded here,  
You still resolved your course to steer:  
All that oppose you, you remove;  
'Twas much you'd own the Powers above.  
Now several Stratagems you try,  
And I'm in all forced to comply.  
To Mother Church you take Recourse,  
She tells you' 'tmust be done by force;  
And you, impatient of delay,  
Contrive and execute the way.   

When mounted to the Place you sought,  
It no Contentment with it brought:  
One Tree within your Prospect stood  
Fairest and tallest of the Wood;  
Which to your Prospect gave offence,  
And it must be removed from thence.  
In this you also are obeyed,  
While all the Fault on me is laid.   

Now you was quiet for a while,  
As flattering Wether seems to smile,  
Till buzzing Beetles of the Night  
Had found fresh matter for your spite,  
And set to work your busy Brain,  
Which took Fire quickly from their Train.  
Some Wise, some Valiant, you remove,  
'Cause they your Maxims don't approve;  
And in their stead such Creatures place  
Which to th' Employments brings Disgrace:  
While whatsoever you do I own,  
And still the dirt on me is thrown.   

Straight new Chimeras fill your Brain,  
The humming Beetles buzz again;  
A Goal Delivery now must be,  
All tender Consciences set free;  
Not out of Zeal, but pure Design  
To make Dissenters with us join  
To pull down Test and Penal Laws,  
The Bulwark of the Heretics Cause.  
The sly Dissenters laugh the while,  
They see where lurks the Serpent's guile;  
And rather than with us comply,  
Will on our Enemies rely.  
The Cheiftains of the Protestant Cause  
We did confine, though 'gainst the Laws;  
But soon was glad to set 'em free,  
Fearing the giddy Mobile.   

Now all is turning upside down,  
Loud Murmuring in every Town;  
We've Foes abroad and Foes at home,  
Armies and Fleets against us come:  
The Protestants do laugh the while,  
And the Dissenters sneer and smile;  
But no Assistance either sends;  
They're neither Enemies nor Friends.   

Now pray conclude what must be done,  
Consult your Oracle of ROME,  
For next fair Wind besure they come.   
FINIS.