•:t.--: 
 
 -V: 
 
THE 
 
 W O R K S 
 
 O F 
 
 O H N. 
 
 EARL of ROCHESTER: 
 
 Containing 
 
 POEMS 
 
 0» Several Occasions! 
 
 His LordQiip's 
 
 L> E T T E R S 
 
 Jo Mr. Sav I L and Mrs.*** 
 
 WITH 
 
 FjI L en T 1 N lA N, 
 
 A TRAGEDY. 
 
 ( Never before Publijhed together. 
 The Fourth Edition. 
 
 LONDON^ 
 
 Printed for J^Tonson at Makeff ear's Head 
 over-againft Katherine-Jireet in the Strand. 
 
 MDGGXXXIL 
 
THE 
 
 P R E F A C E. 
 
 T O T H E 
 
 READER- 
 
 By Mr. RT M E R. 
 
 Mongft the Ancients, Horace de--^ 
 fervedly bears the Name from *em 
 all, for Occafional Poems ; many of 
 which were addrefs'd to Pollio^ Mx- 
 cenas and Augujius the greateft Men, 
 and the bed Judges, and ail his Poetry overlook'd 
 by them. This made him of the Temper not to 
 pan with a Piece over-haftily ; but to bring his 
 Matter to a review, to cool a little and think twice 
 before it went out of his Hands. 
 
 As On 
 
rhe 'PREFACE. 
 
 On the contrary, iny Lord Rochejler was loofe 
 ^ from all Difcipliae of that kind. He found nobody 
 of Quality or a Severity fo much above himfelf, to 
 challenge a Deference, or to check the ordinary 
 Licences of Youth, and impofe on him the Obli- 
 gation to copy over again, w hat on any Occafion 
 had not been fo excellently defign'd. 
 
 Nor did he live long enough for Maturity and 
 cool Reflexions. He was born (as in his Life 
 Dr. Burnet tells us) in 1648, and died 1680. At 
 which Age of thirty two Years, Horace had done 
 no Wonders, nor had attain'd to that Curiofu Foe- 
 licitas^ wfiich fo fairly did'nguifli'd him afterwards. 
 
 Neither had Virgii himfelf, at that Age, ven- 
 tured out of tHe Woods, or attempted any thing 
 b'eyond the Roundelays and Converfation of Z)<«- 
 mo7t and Amaryllis. 
 
 Nor indeed, when my Lord came to appear 
 in the World, was Poetry at Court under any 
 good Afpe£l, unkfs it was notably flourifh'd with 
 Ribaldry and Debauch ; which could not but 
 prove of fatal Confequence, to a Wit of his Gen- 
 tlenefs and Complaifance. 
 
 Far be it from me to infinuate any thing like 
 a Comparifon with the Ancients. Only we may 
 obferve, that no Stile or Turn of Thought came 
 n his way, that he was not ready to improve. 
 Something of Ovid he render'd into which 
 is almoft a Verbal Tranflation that matches the 
 Original. He has Paraphrased fomething of Lu- 
 cretius 
 
to the R E A T> E R. 
 
 cretins and Seneca \ and in his Verfes 
 
 * the Cup he gives us Anacreon with the * P. 27. 
 
 fame Air and Gaiety : What is added, 
 
 falls in fo proper and fo eafy, one might queftion 
 
 whether my Lord Rochejler imitated Anacreon^ or 
 
 Anacreon hurnours my Lord Rochejler 
 
 The Satyr upon Man is commonly taken to be 
 a Tranflation from BoHeau. The French ordina- 
 rily compar'd their Ronfards and their Malherbes 
 with Vtrgil and Horace : Boileau underftands bet- 
 ter. He has gone fartheft to purge out the Chaff 
 and Trifling fo familiar in the French Poetry, and 
 to fettle a Traffick of good Senfe amongft them. 
 It may not be am'fs to fee fome Lines of Boileau 
 and of my Lord Rochejler together, on the fame 
 Subjea. 
 
 A Men- 
 
The T RE FACE. 
 
 A Monfieur M — 
 
 Doaeur de S O R B. 
 
 T\ E tons les Anmaux qui s'elevent dans I'air, 
 
 marchent fur la Terre^ ou nagent dam la mer, 
 De Paris ou Perou, du Japon jn/qtf* a Rome, 
 Le plus fit animal^ a mon avist c'eft I* Homme, 
 ^uoi ? dira-t-on d*a6ord, un f er, une fourmu 
 \3n infiSie rampant qui ne vit qu' a demit 
 Un iaureau qui rumine, une chevre qui broute^ 
 Ont Vefprit mieux tourne que n^a I'homme oiii fans doHtU 
 Ce difcours te furprend, DoBeur, je l*apperf0i : 
 V Homme de la Nature eft le Chef ^ le Roy : 
 Bois, prez, champs^ animauxy tout eft pour fin ufage i 
 'Bt lui fiul at dis'tUi la raifin en part age, 
 II e/i vrai, de tout temps la raifin fat fon lot ! 
 Mais delaje mcUts que V Homme eft plus Sot. 
 
 In 
 
to the RE AD E R. 
 
 ///English; ^ ilfr. Oldham. 
 
 f\ F all the Creatures in the World that be^ 
 
 Beafty Fijh or lowly that go, or fioim, or /y. 
 Throughout the Globe, from Lopdon to Japan, 
 The arrant^ft Fcoljn my Opinion's Man, 
 PVhat {ftraight Vm taken up) an Ant ^ a, IBly^ 
 A tiny Mite "which we can hardly fee 
 Without a VerfpeBivey a filly Afsy 
 
 Or freakifh Ape f dare you affirm that thefe L 
 
 Have greater Senfe than Man ? Ay, queflionlefs. J 
 
 DoBor^ I find yoH*re fhock'd at this Difcourfe j 
 
 Man is, you cry. Lord of the Univerfe ; 
 
 Tor him was this fair Frame of Nature made. 
 
 And all the Creatures for his life and Aidi 
 
 To him alone, of all the Living Kind, 
 
 Has bounteous Heaven the reasoning Gift affign*d. 
 
 True, Sir^ that Reafon always was his Lot j 
 
 But thence I argue Man the greater Sot. 
 
The "PREFACE. 
 
 By my Lord R OGRES fE R, thus. 
 
 ERE I {who to my Coft already amy 
 One of thofe firarige fritdigiom CreatPiress Mm) 
 Jl Spirit free^ to choofe for my ovpn fh^rei 
 What fort ofElefh and Blood I pleased ta w^ar^ 
 Td be a Dog, a, Monkey y or a Bear^ ^ 
 Or any thing but that vam Animal^ 
 Who is fo proud of being Rational, 
 
 It might vex a palient Reader, fliould I go about 
 Very minutely to (hew the Difference here betwixt 
 thefe two Authors; 'tis fufficient to fet them to- 
 gether. IVIy Lord Rochefier gives us another Caft 
 of Thought, another Turn of Expreflion, a 
 Strength, a Spirit, and Manly Vigour, which the 
 French are utter Strangers to. Whatever Giant 
 Boileau may be in his own Country, he feemts 
 little more than a Man of Straw with my Lord 
 Rochefier. 
 
 What the former had expounded ih a long- 
 winded Circumference of Fourteen Lines, is heire 
 mod happily exprefs'd within half the Compafs. 
 What work might that lingle Couplet [/? t?/'/- 
 rh free^ &ic.'] make for one that loves to dilate! 
 Some able Commentator would hammer out of it 
 all Plato^ Origen^ and Firgil too into the Bargain. 
 
 Where- 
 
to the R E A D E R. 
 
 Whcrefoever he Imitated or Tranflated, was 
 lofs to him : He had a Treafure of his own ; a 
 Mine not to be exhaufted. His own Ore and 
 Thoughts wtre rich and fine: His own Stamp and 
 Exprellion more neat and beautiful than any he 
 could borrow or fetch from abroad. 
 
 No Imitation could bound or prefcribe whither 
 his Flight flionld carry him : Were the Subjedt 
 light, you find him a Philofopher, grave and pro- 
 found, to Wonder : Were the Subjedl: lumpifti 
 and heavy, then would his Mercury difTolve all 
 into Gaiety and Diver fion. You would take his 
 Monkey for a Man of Metaphyficks and * 
 his * Gondtbert he fends with all that *P.66. 
 Grimace to demolip IVindows^ or do 
 fome like Important Mifchief. 
 
 But, after all, what muft be done for the Fair 
 Sex ? They confefs a delicious Garden, but are 
 told that Venus has her fhare in the Ornamental 
 Part and Imagery. They are afraid of fome Cupid 
 that levels at the next tender Dame that (lands fair 
 in the way ; and muft not expeS a Diana or Hip" 
 poUtus on every Pedeftal, 
 
 For this matter the Puhliper aflures us, he has 
 been diligent out of meafure, and has taken ex- 
 ceeding Care that every Block of Offence fliould 
 be remov'd. 
 
 So that this Book is a CoUeflion of fuch Pieces 
 only, as may be received in a virtuous Court, and 
 not unbecome the Cabinet of the fevered Matron. 
 
 A 
 
A 
 
 PASTORAL 
 
 111 Imitation of the 
 
 GKEEK o( MOSCHVS; 
 
 Bewailing the D e a t h of the 
 
 EARL 6£ ROCHESTER. 
 
 By Mr. 0 L D H A M, 
 
 Oum,all ye Groves^ in darker Shades be {een\ 
 Let Groms be heard where gentle Winds htne 
 been: 
 
 Te Albion Rivers, weep your Fountains dry, 
 And all yeVlants, your MoiJlurefpendiOnd die: 
 Ye melancholy Ilow'rs^ which once were Men, 
 Lament, until you be transformed again y 
 Let every Rofe pale as the Lily be. 
 And Winter Frojl ftize the Anemone: 
 
 Sut 
 
A Pastoral on the Deaths ^c. 
 
 But thou O Hyacinth, more vigorous groWr 
 
 In mournful Letters thy [ad Glory fljo-^Oy 
 
 lEnUrge thy Grief t and flourijh in thy Woe : 
 
 Tor BioD, the beloved BionV dead. 
 
 Bis Voice is gonOy his tuneful "Breath is fled. 
 
 Come, all ye MufeSi come, adorn the Shepherd's Herfe, 
 With never-fading Garlands, never-dying Vcrfe. 
 
 Il 
 
 ^mfcurn, ye fweet Nightingaks, in the thick Woodu 
 ^^ell the fad New; to all the Britifli lloods t 
 ^ee it t$ I (is and to Cham convey* dj 
 To Thames, to Humber, and to utmoft Tweed: 
 And bid them waft the bitter Tidings on, 
 Horo BionV dead, how the lov*d Swain is gone^ 
 And with him all the Arts of graceful Song. 
 
 Come, all ye Mufis^ come, adorn the Shepherd's Herfe, 
 With never-fading Garlands, never dying Vcrfe. 
 
 Te gentle Swans, that haunt the Brooks and Springs^ 
 
 Tine with fad Grief, and droop your fickly Wings : 
 
 In doleful Notes the heavy Lofs bewail, 
 
 Such as you flng at your own Funerat, 
 
 Such as you fung when your lov^d Orpheus /c//. 
 
 Tell it to all the Rivers, Hills and Flains, 
 
 Tell it to all the Britifli Nymphs and Swains ^ 
 
 And bid them too the difmal Tidings fpread 
 
 Of Bion^ ^ate^ ^/ England'i Orpheus dead. 
 
A P A s T o R A L on the Death 
 
 Come, all ye Mups, come, adorn the Shepherd's Herfe, 
 With never-fading Garlands, never-dying Verfe. 
 
 No more, alas ! no more that lovely Swmn 
 
 Charms with his tuneftU Vipe the iPPond''ring Plain: 
 
 Ceai'd are thofe Lays, ceas'd are thofe ff rightly Airs^ 
 
 That rvoo'd our Souls into our ravifh^d Ears : 
 
 For which the lijl'mng Streams forgot to run^ 
 
 And Trees leaned their attentive Branches d6-wn \ 
 
 While the glad Hills ^ loth the foeet Sounds to l^fe, 
 
 Lengthened in Echoes ev^ry heavenly Clofe, 
 
 T>on^n to the melancholy Shades he^s gone. 
 
 And there to LetheV Banks reports his Mom : 
 
 Nothing is heard upon the Mountains nom, 
 
 But penjive Herds that for their Mafter lovoe : 
 
 Straggling and comfortlefs about they rove. 
 
 Unmindful of their Faflure, and their Love, 
 
 Come, all ye Mufes, come, adorn the Shepherd's Her fc. 
 With rievcr-fading Garlands, never-dying Verfe. 
 
 For thee, dear Swain, for thee his much-hv'd Son, 
 Boes Phoebus Clouds of Mourning Black put on : 
 For thee the Fairies grieve, and ceafs to dance 
 In fportful Rings by Night upon the Plains : 
 The J^^^'^^^r Nymphs alike thy Abfence mourn^ 
 And all their Springs to Tears and Sorrow turn 5 
 Sad Echo too does in deep Silence moan, 
 Since thoH art mHte,fmc8 thou art fpeechlefs grown 
 
 She 
 
of the Earl of R o c h e s x e r. 
 
 she finds nought worth her Pains to i^itate^ 
 Now thy fweet Breath's ftopt untimely Fate : ' 
 Trees drop their Leaves to drefs thy FuneraU 
 And all their Fruit before its Autumn fall : 
 Each Flower fades^ and hangs its withered Hea<l, 
 And fcorns to thrive, or Irve^ now thou art dead : 
 Their bleating Flocks w more their Udders fill : 
 The painful Bees negie^ their wonted Toil : 
 Alas I rchat boots it now their Hives to ft ore 
 With the rich Spoils of evry plundered Flow'r, 
 When ihoUi that wert all Sn>eet?2efs, art no more t ' 
 
 Come, all ye Mufes, come, adorn the Shepherd's Herfe, 
 With never-fadiii J Garlands, never-dying Verfe. 
 
 Ne'er Jid the Dolphins, on. the lotiely Shore, 
 
 In fiich loud Plaints Utter their Grief before : 
 
 Never in fuch fad Notes did Philomel 
 
 To the relenting Rocks her Sorrow tell : 
 
 Ne'er on the Beech did poor Alcyone 
 
 So weepy when fJje her fhming Lovef faiii> : 
 
 Nor that dead Lover, to a Sea- fowl turned. 
 
 Upon thofe Waves, where he wets drown\k fo rrfotirn'd. 
 
 Nor did the Bird of Memnon with fuch Grief 
 
 Bedew thofe Afloes, whtch late gaijS him Life : 
 
 As they did now with vying Grief deit>ad, 
 
 As they did all lament dear B'mn's Fdih 
 Come, all ^tUttfes, com^, adorn the Shepherd*3 Herfe, 
 With never-fading Garland?, never-dying Verfe. 
 
 . In 
 
A Pastoral on the Death 
 
 In ev^ry Wood, on ev^ry Tree and Bujh, 
 The Lark, the Linnet, Nightingale, and Thrujh* 
 And all the feathered Choir, that us'd to throngs 
 In liflVmg Floeh, to le^rn his well- tun* d Songi 
 Now each in the fad Confort bear a ?m, 
 And with kind Notes repay their Teacher's Art : 
 Te Turtles too {I charge you) here afftfl^ 
 Let not your Murmurs in the Croud be tn'tfl z 
 To the dear Swain do not ungrateful frove. 
 That taught you how to fmg, and how to love. 
 
 Come, all ycAf/<[/^j, come, adorn the Shepherd's Herfe, 
 With never-fading Garlands, never-dying Verfe. 
 
 WhoYTh hafi thou left behind thee, skilful Swain, 
 
 That dmres afpire to reach thy mat chiefs Strain ^ 
 
 P07O is there after thee, that dares pretend 
 
 Wiafhly to take thy warbling Vipe in Hand? 
 
 Thy Notes remain yet fre[h in ev*ry Ear, 
 
 And give us all Delight, and all Defpair : 
 
 Tleas*d Echo flill does on them meditate^ 
 
 And to the whifiling Reeds their Sounds repeat. 
 
 Pan only e'er can equal thee in Song, 
 
 That Task does only to great Pan belong : 
 
 But Pan himfelf perhaps will fear to try. 
 
 Will fear perhaps to be out-done by thee. 
 
 Come, all ye Mufes, come, adorn the Shepherd's Herfe, 
 With never-fading Garlands, never dying Verfe. 
 
of the Earl of R o c h e s t e r. 
 
 Tair Galatea too laments thf Deaths 
 
 Laments the ceafing of thy tuneful Breath : 
 
 Oft fhe, kind Njmph, refrted heretofore 
 
 To hear thy artful Meafures from the Shore : 
 
 Nor harfh like ths rude Cyclops rcere thy Laysl 
 
 li%fe grating Sounds did her foft Ears difpleafii 
 
 Such was the Torce of thy enchanting Tongue^ 
 
 That fhe for ever could have heard thy Song^ 
 
 And chid the Hours that do fo fwiftly run. 
 
 And thought the Sun too hafly to go down. 
 
 Now does that lovely Nereid for thy fake 
 
 The Sea, and all her Felhrp-Nym^hsforfake^ 
 
 Tenfive upon the Beechy flje fits alone^ 
 
 And kindly tends the Flocks from which thou'rt gone. 
 Come, zW .yeMufes, come, adorn the Shepherd's Hcrfe^ 
 With never-fading Garlands, never-dying Verfe, 
 
 Mth thee, fweet Bion, all the Grace cf Song^ 
 And all the Mufes boafled Art is gone : 
 Muie is thy Voice y which could all Hearts command % 
 ■Whofe ?ow'r no Shepherdefs could e'er withfland ; 
 All the foft weeping Loves about thee moan 
 At once their Mother* s Darlings and their own : 
 "Dearer wafl thou to Venus than her Loves^ 
 Than her charmed Girdle, than her faithful Doves ^ 
 Than the lafl gafping Kijfes, which in Death 
 Adonis gav^j and with them gave his Breath, 
 
A pA^toRAL on the Death 
 
 This Thames, ah ! this is noT» the fecond Lofs^ 
 
 For which in Tears thy mepitig Current flows: 
 
 Spencer, the Mufes Glory vpem before^ 
 
 He fafsd long fmce to the Elyffan Shore \ 
 
 Tor him {they f(ty) for him thy dear-lov^d Son^ '\ 
 
 Thy Waves did long in foMng Mdrmurs grom^ y 
 
 Long filVd the Sea ri^ith their Cornplaint and Mmn : \ 
 
 But now-^ alas ! thou dofl afrefh btwaily 
 
 Another Son does novo thy Sorrow call : 
 
 To part with either thou alike -^aft loth ; 
 
 Both dear to thee, dear to the Fountains both : 
 
 He largely drank the Kills of facred Cham, 
 
 And this no lefs oflC^s nobler Stream : 
 
 He fung of Heroes, and of hardy Knights^ 
 
 Taf'fam'd in Battels^ and renown'd Exploits : 
 
 This meddled not with bloody Fights, and Wars j > "J 
 
 Fan was his Song, and Shepherds harmlefs Jarif V 
 
 Love\ peaceful Combats, and its gentle Cares, j 
 
 Love ever was the SubjeB of his Lays, 
 
 And his foft Lays did Venus 4ver pledfe, 
 
 Come^all ye Mufes, comt, adorn the Shepherd's Herfc, 
 With never-fading Garlands, never-dying Veifc. 
 
 Ihou, facred Blon, art lamented more 
 Than all our tuneful Bards, that dfd befofe : 
 Old Chaucer, who firfl taught the Ufe ofVerfi, 
 longer has the Tribute of om TeaYs : 
 
 Milton^ 
 
of the Earl of Rochester. 
 
 Milton, TXfhofe Mufe with fuch a daring Flighty 
 Led out the warring Seraphim s to fight : 
 Blefs'd Cowley m, who on the Banks of Chaiti 
 6^0 fweetly figh*d his IVrongs, and told his Flame : 
 And He, whofe Song, raised Cooper'; Hili fo high. 
 As made its Glory with Parnafllis vie : 
 And [oft Orinda, whofe bright pjining Name 
 Stands next great Sappho'; m the Ranks of Fame : 
 All now unwept, and unrelented pafs, * 
 And in our Grief no longer fhate a pUce: 
 Bion alone does all cur Tears engrofst 
 Our Tears are ail too few fir Bion*; Lofs, 
 Come, all ye M«/^;, come, adorn the Shepherd's Herfe, 
 With never-fading Garlands, never-dying Vetfe, 
 
 'thee all the Herdfmen mourn in gentlefi Lays, 
 ind rival one another in thy Vraife : 
 \ fpreadiffg Letters they engrave thy Name 
 )n ev*ry Bark, that*s "worthy of the fame : 
 Thy Name is warbled forth by evWy Tonguet 
 iThy Name the Burthen of each Shepherd*s Song I 
 /aller, the fweeift of living Bards, prepares 
 for thee his tendrefl, and his monrnfuWfl Airs j 
 hind I, the mear/eft of the Britifli Swains ^ 
 WAmon^(l the rcfl ojfir thefe humble Strains : 
 ^f I am reckoned not mblefs'd in Song, 
 *Tis what J owe to thy all-teaching Tongue ; 
 
 Somt 
 
A Pastor ALXjn the Death 
 
 Soihe of thy Art, fome of thy tuneful Breathy 
 
 Thou didfl by Will te roorthUfs me bequeath : 
 
 Others thy Flocks, thy Landsy thy "Riches have^ 
 
 Jo me thou d'tdfi thy Pipe and Skdl vouchfafe. 
 
 Come, all ye Mufes, come, adorn the Shepherd's Herfc, 
 'With cever-fading Garlands, never-dying Vcrfe. 
 
 Alas! by what ill Fate, to Man unkind. 
 
 Were we to fo fetere a Lot defignd f 
 
 The meaneft Flowers which ths Gardens yield. 
 
 The vileji Weeds that flourijh in the Field, 
 
 Which muft ere long lie dead in Winter's Snow, 
 
 shall ffring again, again more vigorous grow : 
 
 Xon Sun, and this bright Glory of the Day 9 | 
 
 Which Night is hafiing now to [natch away, > 
 
 Shall rife anew more fhining and more gay : j 
 
 But wretched we mufi harder meafure find, 
 
 The great* ft, the brav^ft, the witti'ft of Mankind, 
 
 When Death has once put out their Lightt in vain 
 
 Ez er expeB the Dawn of Life again : 
 
 In the dark Grave irffenfible they lie. 
 
 And there Jleep out endlefs Eternity. 
 
 There thou to Silence ever art confined. 
 
 While lefs deferving Swains are left behind : 
 
 So pleafe the Fates to deal with us below. 
 
 They cull out thee, and let dull Maevius go : 
 
 Mgevius lives ftill; fisll let him live for me, 
 
 Me and his fipe Jh^ll ne'er try Envy be : 
 
 J^one 
 
of the Earl of Rochester. 
 
 None that heard thy fmet^ thy artful Tongue, 
 Wdl grate their Ears with his rough untuned Song, 
 
 Come, all ye Mufes, come, adorn the Shepherd's Herfej 
 With never-fading Garlands, nevcr-dyin^ Vcrfe, 
 
 A fierce Dife^fe, fent by ungentle Deaths 
 Snatch'd Bion hence, and fiopp'd his hallon>*d Breath : 
 A fatal Damp put out that heavenly Fire, 
 That facred Heat which did his Breaji infpire -y 
 Ah I what malignant III could boafl that Vow-r, 
 Which his fweet Voice*s Ma^ick could not cure ? 
 Ah, cruel Fate ! how coud'Ji thou choofe but fpare f 
 How cou^dfl thou exercife thy Rigour here f 
 Would thou hadft thrown thy Dart at worthlefs me. 
 And let his dear, his valued Life go free : 
 Better ten thoufand meaner Swains had dy*d. 
 Than this bejl Work of Nature been defiroyd. 
 
 Come, all ye Mufes, come, adorn the Shepherd's Hcrfe^ 
 With never-fading Garlands, never-dying Vcrfe, 
 
 Ah I would kind Death alike had fent me hence ; 
 But Grief fhall do the Work, and fave its Fams 5 
 Grief fhall accompUfl) my defired Doom, 
 And foon difpatch me to Eiyfium : 
 Thire, Bion, would I be, there gladly know. 
 How with thy Voice thou charm' fi the Shades below. 
 $ing^ Shepherd, Jing one of thy Strains divine, 
 uch as may melt the fierce Elyfian ^een : 
 
A Pastoral on the Death, ^c. 
 
 she once her felf was pleased with tuneful St ram. 
 And fmg and dmc'd on the Siciliaa Vlains : 
 Fear not thy Song Jhotdd unfuqcefiful prove. 
 Fear not but 'twill the pitying Goddefs move : 
 She once was won iy Orpheus heavenly Lays, 
 * And gave his fair Eurydice Releafe, 
 
 And thine as powerful (quejiion not , dear Swam) 
 Shall bring thee back to thefe glad Hills again, 
 Ev*n I my felf, did I at all excel, 
 Would try the utmofi of my Voice and Skill, 
 Would try to move the rigid King of HelL 
 
 THE 
 
THE 
 
 TABLE. 
 
 A Dialogue hetmem Strephon and Dapfinc. Page i 
 A Paftoral Dialogue betwun Alexis and Strephon. p. f 
 
 The Advice p. 8 
 
 The Difcovery, p. i o 
 
 Woman's Honour. p. 1 1 
 
 Grecian Kindnefs. P- '3 
 
 The Miftrefs. ibid. 
 
 A Song,^ p. I y 
 
 To Corinna. p. i6 
 
 A Song of a young Lady to hsr ancient Lover. p. 17 
 
 A Song, p. 18 
 
 To a Lady in a Letter. . P» »9 
 
 The Fall. p. 21 
 
 Love and Life. f.ix 
 
 A Song. p. 2} 
 
 A Song. ibid* 
 
 A Song. p. 24. 
 
 XJfon his leaving his Mijirefs. p. 26 
 
 Upon drinking in a Bowl. P« *7 
 
 ASmg. p. 28 
 
 A. Song, P« ^9 
 
 The Anfwer. p. 3^ 
 
 Jb Chloris. p. 32 
 
 Conftancy. ' p. 34 
 
 iSowj^. P« 3r 
 A Letter from Artcmifa in the Town, to Cloe /'» ? p 
 
 Country, ^r* 3 
 ^» Efiftolary Bjfay from M. G* O. B. rif/r ? ^ 
 
 mntual Gardens. ^jP- 4^ 
 
 4 ^/i/j'r 
 
The TABLE. 
 
 'B A Satjr agninfi Mankind. Page f o 
 
 An Anfwer to the Satjr againft Mankind, By ^he ? 
 
 Revennd Mr.Griffith. ^ f9 
 
 The Mairnd Debauchee, p, C6 
 
 Upon Nothing, p. 68 
 
 A Tranjlatton from Lucretius* e^r. p^ j i 
 
 * The Ninth Elegy in the Second Book of OvidV ? 
 
 Amour iTrcmflated, 5 
 The hitter "End of the Chorus of the Second Aci of f 
 
 Seneca'/ Troas, Tranflated. 5 
 To His S cured Majefty, on His Keftaurationin \6Co.^ n 
 
 IVritten at \i Tears old. y 
 In Obit.Seren. Mariae.Pnw. Auran. p. 8i 
 
 To Her Sacred Majefty the ^een-D^othery on the 
 
 Death of Mary Frincefs of Orange. Written at 
 
 1 X Tears old. 
 
 An Epilogue, " p. 
 
 An Allufion to the Tenth Satyr of the Firjl Book of} ^ 
 
 Horace. 5 P- ^7 
 
 Verfes by Sir Car. Scropc, in anfmr to the fore- ^ ^ 
 
 going Copy. 3 P* 
 
 On the fuppos'd Author of a late Toem in Defence > 
 
 afSztyv. S ''''' 
 
 An Epilogue. p. lox 
 
 A Prologue, fpoken at the Court at Whitehall before 7 
 
 X. Charles II. by the Lady Eliz.abeth Howard. 5 P- ' ^5* 
 Alexander Bend o'j Bi//. p. icS 
 
 ^ JFamiliar Letters, p, 118 
 
 Love-Lesiers, p. lyj 
 
 The Tragedy of Valeatiniao, P* 7 f 
 
 01 
 
 ^ p. 8t 
 
 A 
 
BETWEEN 
 SnEPHON zndDAP HNE. 
 
 S T R E P H Ol^J. 
 Rithee now, fond Fool, give o'er 5 
 Since my Heart is gone before. 
 To what purpofe ftiould I Hay ; 
 Love commands another way, 
 DAPHNE, 
 Perjur'd Swain, I knew the Time 
 When DilTcmbh'ng was your Crime. 
 In Pity now employ that Art 
 Which fir ft betray 'd, to eafe irty Heart. 
 
 STREPHON. 
 Women can with Pbafurc feign : 
 Mtti diffemble ftill with Pain, 
 
 B What 
 
2. Poems fever al Occajions. 
 
 What Advantage will it prove. 
 If I iye, who cannot love; 
 
 D ^ P H JSr E. 
 Tell me then the Reafon, why 
 Love from Hearts in Love does fly t 
 V/hy the Bird will build a Nell: 
 ^Where he ne'er intends to reft ? 
 
 Love, like other little Boys, 
 Cries for Hearts, as they for Toys : 
 Which when gain'd, in Childilh Play, 
 .Wantonly are thrown away. 
 
 DAPHNE. 
 Still on Wing, or on his Knees, 
 Love does nothing by degrees : 
 Bafely flying when moft priz'd, 
 JVIcanly fawning when defpis'd. 
 Flatt'ring or infulting ever, 
 Generous and grateful never: 
 All his Joys are fleeting Dreams, 
 All his Woes fcvere Extremes. 
 
 ^TREPi^rON. 
 Nymph unjuftly you inveigh j 
 Love, like us, muft Fate obey; 
 Since 'tis Nature's Law to change, 
 Conftancy alone is ftrange. 
 See the Heav'ns in Lightnings break. 
 Next in Storms of Thunder fpeaki 
 
V OEM sou fever al Occajions. 5 
 
 'Till a kind Rain from above 
 Makes a Calm, — fo 'tis in Love. 
 Flames begin our firfi: Addrefs, * 
 Like meeting Thunder we embrace: 
 Then you know the Showr's that fall 
 Quench the Fire, and quiet all. 
 
 D ^ P fl N B. 
 How fhould I 'the Show'rs forger^ 
 *Twas fo pleafant to be wet ? 
 They kill'd Love, I knew it well, 
 I dy'd all the while they fell. 
 Say at leaft what Nymph it is, 
 Robs my Breaft of fo much Blifs ? 
 If <he is Fair, I fhall be eas'd. 
 Thro' my Ruin youll be pleas'd. 
 
 Daphne never was fo Fair : 
 
 Sirephon, fcarcely, fo fincerc. ^ 
 
 Gentle, Innocent, and Free, 
 
 Ever pleas'd with only me. 
 
 Many Charms my Heart enthral. 
 
 But there*s one above 'em all: 
 
 With Averfion Ihe does fly 
 
 Tedious, Trading, Conftancy. 
 
 DAFHNE. 
 Cruel Shepherd! I fubrait; 
 Do what Love and you think fit: 
 
 Change 
 
4 P 0 E M s fever at Occafions. 
 
 Change is Fate, and not Defigth 
 Say you would have ft ill been mine. 
 
 STREPHOJSf, 
 Nymphy I cannot: Tis too true. 
 Change has greater Charms than you* 
 Be, by my Example, wifej 
 Faith to Pleafure facrifice. 
 
 dathne: 
 
 Silly Swam, I'll have you know, 
 'Twasmy Pradice long ago: 
 Whilft you vainly thought me true, 
 I was falfe, in Scorn of you. 
 By my Tears, my Heart's Difguife, 
 I thy Love and thee defpife. 
 Womankind more Joy difcovers 
 Making Fools, than keeping Loverr. 
 
Poems fever al Occafions^^. y 
 A Pastoral Dialogue 
 
 BETWEEN 
 
 ALEXIS and STREPHO N. 
 
 Written at the Bath in the Tear 1674. 
 
 A L E X 1 S. 
 nr HERE fighs not on the Plain 
 
 So loft a Swain as I,- 
 ScorchM up with Love, frozen with DHim, 
 Of kiUiftg Swectnefs I complain. 
 
 S T RE F HO N. 
 If 'tis Cmnna, die. 
 Since firft my dazzled Eyes wcre throwft 
 
 On that bewitching Face, 
 Like ruin'd Birds robb'd of their Youngs 
 Lamenting, frighted, and undone, | 
 
 I fly from Place to Place. 
 Fram'd by fome cruel Pow'rs aboves> . 
 So Nice (he is, and Fair; 
 None from Undoing can remove 
 Since all, who are not blind, muft love 5 
 Who are not vain, defpair. 
 
 B 3 ALEXIS. 
 
^ P o E M s fever al Occafiom. 
 
 A L B X I S. 
 
 The Gods no fooner give Grace, 
 
 But, fond of their own Art, 
 Severely Jealous, ever place. 
 To guard the Glories of a Face, 
 
 A Dragon in the Heart. 
 Proud and Ill-natur'd Pow'rs they arei 
 
 Who, peevifh to Mankind, 
 For their own Honour's fake, with care 
 Make a fweet Form divinely fair: 
 
 Then add a cruel Mind. 
 
 S T R E P H O N. 
 5ince (he's infcnfible of Love, 
 
 By Honour taught to hate: 
 If we, forc'd by Decrees above, 
 Miift fenfible to Beauty prove, 
 
 How Tyrannous is Fate? 
 I to the Nymph have never nam'd 
 
 The Caufe of all my Pain. - 
 
 ALEXIS, 
 Such Bafhful nefs may well be blam'd 5 
 For lince to Serve we're not afljam'd. 
 
 Why (hould fhe blufli to Reign? 
 
 STREPHON. 
 But if her haughty Heart defpife 
 
 My humble proffered onej 
 The juft Compaflion fhe denies, 
 I may obtain from others Eyesj. 
 
 Ikvb ai e not fair alone. 
 
Poems on fever al Occajions. 
 
 Devouring Flames require new Foods 
 
 My Heart's confum'd almoft : 
 ' New Fires muft kindle in her Blood, 
 Or mine go out, and that's as good. 
 
 ALEXIS, 
 
 Wou'dft live when Love is loft ? 
 Be dead before thy Paffion diesj 
 
 For if thou (hou'dfl: furvive. 
 What Anguifli would thy Heart furprize. 
 To fee her Flames begin to rife, 
 
 And thine no more alive? 
 
 S T R E ? H O 
 Rather what Pleafure fhould I meet 
 
 In my triumphant Scorn, 
 To fee my Tyrant at my Feet;- 
 While taught by her, unmov'd 1 fit 
 
 A Tyrant in my turn. 
 
 ALEXIS. 
 Ungentle Shepherd! ceafc, for (hamcs 
 
 Which way can you pretend 
 To merit fo Divine a Flame, 
 Who to dull Life make a mean Claim, 
 
 When Love is at an End ? 
 As Trees are by their Bark cmbrac'd, 
 
 Love to my Soul doth cling ; 
 When torn by the Herd's greedy Tafte; 
 The injur'd Plants feel they're dcfac'd. 
 
 They wither in the Spring. 
 
 B 4. 
 
8 Poems fever al Qccajlorrs 
 
 My rifled Love would foon retire, 
 
 Difiblving into Air, 
 Shou'd I that Nymph ccafe to admire, 
 Blefs'd in whofe Arms I will expire, 
 
 Or at her Feet defpair.^ 
 
 The A T> F I C 
 
 A LL Things fqbmit themfelves to your Command, 
 
 Fair Cdia when it does not Love withftand : 
 The Pow'r it borrows from your Eyes alone; 
 AH but the God muft yield to^ v^ho has none. 
 Were he not blind, fuch are the Charms you havCf 
 Hc*d quit his Godhead to become your Slave:. 
 Be proud to a£l a Mortal Heroe's Part. 
 And throw himfelf for Fame on his own Dart# 
 But Fate has otherwife difpos'd of things, 
 In diffVent Bands fubje6led Slaves, and Kings: 
 Fetter'd in Forms of Royal State are they, 
 "While we enjoy the Freedom to obey. 
 That Fate like you refiftlefs does ordain 
 To Love, that over Beauty he fliall Reign, 
 By Harmony the Univerfe does move, 
 And what is Harmony but mutual LoveF 
 Who would refifi: an Empire fo Divine, 
 Which Univerfa! Nature does injoin ? 
 
^ Poems on fever al Occajions^^ 
 
 See gentle Brooks, how quietly they gHde, 
 
 KifTiftg the rugged Banks on eicher fide; 
 
 While in their Crylbl Screams at once rhey (hbw. 
 
 And with them feed the Flow'rs which they beftow^ 
 
 Tho' rudely ihrongM by a too near Embrsce, 
 
 In gentle Murmurs they keep on their Pace 
 
 To the lov'd Scar for Streams- have their Defiresj 
 
 Cool 35 they are, they feel Love's povv'rful Firesj 
 
 And with fuch Paffion, that if any Force 
 
 Stop or moleft them in their amVous Courfej 
 
 They fwell, break down with Rage, and ravage o^er 
 
 The Banks thev kifs'd, and FlowVs they fed before^ > 
 
 Submit then, Cdla,, ere you be reduc'd ; 
 
 For Rebels va quifh'd once^ are vilely us'd. 
 
 Beauty's no more but the dead 5oil, which Love 
 
 Manure,?, and does by wife Commerce improve : . 
 
 Sailing by Sighs, through Seas of Tears, he fends 
 
 Courclhips from foreign Hearts, for your own Endsr 
 
 Cherifh the Trade, for as with Iniiims we 
 
 Get Gold, and Jewds, for our Trumpery \ 
 
 So to each other, for their ufelefs Toys, 
 
 Lovers afford whole Magazines of Joys. 
 
 But if you're fond of Baubles, be, and ftarve, 
 
 Your Gusgaw Reputation ftill preferve : 
 
 Live upon Modefty and empty Fame, 
 
 Foregoing Senfe for a fantaftick Namcc 
 
10 V OEM s ofi fever al Occajions* 
 
 The DISCOVERT, 
 
 Would in obedience keep his Love his own : 
 But bright Ideas, fuch as you infpire, 
 We can no more conceal, than not admire. 
 ]Vly Heart at home in my own Breaft did dwells 
 Like hum-ble Hermit in a peaceful Cell: 
 Unknown and undifturb'd it refted there. 
 Stranger alike to Hope and to Defpair. 
 Now Love with a tumultuous Train invades 
 The facred Quiet of thofe hallo^yM Shades : 
 His fatal Flames fhine out to every Eye, 
 Like blazing Comets in a Winter Sky. 
 How can my Paffion merit your Offence^ 
 That challenges fo little Recompencc? 
 For I am one, born only to admire j 
 Too humble e'er to hope, fcarce to defire^ 
 A Thing, v,;hofe Blifs depends upon your Will 5 
 jWho would be proud youM deign to ufe him ill* 
 Then give me leave to glory in my Chain, 
 My ffuitlefs Sighs, and my unpityM Pain.j 
 Let me but ever love, and ever be 
 ) Th' Example of your Pow'r and Cruelty^ 
 Since fo much Scorn does in your Breaft rclide^ 
 Be more indulgent to its Mother Pride* 
 
 MltA'i that faithful Servant you difown, 
 
P 0 E M s fever al Occajions. 1 1 
 
 Kill all you flrike, and trample on their Graves j 
 
 But own the Fates of your negledted Slaves: 
 
 When in the Crowd yours undiftinguifli'd Iie$i 
 
 You give away the Triumph of your Eyes. 
 
 Perhaps (obtaining thisj you'll think I find 
 
 More Mercy, than your Anger has dcfign*d : i. 
 
 But Love has carefully defign'd for me. 
 
 The laft Perfeaion of Mifcry. 
 
 For to my State the Hopes of common Peace, 
 
 Which ev'ry Wretch enjoys in Death, muft ceafe z 
 
 My worft of Fates attend me in my Grave, 
 
 Since, dying, I muft be no more your Slave, 
 
 W O M A N's HON 0 \^ m 
 
 A SONG. 
 
 IL 
 
 Honour's got in, and keeps her Heart 5^ 
 Durft he but venture once abroad. 
 
 In my own Right Td take your Part,' 
 Andfhew my fcif a mightier 
 
 in.^ Thy 
 
IX Po E M s on fever al Occafiom. 
 
 IIL 
 
 In Breafts, where he alone has places 
 But if true gen'rous Love appears, 
 The Hedor dares not Ihew his Face, 
 IV. 
 
 Let me dill languifh and compIain,^ 
 
 Be moft inhumanly deny'd : 
 I have fome Pleafure in my Pain, 
 
 She can have none with all her Pridej,-. 
 
 I fall a Sacrifice to Lovey 
 
 She lives a Wretch for Homurh fakei 
 Whofe Tyrant does moft cruel prove, 
 
 The Difference is not hard to make. 
 
 Goniider Red Homur then, 
 \ You'll find Hers cannot be the fame 5 
 ^'Tis noble Confidence in Men, 
 
 In Women mean miftrui^ful Shame, . 
 
 This huffing Hi)?;i?/ir domineers 
 
 V. 
 
Poems on federal Occajions. ij 
 
 GRECIAN KINDNESS. 
 
 A S O N G. 
 
 I.. 
 
 THE utmoft Grace the Greeks could (hew^ , 
 When to tht* Trojans they grew kind, 
 Was with their Arms to ler 'cm go, 
 
 And leave their lingring Wives behind. 
 They beat the Men, and burpt the Town,' 
 Then all the Baggage was their owiu 
 II. 
 
 There the kind Deity of Wine 
 
 Kifs'd the ibft wanton God of Love; 
 
 This clapp'd his Wings, that prefs'd his Vine; 
 And th ir beft Powers unircd move. 
 
 While each brave Greek embraced his Punk, 
 
 Luird her aflcep, and thea grew drunk. 
 
 The M I S T R E S S, 
 
 A SONG, 
 L 
 
 /V N Age, in her Embraces pa ft, 
 
 Woald feetn a Winrer's Day; 
 Where Life and Li^ht, with envious haftCj 
 Are torn and fnatch'd away. 
 
 II. But, 
 
14 Po E M s (?» fever al Occafms, 
 II. 
 
 But, oh! how flowly Minutes roul^ 
 
 When abfent from her Eyes \ 
 That fed my Love, which is my Soul, 
 
 It langui(hes and dies. 
 
 ni. 
 
 For then no more a Soul but Shade, 
 
 It mournfully does movej 
 And haunts my Breafl:, by Abfence mad* 
 
 The living Tomb of Love. 
 
 IV, 
 
 You wifer Men defpife me not ; 
 
 Whofe Love-fick Fancy raves. 
 On Shades of Souls, and Hcav'n knows whatp 
 
 Short Ages live in Graves. 
 
 V. 
 
 3Vhene'cr thofe wounding Eyes, fo fuU 
 
 Of Sweetnefs you did feej 
 Had you not been profoundly dull. 
 
 You had gone mad like me, 
 VL 
 
 Nor cenfure us, you who perceive 
 
 My beft belov'd and me. 
 Sigh and lament, complain and grievei 
 
 You think we difagree. 
 
 VIL 
 
 Alas! •tis facred Jealoufie, 
 Love rais'd to an Extreme 5 . 
 
Po E M s ff» fever al Occajlons^ tj 
 
 The only Proof 'twixt them and me. 
 We love, and do not dream. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 Fantaftick Fancies fondly movcj 
 
 And in frail Joys believe: 
 Taking falfe Pleafures for true Loves 
 
 But Pain can ne'er deceive. 
 
 IX. 
 
 Kind jealous Doubts, tormenting Fears^ 
 And anxious Cares, when pad, 
 
 Prove our Heart's Trcafure fix'd and dear, 
 And make us blefs'd at lad. 
 
 A SON a 
 
 f. 
 
 A BsEN T from thee I languifli ftillj 
 Then ask me not, When I return? 
 The ftraying Fool 'twill plainly kill, 
 To wifh all Day, all Night to mourna 
 II. 
 
 Dear, from thine Arms then let me flie,\ 
 
 That my fantaftick Mind may prove 
 The Torments it deferves to try,^ .r; 
 
 That tears my fix'd Heart from my Love, 
 III. 
 
 When wearyy with a World of Woe 
 Ta thy fafc Bofom I retire, 
 
 Wher© 
 
Poems on feveral Occajiousi 
 
 where Love, and Peace, and Truth does flow. 
 May I contended there expire. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Left once more wandVing from that Heav*nj» . 
 
 I fallen fome bafe Heart unbkftj 
 Faithlefs to thee, falfe, unforgiven, 
 
 And lofe my everlafting Reft» 
 
 To C O R I N N J. 
 
 A SON G.. 
 I. 
 
 \fi7 HAT cruel Pains Corinna takes, 
 To force that harmlefs Frowo: 
 When not one Charm her Face forfakcs^ 
 Love cannot lofe his own. 
 
 II. 
 
 So fweet a Face, fo foft a Heart?' 
 
 Such Eyes fo very kind, 
 Betray, ala^ ! the filly Art 
 
 Virtue had ill delign'd, 
 
 in. 
 
 Poor feeble Tyrati! who in vain 
 
 Would proutlly cake upon her^ 
 Agaiiift kind rature to maintain 
 
 Afifcfted Rults of Honour, 
 
 7 • Vi^lh 
 
Po E M s on fever al OccaJionT. 17 
 
 IV. 
 
 The Scorn fhe bears fo helplefs prove?. 
 
 When I p)ead palTion to her, 
 Thar much (lie fears, (but more fhe loves,), 
 
 Her Vaffal fhould undo her^ 
 
 A SONG 
 
 % Of a Toung L A D T. 
 
 To her Ancient Lover, 
 I. 
 
 AN c I E N T Pcrfon, for whom I 
 All the flatt'ring Youth dcfic^ 
 Long be it ere thou grow Oldt 
 Aking, (haking, crafie, cold. 
 But ftill continue as thou art, 
 Ancmt Terfon of my Heart, 
 
 n. 
 
 Gn thy wither 'd Lips and dry, 
 V/hich like barren Furrows lie, 
 Brooding Kifles I will pour 
 Shall thy youthful Heat reftore. 
 Such kind Show'rs in Autumn fall, 
 And a fecond Spring recall t 
 
 Nor 
 
1 8 Po E M s fever al Occajiom. 
 
 Nor from thee will ever part, 
 Ancmt Vernon of my Heart. 
 
 III. 
 
 Thy Nobler Parts, which but to name. 
 In cur Sex would be coumed Shame, 
 By Age's frozen Grafp poffcfs'd. 
 From their Ice fiiall be released : 
 And, footh'd by my reviving Hand^ 
 In former Warmth and Vigour ftand. 
 All a Lover's Wiih can reach. 
 For thy Joy my Love (hall teach. 
 And for thy Pieafure fliall improve 
 All that Art can add to Love. 
 Yet ftill I love thee without ArtJ 
 Ancmt Verfon of my Heart* 
 
 A s o N a 
 
 T. 
 
 pH)/////, be gentler, I advife; 
 
 Make up for Time mif-fpent, 
 JVhich Beauty on its Death-bed lies, 
 *Tis high time to repent. 
 
 IL 
 
 Such is the Malice of your Fate, 
 That makes you old fo foonj, 
 
 Your Pieafure ever comes too late,' 
 How early e'er begun. 
 
Po E M s fever al Occajions, 1:9 
 
 III. 
 
 Think what a wretched Thing is fhc, 
 Whofe Stars contrive, in fpight , 
 
 The Morning of her Love ihould be. 
 Her fading Beauty's Night. 
 
 V. 
 
 Then if, to make your Ruin morei. 
 
 You'll peevifhiy be coy, 
 Die with the Scandal of a Whore, 
 
 And never know the Joy. 
 
 T O A 
 
 LADY, in A LETTER. 
 I, 
 
 r U G H perfeft Blifs, fair morU, WQ 
 ^ In our Enjoyment prove ; 
 *Tis Pity reftlefs Jealoufie 
 
 Should mingle with our Love.- 
 II. 
 
 Let us, (ince Wit has taught us how, 
 
 Raife Pleafure to the Top: 
 You Rival Bottle mufl: allow, 
 
 I'll iuffer Rival Fop. 
 
 III. Think 
 
zo Po E M s ou fever al Occajiom. 
 
 Ill- 
 Think not in this that I defign 
 
 A Treafon 'gain ft Love's Charms, 
 When following the God of Wine, 
 I leave my ChloriC Arms. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Since you have that, for all your hafte, 
 
 At whieh TU ne'er repine. 
 Its Pleafure can repeat as faft, 
 
 As I the Joys of Wine. 
 
 V. 
 
 There's not a brisk infipid Spark> 
 That flutters in fhe Town; 
 
 But with your wanton Eyes you mark 
 Him out to be your own. 
 
 vr. 
 
 Nor do you think it worth your Care, 
 How empty, and hew dully 
 
 The Heads of your Admirers are, 
 So that their Veins are full. 
 
 VII. 
 
 All this you freely may confef?, 
 
 Yet we ne*er difagree: 
 For did you love your Pleafure Icfs, 
 
 You were no Match for mc» 
 
Po E M s ott fever al Occajlons. 1 1 
 
 The F A L L. 
 
 A SONG. 
 
 TTO W blefs'd was the Created State 
 
 Of Man and Woman, ere they fell! 
 Compared to our unhappy Fate, 
 We need not fear another Hell! 
 
 JI. 
 
 Naked, beneath cool Shades, they lay» 
 
 Enjoyment waited on Defire: 
 Each Member did their Wills obey, 
 
 Nor could a Wifli fct pleafure higher* 
 IIL 
 
 But we, poor Slaves to Hope and Fear, 
 
 Are never of our Joys fccure: 
 They lefTen ftili as they draw near, 
 
 And none but 'dull Delights endure. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Then, ChbriSi while I Duty pay. 
 The Nobler Tribute of my Heart, 
 
 Be not you fo fevere to fay, ^ 
 You love me tor a frailer Part* 
 
 LOVE 
 
Poems tf;s? fever al Occajions. 
 
 LOVE and L I F E. 
 
 A SONG. 
 
 L L my paft Life is mine no more, 
 
 The flying Hours are gone : 
 Like Tranfitory Dreams giv'n o'er, 
 Whofe Images are kept in ftore 
 By Memory alone. 
 
 The Time that is to come is nets 
 * How can it then be mine? 
 The prcfent Moment's all my Lot j 
 And that, as faft as it is got, 
 Ihyllhi is only thine. 
 
 Then talk not of Inconftancy, 
 Falfe Hearts, and broken Vowsj 
 
 If I, by Miracle, can be 
 
 This live-long Minute true to thee, 
 JTis all that Heav'n allows. 
 
 n. 
 
 nr. 
 
Po E M s on fever al Occajions. % | 
 
 A SONG. 
 I. 
 
 \yi7 HI L E on thofe lovely Looks I gaze. 
 
 To fee a Wretch purfuing. 
 In Raptures of a blefs'd Amaze, 
 
 His pleaflng happy Ruin 5 
 •Tis not for Pity that I move; 
 
 His Fate is too afpiring, 
 Whofe Heart, broke with a Load of Love? 
 Dies wifliing and admiring. 
 
 II. 
 
 l3ut if this Murder you'd forego. 
 
 Your Slave from Death removing 5 
 Let me your Art of charming know, 
 
 Or learn you mine of Loving; 
 But whether Life, or Death, betide. 
 
 In Love 'tis equal Meafure: 
 The Vidor lives with empty Pride; 
 
 The VanquifliM die with Pleafure. 
 
 A s O N G. 
 I. 
 
 T OVE a Woman! you're an Afs, 
 Tis a inoft infipid PaflioD} 
 
 To 
 
24 Po E M s fever al Occajions. 
 
 To choofe out for your Happinefs, 
 The fiUieft Part of God's Creation. 
 
 IT, 
 
 Let the Porter, and the Groom, 
 Things defign'd for dirty Slaves 5 
 
 Drudge in Fair Aureliah Womb, 
 To get Supplies for Age and Graves. 
 
 III. 
 
 Farewel, Woman, I intend, 
 Henceforth, ev'ry Night to fit 
 
 With my lewd well-natur'd Friend, 
 Drinking to engender Wit. 
 
 A SONG. 
 
 I. 
 
 To this Moment a Rebel, I throw down my Arms, 
 Great love, at firft Sight of Olmda's bright Charms: 
 Made proud, and fecure, by fuch Forces 'as thefe. 
 You may now play the Tyrant as foon as you pleafc. 
 
 ir. 
 
 when Innocence, Beauty, and Wit do confpire 
 To betray, and engage, and inflame my Defire; 
 Why Ihould I decline what I cannot avoid. 
 And let pleafmg Hope by bafc Fear be deflroy'd? 
 
 III. Her 
 
Poems on fever al Occajions. 
 
 III. 
 
 Her Innocence cannot contrive to undo me. 
 Her Beauty's inclin'd, or why fliould it purfue me? 
 And Wit has to Pleafurc been ever a Friend 5 
 Then what room for Defpair, fince Delight is Z;(?x;a*s End? 
 IV. 
 
 There can be no Danger in Swcetnefs and Youth, 
 Where L 've is fecur*d by Good-nature and Truth, 
 On her Beauty Til g^ze, and of Pleafure complain 5 
 While ev'ry kind Look adds a Link to my Chain. 
 V. 
 
 'Tis more to maintain, than it was to furprize; 
 I But her Wit leads in triumph the Slave of her Eyes: 
 I I beheld, with the Lofs of my Freedom before, 
 
 But hearing, for ever muft ferve and adore. 
 
 VL 
 
 Too bright is my Goddefs, her Temple too weak: 
 Retire, Divine Image! I feel nly Heartbreak. 
 Help, LovBy I diflblve in a Rapture of Charms; 
 ' At the Thought of thofe Joys I fhould meet in her ArmSo 
 
 C 
 
 Upon 
 
%6 Fo e MS Oft fever al Occajions. 
 
 Upon hi5 leaving his. 
 
 MISTRESS- 
 I. 
 
 ^^np I s not that Tm weary grown 
 
 ^ Of being yours, and yours alone : 
 But with what Face can I incline. 
 To damn you to be only mine? 
 You, whom fome kinder PowV did fafhioni 
 By Merit, and by Inclination, 
 The Joy at leaft of a whole Natio% 
 11. 
 
 Let meaner Spirits of your Sex, 
 With humble Aims their Thoughts perplex i 
 And boaft, if, by their Arts, they can 
 Contrive to make, one happy Man. 
 While, mov'd by an impartial Scnfe, 
 Favours, like Nature, you difpenfe, 
 With univerfal Influence. 
 
 III. 
 
 See the kind Seed-receiving Earth, 
 To ev'ry Grain affords a Birth: 
 On her no Show'rs unwelcome tall. 
 Her willing Womb retains *cm all. 
 
Poems fever al Occajions. 
 
 And (hall my Cd'm be confin'd ? 
 No, Jive up to thy mighty Mind 5 
 And be the Miflrefs of Mankind. 
 
 UPON 
 Drinking in a B o w Lr 
 1. 
 
 Vulcan^ contrive me fuch a Cup, 
 As Neflor us'd of old: 
 Shew all thy Skill to trim it up; 
 Damask it round with Gold. 
 
 II. 
 
 Make it fo large, that, fill'd with Sack 
 
 Up to the fwelling Brim, 
 Vaft Toafts, on the delicious L ke, 
 
 Like Ships at Sea, my^Iwim. ' 
 
 III. 
 
 Sngrave not Battel on his Cheek; 
 I With War I've nought to do; 
 'm none of thofe that took Majlrick, 
 Nor TamoHth Leaguer knew. 
 
 IV. 
 
 aCt it no Name of Planets tell, j 
 Fix'd Stars, or ConftcUations: 
 
Poems on fever al Occafms. 
 
 For T am no Sir SUro^htly 
 Nor none of his Relations.' 
 
 V. 
 
 But carve thereon a fpreading Vine j 
 Then add two lovely Boys i 
 
 Their Limbs in amVous Folds intwine. 
 The Type of future Joys. 
 
 VI. 
 
 Cufii and Bacchus my Saints are; 
 
 May Drink and Love ftill reign: 
 With Wine I wafh away my Cares, 
 
 And then to Love again* 
 
 ^ SONG. 
 
 I. 
 
 A S Chlorls full of harmlefs Thoughts 
 Beneath a Willow lay, 
 Kind Love a youthful Shepherd brought, 
 To pafs the Time away. 
 
 IL 
 
 She blufht to be encounter'd lb. 
 And chid the amVous Swain 5 
 
 But as (he ftrove to rife and go, 
 He puird her down again. 
 
FoEMS on fever al Occafms. 19 
 nr. 
 
 1 A fudden PafTion feiz'd her Heart, 
 
 In fpight of her Difdain 5 
 i She found a Pulfe in every Part, 
 
 And Love in evVy Vein< 
 
 IV. 
 
 Ah, Youth! (faid (he) what Charms are thefcf 
 ' That conquer and furprize? 
 
 Ah / let me «^ for unlefs you pleafe, 
 
 I have no power to rife. 
 
 V. 
 
 She fainting fpoke, and trembling lay, 
 
 For fear he fhould comply ; 
 I Her lovely Eyes her Heart betray, 
 1 And give her Tongue the Lye, 
 VL 
 
 Thus (he who Princes had deny'd, 
 With all their Pomp and Trains 
 ■ Was, in the lucky Minute, try'd, 
 j And yielded to a Swain. 
 
 A SONG. 
 
 i; 
 
 1 VE me leave to rail at you, 
 1 ask nothing but my duej 
 
 C I To 
 
Poems on fever al Oc capons. 
 
 To call you falfc, and tten to fay 
 You fball not keep my Heart a Day: 
 But, alas! againft my Will, 
 I muft be your Captive ftilL 
 Ah ! be kinder then j for I 
 Cannot change, and would not die. 
 
 II. 
 
 Kindnefs has rcfifflefs Charms, 
 
 All befides but weakly movej. 
 
 Fierceft Anger it di&ms. 
 
 And clips the Wings of flying Love. 
 
 Beauty does the Heart invade, 
 
 Ki»»dricfs only can perfuadej 
 
 It gilds the Lover's fervilc Chain, 
 
 And makes the Slaves grow pleas'd again. 
 
 The ANSWER. 
 I. 
 
 Nothing adds to your fond Fire 
 More than Scorn, and cold Y>itizmt 
 I to chcrifh your Defire, 
 
 Kindnefs us'd but 'cwas in vain* 
 H. 
 
 You infifted on your Slave. 
 
 Humble Love you foon refusy : 
 
Po,EMS en feveral Occaftms. 
 
 ! Hope not then a Power to have, 
 
 Which ingloricufly you us'd. 4 
 
 nr. 
 
 Think not, Thyrfis, I will e'er. 
 
 By my Love, my Empire lofe: 
 You grow conftant through Defpair," 
 
 Love returned you would abufe. 
 
 IV. 
 
 i Though you ftill polTefs my Heart, 
 I Scorn and Rigour I mud feign : 
 I Ah ! forgive that only Art 
 
 Love has left your Love to gain. 
 
 V, 
 
 I You that could my Heart fubdue. 
 To new Conqucfts ne'er pretend: 
 Let the Example make me true. 
 And of a conquered Foe a Friend. 
 
 VI. 
 
 Then, if e'er I fhould complain 
 
 Of your Empire, or my Chain,' 
 ; Summon all the pow'rful Charms, 
 And kill the Rebel in your Arms* 
 
 C4 
 
3t Poems tf^ fever al Occajions. 
 
 A SONG 
 To C H L 0 R I 5 
 
 A I R ChloYts in a Pig-/l:y lay, 
 Her tender Herd lay by her: 
 She fiept, in murm'ring Gruntlings they, 
 Complaining of the fcorching Day, 
 Her Slumbers thus infpire , 
 II. 
 
 She dreamt, while {he with care ful Pains 
 
 Her fnowy Arms employ 'd, 
 In Ivory Pails, to fill out Grains, 
 One of her Love-convi6led Swains, 
 
 Thus hading to her cry'd : 
 III. 
 
 Fly, Nymph, oh! fly, ere 'tis too late, 
 
 A dear-lov'd Life to fave: 
 Refcue your Bofom Pig from Fate, 
 "Who now expires, hung in the Gate 
 
 That leads to yonder Cave. 
 
 17. 
 
 My felf had try'd to fet him free. 
 Rather than brought the News % 
 
Poems on fever al Occajions\ 33 
 
 But I am fo abhory by thee, 
 That cv'n thy Darling's Life from me, 
 I know thou wou'dfl rcfufe. 
 
 Struck with the News, as quick fhe flies 
 
 As Blufhes to her Face! 
 Not the bright Lightning from the Skies,' 
 Nor Love, Ihot from her brighter Eyes? 
 
 Move half fo fwift a Pace, 
 
 This Plot, it feems, the luftful Slave 
 
 Had laid again (I her Honour : 
 \^hich not one God took care to fave^ 
 For he purfues her to the Cave, 
 And throws himfelf upon her. 
 
 Now pierced is her Virgin Zone, 
 
 She feels the Foe within it j 
 She hears a broken am'i ous Groan^ 
 The panting Lover's fainting Moan, 
 Juft in the happy Minute. 
 
 V. 
 
 VL 
 
 VIL 
 
 C O 
 
34 Poems fever al Occajions. 
 
 CONSTANCY. 
 A S O N G. 
 I. 
 
 T Cannot change, as otbers cfo, 
 Though you unjuflly fcorn : 
 Since that poor Swain that fighf for you. 
 
 For you alone was born. 
 No, Vhyllis, no, your Heart to move 
 
 A furer way Til try : 
 And to revenge my flighted Love, 
 
 Will ftill love on, will ftiil love on, and die. 
 II. 
 
 When, kili'd with Grief, Amynm lies i 
 
 And you to mind fliall call, 
 The Sighs that now unpity'd rift. 
 
 The Tears that vainly fall; 
 That welcome Hour that ends this Smart, 
 
 W?ll then begin your Pain; 
 For fuch a faithful tender Heart 
 
 Can never break, can never break in vaiut 
 
Poems tf» fever al Occajions. if 
 
 A SONG. 
 I. 
 
 XII Y dear Miftrefs has a Heart 
 
 Soft as thofe kinH Looks flie gave me^ 
 When with Love's refiftleis Art, 
 
 And htt Eyes (he did cjjflave me. 
 But her Conftancy's fo weak, 
 
 She's fo wild and apt to wander; 
 That my jealous H-^irt vrvdA Dicak, 
 Should wc ^ ;^ Qwe Day afiinder, 
 IL 
 
 Melting Joys ^bout her move, 
 
 Killing P!. Jifures, wounding BlifTes 5 
 
 She can drels her Eyes in Love, 
 And her Lips can warm with KifTes* 
 
 Angels liften when fhe fpeaks, 
 
 She's my Delight, all Mankind's Wonder: 
 
 But my jealous Heart would break. 
 
LETTER 
 
 FROM 
 
 A R T E M I s A In the Town^ 
 ^0 C L o E in the Country. 
 
 1 0 B, by your Command, m Verfe I write; 
 Shortly you'll bid me rideaftride, and fight: 
 Such Talents better with our Sex agree, 
 Than lofty Flights of dangVous Poetry. 
 Among the Men, I mean the Men of Wit, 
 (At leaft they pafs'd for fuch before they writ) 
 How many boW Adventurers for the Bays, 
 Proudly defigning large Returns of Praife j 
 Who durft that ftormy, pathlefs World explore; ^ 
 Wcrefoon dalb'd back, and wrecked on the dull Shore j > 
 Broke of that little Stock they had before. !j 
 How would a Woman's, tott'ring, Barque be toft, 
 Where ftouteft Ships (the Men of Wit) are loft? 
 
 When 
 
Poem & Oft fe'veral Occajlons. \ 
 
 when I refled on this, I ftraight grow wifej 
 And my own felf I gravely thus advife: 
 
 Dear Artemifa ! Poetry *s a Snare: 
 j Bedlam has many Manfi nsj have a care; 
 
 Your Mufe diverts you, makes the Reader fad: 
 I You think your felf infpir'd 5 he thinks you mad. 
 j Confider too, 'twill be difcreetly done, 
 ! To make vour felf the Fiddle of the Town* 
 j' To find tli'Ill-humour'd Pleafure at their need : • 
 I Curs'd when you fail, and fcorn when you fucceed, 
 1 Thus, like an arrant Woman, as I am, 
 
 No fooner well convinc*d Writing's a Shame, 
 
 That W^hore is fcarce a more reproachful Name, 
 
 Than Poetefs 
 
 Like Men that Marry, or like Maids that Woo^ 
 Becaufe *cis th'very worft thing they can do : 
 Pieas'd with the Concradidion, and the Sin, 
 Methinks I ftand on thorns *till I begin. 
 
 Y'exped to hear, at leaft, what Love has pad 
 In this lewd Town, fince you and I faw laft; 
 What Change has happer/d of Intrigues, and whether 
 The old ones lafl:, and who and who's together. 
 But how, my deareft Cloe, fhould I fet 
 My Pen to write, what I would fain forget ! 
 Or name that loft thing Love, without a Tear, 
 Since fo debauch'd by ill-bred Cudoms here ? 
 
38 Po E M s c» federal Occafms^ 
 
 Love, the moft generous Paflion of the Mind 5 
 
 The fofteft Refuge Innocence can find : 
 
 The fafe Diredor of unguided Youth : 
 
 Fraught with kind Wiflies, and fccur'd by Truth : 
 That Cordial- drop Heav'n in our Cup has thrown, 
 To make the naufeous I>raught of Life go down: 
 On which one only Bieffing God might raife. 
 In Lands of Atheifts, Subfidies of Praife: 
 For none did e'er fo dull and ftupid prove. 
 But felt a God, and blefs'd his Pow'r in Loves 
 This only Joy, for which poor we are made. 
 Is grown, like Play, to bean arrant Trade: 
 The Rooks creep in, and it has got, of late> 
 As many little Cheats, and Tricks, as that. 
 But, what yet mere a Woman's Heart would vex,' 
 
 *Tis chiefly carry 'd on by our own Sex: 
 Our filly Sex, who, born like Monarchs, free. 
 Turn Gipfie? for a meaner Liberty; 
 And hare Rcfi.aint, tho' but by Infamy: 
 That call whatever is not common Nice, 
 And, deaf to Nature's Rule, or Love's Advice, 
 Forfakethe Plcafure to purfue the Vice. 
 To an exa£l Perfection they have brought 
 
 ^The A6lion Love 5 the Paflion is forgot. 
 'Tis below Wit, they tell you, to admires 
 And ev'n without approving they defire. 
 Their private. Wi(h obeys the publick Voice? 
 *Twixt ^ood and bad W himfie decides, not Choice^ 
 
 Fal 
 
Poems on feveral Occajions. 39 
 
 Faditons grow up for Tafte, at Forms they ftrikej 
 They know what they would have, noc what they like. 
 Bovfs a Beauty, if fome few agres 
 To call him fo, the reft to that degree 
 Affeded are, that with rhctir Ears they fee.' 
 
 Where I was vifitiog the other Night, 
 Comes a fine Lady, with her humble Knight, 
 Who had prevailed with her, through her own Skill, 
 At his Requeft, though much againft his Will, 
 
 To come to London « 
 
 As the Coach fiopt, I heard her Voice, more loud 
 Than a Great-beily'd Woman's in a Croud 5 
 Telling the Knight that her Affairs require 
 He, for fome Hours, obfequioufly retire, 
 I think (he was afham'd he fhould be feen: 
 Hard Fate of Husbands! the Gallant had been. 
 Though a difeas'd, ill-favour'd Fool, brought in, 
 Difpatch, fays (he, the Bufinefs you pretend. 
 Your beaftly Viiit to your drunken Friend 
 A Bottle ever makes you look fo fine: 
 Methinks I long to fmell you ftink of Wine. 
 Your Country drinking Breath's enough to kill: 
 Sour Ale correded with a Lemon Pill. 
 Prithee, farewell: We'll meet again anon. 
 The neceffiry Thing bows, and is gone. 
 She flies up Stairs, and all the hafte does fhow 
 That Fifty Antick Poftures will allow, 
 
 And 
 
4© J? OEM 5 OH fever al Occajions. 
 
 And then burft out ' Dear Madam, am not I 
 
 The ftranged,, alter'J, Creature: Let me die 
 
 I find my felf ridiculoufly grown, 
 
 Embarraft with my being out of Town: 
 
 Rude and untaught, like any Indlm Queen 5 
 
 My Country Nakednefs is plainly feen. 
 
 How is Love governed? Love that rules the State; 
 
 And pray who are the Men mofl: worn of late ? 
 
 "When I was marry'd, Fools were a-Ia-mode; 
 
 The Men of Wit were held then incommode. 
 
 Slow of Belief, and fickle in Defire, 
 
 >yho, ere they'll be perfuaded, muft enquire; 
 
 As if they came to fpy, and not t'admire. 
 
 "With fearching Wifdom, fatal to their Eafe, 
 
 They ftill find out why, what may, fhould not pleafc 
 
 Nay, take themfelves for injured, when we dare 
 
 Make *em think better of us than we are: 
 
 And, if we hide our Frailties from their Sights, 
 
 Call us deceitfull Jilts, and Hypocrites : 
 
 They little guefs, who at our Arts are griev'd, 
 
 The pcrfcd Joy of being well deceivU 
 
 Inquifitive, as jealous Cuckolds, grow; 
 
 Rather than not be knowing, rhey will know, 
 
 What being known, creates their certain Woe. 
 
 Women fhculJ thefe, of all Mankind, avoid; 
 
 For Wonder, by clear Knowledge, is dcflroy'd. 
 
 Woman, who is an arrant Bird of Night, 
 
 Bold in the Dusk, before a Fool's dull Sight, 
 
 Muft fly, when Reafon brings the glaring Light. 
 
Poems on fever al Occajions. 41 
 
 But the kind eafy Fool, apt to admire 
 Himfclf, trufts us, his Follies all confpire 
 To flatter his, and favour our Defire. 
 Vain of his proper Merit, he, with Eafc, 
 Believe me love him beft, who beft can pleafe : 
 On him our grofs, dull, common Flatt'ries pafs; 
 Ever moft happy when moft made an Afs: 
 Heavy to apprehend j though all Mankind 
 Perceive us falfe, the Fop, himfelf, is blind. 
 Who, doating on himfelf— 
 Thinks ev'ry one that fees him of his Mind, 
 Thefe are true Womens Men — here, forc'd to ceafe 
 Through want of Breath, not Will, to hold her Peacc$ 
 She to the Window runs, where (he had fpy'd 
 Her much efteem'd, dear Friend, the Monkey ty*d: 
 With Forty Smiles, as many Antick Bows, 
 As if*t had been the Lady of the Houfe: 
 The dirty, chatt'ring Monfler (he embraced j 
 And made it this fine tender Speech at laft. 
 
 Kifs me,*thou^rious Miniature of Man; 
 How odd thou art, how pretty, hovv japan 
 Ch ! I could live and die with thee : Then on,' 
 For half an Hour, in Compliments fhe ran, 
 1 took this time to think what Nature meant, 
 ' When this mixt thing into the World Ihe fent. 
 So very Wife, yet fo Impertinent. 
 One that knows ev'ry thing, that God thought fit, 
 should be an Afs through Choice? not want of Wit« 
 
4^ Poems on fever al Occafiom. 
 
 Whofe Foppery, without the help of Senfe, 
 Could ne'er have rofe to fuch an Excellence^ 
 Nature's as lame in making a true Fop 
 
 *As a Philofophcr, the very Top 
 And Dignity of Folly, we attain 
 By ftudious Search, and Labour of the Brain : 
 By Obfervation, Counfel, and deep Thought : 
 God never made a Coxcomb worth a Groat. 
 We owe that Name to Induftry and Arts ; 
 An Eminent Fool muft be a Fool of Parts. 
 And fuch a one was Ihej who had turn'd o'er 
 
 ^ As many Books as Men j lov'd much, read more : 
 Had a difcerning Wit j to her was known 
 Ev'ry one's Fault, or Merit, but her own; 
 All the good Qualities that ever bleft 
 A Woman fo diftinguifli'd from the reft, 
 Except Difcretion only, fhe pofleft. 
 But now Mon Cher dear Pug, ftie cries, adieu, 
 And the Difcourfe, broke ofF, does thus renew : 
 You fmile to fee me, who the World perchance 
 Miftakcs to have foine Wit, fo far advance 
 The Intereft of Fools, that I approve 
 Their Merit more , than Men of Wit, in Love. 
 But, in our Sex, too many Proofs there are 
 Of fuch whom Wits undo, and Fools repair. 
 This, in my Time, was fo obferv*d a Rule, 
 Hardly a Wench in Town but had her Fool. 
 
Poems on feveral Occafions. 43 
 
 The meaneft, common Slut, who long waj grown 
 The Jeft, and Scorn, of ev'ry Pir-Buffoonj 
 Had yet left Charms enough to have fubdu'd 
 Some Fop or other; fond to be thought lewd 
 ToftiY could make an lri(h Lord a Nohs\ 
 And 'Betty Morris had her City Cdkes. 
 A Woman's ne'er fo ruin'd, but (he can 
 
 • Be ftill reveng'd on her Undoer, Man : 
 How loft foe'er, flie'll find fome Lover more 
 A lewd abandoned Fool than fhe a Whore. 
 That wretched thing Corima, who has run 
 
 f Through all the fcv'ral ways of being undone : 
 Cozen'd at firft by Love, and living then 
 By turning the too-dear-bought Cheat on Men: 
 Gay were the Hours, and wing'd with Joy they flew> 
 When firft the Town her early Beauties knew : 
 Courted, admir'd, and lov'd, with Prefents fed i 
 Youth in her Looks, and Pleafure in her Bed : 
 Till Fate, or her ill Angel, thought it fit 
 To make her doat upon a Man of Wit: 
 Who found 'twas dull to love above a Day, 
 Made his ill-natur'd Jeft, and went away. 
 Now fcorn'd of ail, forfaken and oppreft. 
 She's a Memento Mori to the reft : 
 Difeas'd, decay'd, to take up half a Crown 
 Muft mortgage her long Scarf, and Manto Gownj 
 Poor Creature, who unheard of, as a Fly, 
 la fome dark Hole muft all the Winter lie: 
 
44 P 0 E M s fever al Occajiom. 
 
 And Want, and Dirt, endure a whole half Year, 
 That, for one Month, (he tawdry may appear. 
 In E^/er-Term (he gets her a new Gown j 
 When my young Mafter's Worfhip comes to Town? 
 From Pedagogue, and Mother, juft fet freej 
 The Heir and Hopes of a great Family : 
 Who with flrong Beer, and Beef, the Country rulesi 
 And ever fince the Conqueft have l^en Fools: 
 And now, with careful Profpeft to maintain 
 ■This Charaaer, left crofiing of the Strain 
 Should mend the Booby-breed j his Friends provide 
 A Coufin of his own to be hi« Bride: 
 And thus fet out — — — 
 With an Eftate, no Wit, and a young Wife: 
 The folid Comforts of a Coxcomb's Life: 
 Dunghill and Peafe forfook, he comes to Town," 
 Turns Spark, learns to be lewd, and is undone; 
 \ Nothing fuits worfe with Vice than want of Senfcs 
 Fool? are ftiil wicked at their own Expence. 
 This o'er-grown School-Boy loft Corima winsj 
 'At the firft Dafh to make an Afs begins : 
 Pretends to like a Man that has not known 
 The Vanities or Vices of the Town 
 Fre(h in his Youth, and faithful in his Love, 
 Eager of Joys which he does feldom prove.' 
 Healthful and ftrong, he does no Pains endure. 
 But what the Fair One he adores* can cure. 
 
 Grateful 
 
P 0 E M s « ® fever al Occafions. 4; 
 
 Grateful for Favours, does the Sex cfleem. 
 
 And libels none for being kind to him. 
 
 Then of the Lewdnefs of the Town complains,' 
 
 Rails at the Wits, and Atheifts, and maintains 
 
 'Tis better than good Senfe, than Pow'r, or Wealth, 
 
 To have a Blood untainted, Youth, and Health. 
 
 > The^unbred Puppy, who had never fcen 
 
 f A Creature look fo gay, or talk fo fine. 
 Believes, then falls in Love, and then in Debt: 
 Mortgages all, ev*n to the ancient Scat, 
 To buy his Miftrefs a new Houfe for Life: 
 To give her Flare, and Jewels, robs his Wife, 
 And when to th' height of Fondnefs he is grown^ 
 *Tis time to poifon him, and all's her own. 
 Thus, meeting in her common Arms hisFate^ 
 He leaves her Baftard-Heir to his Eftatc: 
 And, as the Race of fuch an Owl defcrves. 
 His own dull, lawful Progeny he ftarves. 
 
 I Nature (that never made a thing in vain, 
 But docs each Infetfb to fome End ordain) 
 Wifely provokes kind-keeping Fools, no doubt, 
 To patch up Vices Men of Wit wear out. 
 
 Thus fhe ran on Two Hours, fume Grains of Senfe 
 Still raixt with Follies of Impertinence. 
 But now 'tis time I (hould foine pity (how 
 
 ^ To Che, fince I cannot choofe but know. 
 Readers muft reap what duUeft Writers few, 
 
 ^ By 
 
4^ Poems on fever al Occafions. 
 
 By the next Poft I will fucb Stories tell, 
 As, join'd to thefe, fhall to a VoJume fwellj 
 As true as Heav'n, more infamous than HclL 
 But you are tir!d, and fo am I. 
 
 A N 
 
 Epiftolary ESSAY, 
 
 From M. G. to O. B. 
 V^on their mutual T O E M S. 
 
 "Dear Triend^ 
 
 I Hear this Town does fo abound 
 With faucy Cenfiirers, that Faults arc found 
 With what, of late, we (in Poetick Rage) 
 Bellowing, threw away on the dull Age. 
 But Chowfoc'er Envy their Spleens may raife. 
 To rob my Brows of the deferved Bays) 
 Their Thanks, at Icaft, I merit , fince through me 
 They are Partakers of your Poetry : 
 And this is all I'll fay in my Defence, 5 
 T* obtain one Line of your well-worded Senfe^ > 
 ril be content t'have writ the Brhijh Frince. «J 
 Vm none of thofc who think themfelves infptr'd, 
 Nor write v/ith the vain Hope to be admir'd 5 
 
 But 
 
Poems on fever al Occafms. 
 
 Eut from a Rule I have (upon long Trial) 
 T'avoid with Care all fort of Self-denial. 
 Which way foe*er Defire and Fancy lead ) 
 (Contemning Fame) that Path I boldly tread: 
 And if expofing what I take for Wit, 
 To my dear felf a Pleafure I beget, 
 No matter though the censoring Critichs fret. 
 Thefe whom my Mufe difpleafes are at Strife, 
 With equal Spleen againft my Courfe of Life, 
 The leaft Delight of which TU not forego. 
 For all the flattVing Praife Man can bellow. 
 If I de%n'd to pleafe, the way were then 
 To mend my Manners, rather than my Pen; 
 The firft's unnatural, therefore unfit} 
 And for the fecond I defpair of it, 
 Since Grace is not fo hard to get as Wit^ 
 Perhaps ill Verfes ought to be confin'd 
 In meer Good-breeding, like unfav'ry Wind. 
 Were reading forc'd, I (hould be apt to think. 
 Men might no more write fcurvily than (link: 
 But 'tis your Choice, whether you'll read, or noi 
 If likewife of your Smelling it were fo, 
 I'd Fart juft as I Write, for my own Eafc,- 
 Nor fhould you be concern'd unlefs you pleafe.' 
 I'U own that you Write better than I do, 
 But I have as much need to Write as you. 
 What though the Excrements of my dull Brain, 
 Flows in a harfh and an infipid Strain; 
 
48 Poems on fever al Occajions. 
 
 ^While your rich Head eafes it felf of Wit. 
 
 Alufl; not but Civet Cats have leave to ihit ? 
 
 In all I write, fliou'd Senfe, and Wit, and Rhymei 
 
 Fail tne at once, yet fomctbing fo fublime. 
 
 Shall damp my Poem, that the World may fee, 
 
 Jt cou*d have been produc'd by none but me. 
 
 And that's my end, for Man can wifli no more 
 
 Than fo to write, as none e*er writ before. 
 
 Yet why am I no Foet o^ the Times? 
 
 I have AlhfionSf Simdles, and Rhymesy 
 
 And TVst ; or elfe 'tis hard that I alone. 
 
 Of the whole Race of Mankind Ihou'd have none* 
 
 Unequally the partial Hand of Heav% 
 
 Has all but this One only Bleffing giv'n. 
 
 The World appears like a great Family. 
 
 Whofe Lord, oppreft with Pride and Poverty^ 
 
 (That to a few great Bounty he may fhow) 
 
 Is fain to ftarve the numerous Train below. 
 
 Juft fo feeras Providence, as poor and vain, 
 
 Keeping more creatures than it can maintain: 
 
 Here 'tis profufe, and there it meanly faves, 
 
 And for one Prince it makes ten thoufand Slaves. 
 
 In Ifif, alon^, 't has been Magnificent, 
 
 Of which fo jult a Share to each is fent. 
 
 That the moil Avaricious are content. 
 
 For none e'er thought (the due Divifion's fuch) 
 
 His own too iittle» or his Friends too much. 
 
Poems on fever al Occajions. 49 
 
 Yet moft Men (how, or find, great want of Wit, 
 Writing themfclves, or judging what is writ. 
 But I wha am of fprightly Vigour full, 
 I Look on Mankind, as envious, and dull. 
 Born to my fclf, I like my fclf alone j 
 ; And muft conclude my Judgment good, or none ; 
 For cou'd my Senfe be naught, how fiiou'd I know 
 Whether another Man's were good or no ? 
 Thus I refolve of my own Poetry, 
 That 'tis the beftj and there^s a Fame for me. 
 If then I'm happy, what docs it advance. 
 Whether to Merit due, or Arrogance? 
 Oh, but the World will take Offence hereby! 
 I Why then the World (hall fuffer for't, not I- 
 Did e'er this faucy World and I agree. 
 To let it have its beaftly Will on me? 
 Why (hou'd my proftituted Senfe be drawn,' 
 To evVy Rule their mufty Cuftoms fpawn? 
 But Men may ccnfureyou: 'Tis two to one 
 Whene'er they cenfure they'll be in the wrong. 
 There's not a thing on Earth, that I can name. 
 So fcorifh, and fo falfe, as common Fame; 
 It calls the Courtier Knave; the plain Man rude. 
 Haughty the Grave; and the Delightful Lewdj 
 Impertinent the Brisk; Morofe the Sad; 
 Mean the Familiar; the Rsferv'd one Mad. 
 ! poor helplefs Woman is not favour'd more, 
 i^he's a fly Hypocrite, or publick Whore* 
 
 D Th^ 
 
fQ. "Poems on feveralOccafionSo 
 
 Then who the Devil wou'd give this — to be free 
 From th' innocent Reproach of Infamy. 
 Thefe things confiderU make me (in Defpight 
 Of idle Rumpurj keep at home and V/rite. 
 
 S A T Y R 
 
 AGAINST 
 
 M A n K I K 
 
 /^^^ ERE I, who to my Cod already am 
 
 One of thofe ^Irange, prodigious Creatures Mm% 
 A Spirit free, to choofe for my own Share, 
 What fort of Flelh and Blood I pleas'd to wear, 
 Vd be a Dog, a Monkey, or a Bear, 
 Or any thing, but that vain Animal, 
 Who is fo proud of being Rati©nal, 
 The Senfes are too grofsj and he'll contrive 
 
 - A Sixth, to contradi6i: the other five : 
 And before certain Inflind, will prefer 
 Reafon, which Fifty times for One does crn 
 Reafon, an Ignis fatms of the Mind, 
 ,Whku leaves the Light of Nature, Senfe, behind. 
 
 Fathle) 
 
P G E M s fever al Occajions. 
 
 Pathlefs, and dang'rous, wandring, ways, it take?. 
 Through Error's fenny Bogs, and thorny Brakes: 
 V/hilft the misguided Follower climbs with Pain, 
 Mountains of Whimfies, heapt in his own Brain: 
 Stumbling from Thought to Thought, falls headlong 
 down 
 
 Into Doubt's boundlefs Sea, where like to drown 
 Books^bear him up a- while, and make him try 
 To fwim with Bladders of Philofojhy : 
 
 hopes ftill to overtake the skipping Light, ^ 
 The Vapour dances in the dazzled Sight, J» 
 Till fpent, ic leaves him to eternal Night. J 
 Then old Age, and Experience, hand in hand. 
 Lead him to Death, and make him underftand. 
 After a Search fo painful, and fo long, 
 I^at all his Life he has been in the wrong. 
 
 udled in Dirt, this reasoning Engine lies, 
 iVho was fo proud, fo witty, and fo wife: 
 ride drew him in, as Cheats their Bubbles catch, 
 \nd made him venture to be made a Wretch: 
 4is Wifdom did his Happincfs deflroy, ■ 
 iiming to know the World he fliould enjoy, 
 Ind Wh was his vain frivolous Pretence, 
 )f pleafing others at his own Expence. 
 Qx Wits are treated juft like Common Wf3cm\ 
 irfl they're enjoy 'd, and then kick'd out of Doors„ 
 'he Pieafure paft, a threatening Doubt remains, 
 'hat frights th'Enjoyer with fucceeding Paias. 
 
Poems on fever a I Decagons. 
 
 iVomsn, nnd Men of Wu^ are dang'rous Tools, 
 Atjd ever fata iring Fools. 
 
 Pieafure aliur- : o when the Fops efcape, 
 Tis not ch?t rhey'-e bclo/d, but fortunate; 
 And thtr cfore I<^t thty fear^ at Heart they hate. 
 Bu^ 1^0 i/i^, methinks, fomejbrmal Band and Beard 
 Takes me to ta&kj Come cn, Sir, Tm prepared : 
 Then by your Fa^^^vour, any thing that's writ 
 -Againf: this gibing, gingling knack, call'd Wit^ 
 Likes me abundantly 5 but you'll take care 
 Upon this Point, not to be too fe^ere. 
 Perhaps my Mufe were fitter for this part: 
 For, I profefs, I can be very fmart 
 On Wit:, which I abhor with all my Heart, 
 I long to Ia(h it, in fome (harp EfTay, 
 But your grand Indifcretion bids me flay, 
 And turns my Tide of Ink another way. 
 What Rage ferments in your degenerate Mind, 
 To make you rail at Reafon and Mankind ? 
 Blcft glorious Man, to whom alone kind Heav'n 
 An everlailing Soul hath freely giv'n 5 
 Whom hiS great Maker took fuch care to make. 
 That from himfelf he did the Image take. 
 And this fair Frame ir fhining Reafon dreft, 
 To dignify his Nature above Beaft. 
 Reafon, by whofc afpiring Influence, 
 ,We take a Flight beyond material Scnfe, 
 
Fo e MS on fever Occafions. 
 
 Dive into Myfteries, then foaring p. : 3 
 
 The flaming Limits of the Univerfe, 
 
 Search Heav'a and Hell, fraJ out what': -dctii there^ 
 
 And give the World true Grounds gf Hope and Fear. 
 
 Hold, mighty Man, I cry 5 all this we know 
 From the pathetick Pen of Ingdoi 
 ¥tomJ' at rick's Pilgrim, SM's Soliloquies, 
 And 'tis this very Reafon I dc/pife, 
 This fupematVai Gift, that makes a Mite 
 Think he's the Image of the Infinitej ^ 
 Comparing his ftiort Life, void of all Refl:, 
 To the Eternal and the ever Bleft} 
 This bufie puzling Stirrer up of Doubt,' 
 That frames deep Myfteries, then finds 'em ouf, 
 Filling with frantick Crouds of thinking Fools, 
 The reverend Bedlams, Colleges and Schools, 
 Born on whofe Wings, each heavy Sot can pierce 
 The Limits of the boundlefs Univerfe: 
 So charming Ointments make an old Witch fly. 
 And bear a cripled Carcafs through the Sky, 
 *ris this exalted Pow'r, whofe Bufmefs lies 
 In Nonfenfe and Impofllbilities: 
 This made a whimfical Philofopher, 
 Before the fpacious World his Tub prefer: 
 And we have many modern Coxcombs, who 
 Retire to think, 'caufe they have nought to do. 
 
 D3 
 
54 Poems on feveral Occajiom. 
 
 But Thoughts v/ere giv'n for Adlions Govemcns 
 Where A<£^ion ceafes, Thought's impertinent. 
 Our Sphere of Adion is Life's Happinefs, 
 And he that thinks beyond, thinks like an Afs. 
 Thus whilfl: againft falfe Reas'ning I inveigh, 
 I own right Reafon, which I would obeys 
 That Reafon, which diflinguiflies by Senfe, . 
 And gives us Rules of Good and 111 from t hence j 
 That bounds Dcfires with a reforming Will, 
 To keep them roorc in Vigour, not to kill : 
 Your Reafon hinders 3 miae helps to enjoy, 
 Renewing Appetites, yours would deftroy. 
 My Reafon is my Friend, yours is a Cheat: 
 Hunger calls out, my Reafon bids me eat 5 
 Perverfely yours, your Appetite does mock^; 
 This asks for FooJ, that anfwers what's a Clock? 
 
 This plain Diftin6lion, Sir, your Doubt fecurejj 
 Tis not true Reafon I defpife, but yours. 
 Thuc, I think Reafon righted : But for Man, 
 I'll ne'er recant, defend him if you can. 
 For all his Pride, and his Philofophy^ 
 ,/ris evident Beads are, in their degree,, 
 As wile at lead:, and better far than he. 
 Thofe Creatures are the wifeft, who attain, 
 By fureft Means, the Ends at which they aim. 
 If therefore Jowler finds, and kills his Hare, 
 Better than Meres fuppHes Coniraittee-Chair ; 
 
Poems on fever al Occajioni. 
 
 Though one's a Statefman, th'otber but a Hound; 
 Jo-PoUr in Juftice will be wifcr found. 
 You fee how far Mau's Wifiom here extends: 
 Look next if Human Nature makes amends ; 
 Whofe Principles are moft geti'rous and jufl ; 
 And to whofe Morals you wou'd fooner trufl* 
 Be Judge your felf, Til bring it to the Ted, 
 Which is the bafcft Creature? Man, or Beaft: 
 Birds feed on Birds, Beafts on each other prey; 
 But fa\vage Man alone does Man betray. ' 
 Preft by Ncccflity, They kill for Food? 
 Man undoes Man, to do himfelf no good. 
 With Teeth and Claws by Nature arm'd, Thy hunt 
 Nature's Allowance, to fupply their Want: 
 But Man, with Smiles, Embraces, Friendfliips, Praifc, 
 Inhumanly his Fellow's Life betrays: 
 With voluntary Pains works his Diflrefs ; 
 Not through Neceffity, but Wantonnefs. 
 For Hunger or for Love, They bite or tear, 
 Whilft wretched Man is ftil! in Arms for Fear: 
 For Fear he arms, and is of Arms afraid; 
 From Fear to Fear fuccefTively betray'd, 
 Bafe Fear, the Source whence his befl: Paflions came. 
 His boafted Honour, and his dear-bought Fame : 
 The Lufl of Pow'r, to which he's fuch a Slave, 
 And for the which alone he dares be brave: 
 To which his various Projects are defign'd, 
 Which makes him generous, affable, and kind: 
 D 4. 
 
5<5 Poems on fever al Occafions^ 
 
 For which he takes fuch Pains to be thought \Vife> 
 
 And fcrews his Anions, in a forc'd Difguife: 
 
 Lesds a moft tedious Life, in Mifery, 
 
 Under laborious, mean, Hypocrifie. 
 
 Look to the Bottom of his vaft Defign, ^ 
 
 .Wherein Man's Wifdom, Pow*r and Glory join j 
 
 The Good he afls, the III he does endure^ 
 
 ,^Tis all from Fear, to make himfclf fecurc. 
 
 JMeerly for Safety, after Fame they thirftj 
 
 For all Men would be Cowards if they durft: 
 
 And Honcfty's againft all common Senfe: 
 
 Men muft be Knaves; *tis in their own Defence^ 
 
 Mankind's diflicneft j if you think it fair, 
 
 Amongft known Cheats, to^lay upon the fquare^ 
 
 You'll be undone—— 
 
 Kor can weak Truth your Reputation favej 
 
 The Knaves will all^agree to call you Knave. 
 
 "Wrong'd fhall he live, infulted o'er, oppreft, 
 
 Who dares be lefs a Villain than the reft. 
 
 Thus here you fee what Human Nature cravesi 
 
 MoftJ^^en are Cowards, all Men fhou'd be Knaves^ 
 
 The Difference lies, as far as I can fee> ^ 
 
 Not in the Thing it felf, but the Degreej 
 
 And all the Subjea Matter of Debate, 
 
 Is only who's a Knave of the Firft Rate. 
 
 V OrS r- 
 
P 0 E M s fever al Occajions. 5- 7 
 
 TOSTSCRITT. 
 
 LL this with Indignation have I hurPd, 
 
 At the pretending Part of the proud World, 
 Who> fwoln with felfilh Vanity, devifc 
 Faife Freedoms, holy Cheats, and formal Lyes, 
 Over their Fellow-Slaves to tyrannize. 
 
 But if in court juft a Man there be, 
 (In Court a juft Man, yet unknown to me) 
 Who does his needful Flattery dire6t, 
 Not to opprefs, and ruin, but protcdij 
 Since Flattery which way foever laid, 
 Is ftill a Tax on that unhappy Trade; 
 If fo upright a Statefman you can find, 
 Whofe Pafiions bend to his unbiafs'dMind} 
 Who does his Arts and Poj cies apply, ^ 
 To raife his Country, not his Family. 
 
 Is there a Mortal who on God relies? 
 Whofe Life his Faith and Dodrinc juftifies? 
 Not one blown up with vain afpiring Pride, s 
 Who for Reproof of Sins, does Man deride: 
 Whofe envious Heart with fancy Eloquence,' 
 Dares chide at Kings, and rail at Men of Senfei 
 Who in his Talking vents more peevifli Lyes, 
 More bitter Railings, Scandals, Calumnies^, 
 
5 8 Po E M s ftveral Occajions, 
 
 Than at a Gofliping are thrown about, 
 
 When the Good Wives drink free, and then fall out. 
 
 None of the fenfual Tribe, whofe Talents lie> 
 
 In Avarice, Pride, Sloth and Gluttony, 
 
 Who hunt Preferment, but abhor good Lives, 
 
 Whofe Lud exalted, to that Height arrives, ^ 
 
 They^a6l Adultery with their own Wive^, 
 
 And, ere a Score of Years compleated be, 
 
 Can from the lofty Stage of Honour fee. 
 
 Half a large Parifh their own Progeny. 
 
 Nor doating who wou'd be ador'd. 
 
 For domineering at the Council-Board, 
 A greater Fop, in Bufinefs at Fourfcore, 
 Ponder of ferious Toys, affe^ed more. 
 Than the giy glittering Fool, at Twenty proves, 
 
 .With all his Noife, his tawdry Clothes and Loves, 
 But a meek humble Man of modeft Senfe, 
 
 Who preaching Peace does pradlifc Continence; . 
 
 Whofe pious Life's a Proof he does believe 
 
 Myfterious Truths, which no Man can conceive. 
 
 If upon Earth there dwell fuch Godlike Men, 
 
 I'll here recant my Paradox to them; 
 
 Adore thofe Shrines of Virtue, Homage pay. 
 
 And with the thinking World, their Laws obey. 
 
 If fuch there are^ yet grant me this at leaft, 
 
 Man differs more from Man, than Man from Beaft. 
 
 A 
 
Poems on fever al Occafions. 59 
 
 A N 
 
 A N S W E R 
 
 T O T H E 
 
 S A T Y R againjt Mankind^ 
 
 By the Reverend Mr. Griffith, 
 
 T r/Erg I to choofe what Sort of Corp Vd wear, 
 ^ N9t Baron Dog, Lord Monkey, or Eurl Bearj 
 ' But Vd be Man, not as I am the worfi. 
 Bat Man refined, fuch as he rvas at fi^ft. 
 The fpeechlefs State of Brutes I would refufe 
 Tor the fame Caufe another doth it choofe. 
 For then the Refutation I Jhould lofe 
 Of Wit J Extravagance, and Mode, from whence 
 Keafon is made to truckle md^r Senfe. 
 Or if to Senfe I did fo much incline, 
 Vd rather be a Satyr, Goat, or Swine ; 
 To help to break the Court-Fhyfscians, who 
 Bsfides compomding Lufts, have nought to do, 
 nature {exceeding Broths) would then excite 
 Supplies to make a full-meal' d Appetite^ 
 N(? Bttgbsar Confcience dftlling the Delight, 
 
6o F OEMS on fever al Occafms. 
 
 But what needs fuch a Metamorphofis? 
 Man, being M^», can do evn more than this. 
 Granting the Trincifle, that Reafin's Ufe 
 Is not to curb, but make Senfe more frofufe. 
 Tor though Man's Senfe lefs vigorous is than Brutes] 
 Mis FanJer-Reafon can contrive Recruits 
 lor its Defers what Sins the Senfual Mm 
 Can^t do alone ^ the Reafonable can 
 With ufeful With for Senfuality, 
 ^n half unfafhion\l Sinner doth defcry ; 
 He^s modifhly debauch* who can tell why^ 
 That fpurs up flow- faced Luft by Argument ^ 
 Which to tir'd Senfe gives no Divertifement ^ 
 But calls for more when all its Sin is fpent. 
 And though the figging Wretch would be content^ 
 {Di fable d for more Vice) now to repent: 
 XJpbraiding Reafon checks the puny Motion^ 
 Bids it cheer up, and gizes it t'other Fotion^ 
 Till after all, when Nature hath ghen o'ep^ 
 And Art can buoy up aged Senfe no more^ 
 Heafon referves this Remedy^ at lafi. 
 To think thofe Pieafares which it cannot tajlel 
 in this the thinking Fool m/y become wife. 
 And yet think on, that all his Thinking lies 
 In Notions of Venereal My ficrtes. 
 Jience fprang the Reafoning Art in former Days 
 Of Spintria2 Ofcis 5 and the Modern Ways 
 By Baths, lafcivious Figures, Giggs and Flays^ 
 4 
 
Poems ^« fever at Occafms, 
 
 If this be K9ttforks Ufgy no more we'll call 
 Clodius Incontinent^ but Ratmaly 
 jtnd bonft the Keafon of Sardanopal. 
 Bi^afon mck-mm'dt like Quakers ne'm'fomd Lights 
 One while cdl'd Spirit, alias Appetite, 
 Aftupid Keafon^ which none mil defends 
 But he that hath with Brutes one common lE.nd^ 
 Debafing Reafon! Coupling every Afs% 
 I I,v*n with my Lord in the fame Reafoning Clafs^ 
 Til be no Student in this learned School, 
 td rather be the Human Thinking Iool\ 
 The cloifier'd Coxcomb able to converfe 
 {Although alone) with the whole Univerji, 
 And reafoning into Heaven, mmm from thence 
 Tofi Gazettes of Divine Intelligence, 
 And facred Knowledge moft remote from Senfe, 
 Ifiight I be plac'd in that exploded Sphere^ 
 td not alone forgive that witty Jeer^ 
 \But boajl the Name of Reafoning Engineer* 
 But as for Man, made perfeB and upright , 
 Why not the Image of the Infinite? 
 Were this ck Scandal to his Glory \ muft 
 We for his Honour^ s fake his Word diflruftt 
 Or is an Image fuch a very Same 
 With what it reprefents, that it muft claim 
 Its full Perfections f Sure my ViBure might 
 ^e painted like me^ and yet void of Sight ' 
 
6z Poems on feveralOccaJions. 
 
 Muft the firfi Brmght x>f Mm he vtliffdy 
 
 Scorned and contemn^ d^ ^cmfe Man himfelf hath Jiray*d^ 
 
 Or did not Eve fuffictentl^ tranfgrefs^ 
 
 And baftArdife Vcflertty? mlefs 
 
 hiant little as he is, be made much lefs.< 
 
 Though he does not hh higher End furfue 
 
 So -OP ell as doth the more Ignoble Crero 
 
 Of Birds and Beafts {that little hfive to do) 
 
 The Bifftcuhy tff his lofty End* 
 
 Above the others doth his Caufe defend; 
 
 And in the Means of Dif^roportion pleads^ 
 
 Choice fvpays the one^ Infiindi the other leads. 
 
 'Tis not 'caufe Jowler's wife he takes the Hare, 
 
 But 'tis becaufe Jowler cannot forbear ; 
 
 Though in the Chair of State fome lolling fit. 
 
 That therefore none cm fit upright in it. 
 
 Is an ill Confequence, and loid of Wit, 
 
 But )0H your felf have taught Man fuch a Way . 
 
 Unto hh Hafpinefsy that he muft fir ay \ 
 
 Tor if his Senfe muft ufher in his Re fly 
 
 And never be abridgd of its Kequefit 
 
 Be may be drunk and pockey^ but nier blefi. 
 
 As for Pridi'gendering Ehilofophy 
 
 {A captious Word) 'tis rohat you'll have H be. 
 
 Its ovon BiftinBions have an Art to fhew 
 
 ^Tis good or bad, or neither, as pleafeyou. 
 
 Some SeBs love Wrangling^ others Vedantry, 
 
 Xe( in the love of Wifdom M (tgree. 
 
P o EMS on feveral Occajions. 6 
 
 V/ifdom'i which all acknovpledge to be goo . 
 
 But hath the Vate to be mifmdirjlood, 
 
 Tety though look crowd among ft Fhilofophers, 
 
 The Fault is not the Sciences, but theirs. 
 
 With all their llaws our ^c^hm-Schools Td choofey 
 
 Before the madder Taverns, lomler Stews. 
 
 Though both are Slaves, I rather do refpe^ , 
 
 The Stoick than /^^^Epicurean Se3, 
 
 If Senfe or Keajon, one muft be denfdy . 
 
 Ueafon woud tell me, Reafon muft abide. 
 
 The left obnoxious, and the fur eft Guide. 
 
 But fince kind 'Mature hath defign^d them both^ 
 
 lor human Compliment I [hould be loth,. 
 
 To give up blindfold Senfe to its own Will, , 
 
 Or grant a Tyrant-Reajbn leave to kill 
 
 Such ufeful Faculties 5 my Reafon (I^aU 
 
 Govern my Subje^ Senfe, but not, enthrall, . ^ 
 
 Nor fhall cffiaous Senfe prefume to aci^ 
 
 Tdl Juftice Reafon authorife the Fact, 
 
 That Human Nature is corrupt, I grant. 
 
 But wait the Ufe of Reafon, or the Want 
 
 That pufft out the warm Breath of Love ? From whence 
 
 Sprang Murder firft, but from malicious Senfe f 
 
 Which having once idfurpt ^ueen Reafon^ s Throne, 
 
 Was not contented with one Sin alone. 
 
 But falling headlong^ plainly ftoows [alas) 
 
 By too too fatal Vroof, that that which was 
 
 The beft, corrupted, to the worft doth pafs. 
 
64 P o EMS ou fever alOcvaJions. 
 
 Hence the acuteft IVttSy when thsfre defiCd^ 
 
 T^rn mofi extravagantt profane and wild^ 
 
 Defend De&aucheries, and Senfe advance. 
 
 To reafon Reafon out of Countenance, 
 
 leaking their Knowledge worfe than Ignorance. 
 
 But mufl Humanity be quite^ eras' d, 
 
 jBecaufe it is from what it was defac\lt 
 
 Or mufi the little Reafon Men yet hold 
 
 Tcr their Improvement, Se for Dogs-Jlefh foldf 
 
 Sometimes the Gamefier whom ill fortune crojfes^ 
 
 With his lafi Stake recovers all his Loffes, 
 
 He's but a weak Vhyfician that gives o'er 
 
 His weaker Vatient, whom he might reflore i 
 
 But may he fuffer an Etemal Curfe, 
 
 That dares prefcribe a Remedy that's worfe 
 
 Than the Difeafe it felf: IVhen Jowler j lame, 
 
 No one expels that he fhould catch the Game, 
 
 But that he may hereafter y I am fure 
 
 ^Tis befl not to cut ojf his Leg, but cure. 
 
 He that feels ^alms of Confcience in his Breafi, 
 
 Let him not batter Reafon with a Beafl, 
 
 But purge the Guilty with which he is oppreji. 
 
 That Honeflfs againfl all common Senfe, 
 
 js a good Argument for my Vefence. 
 
 If Senfe with that which hath fo great a Tame 
 
 Be inconfJflenti Senfe is much to blame. 
 
 And Reafon will (fpight of your Rhime and Tide 
 
 Of Inky Wit and Contempt) more firm abide 
 
 Tor having fuch 0 Virtue on her Jide^ 
 
Po E M s on fever al Occafons. 6$ 
 
 And Valour too takes Part with her, for Senfe 
 {AsyoH contrive it) puts no Difference 
 Between the Valiant^ that are fo for Tear^ 
 And Coward ythat would be, but do not dare, 
 Rea/bn could ne*er frame fuch a witty Things 
 [That Men fhould fight for fear of ^arrellingl 
 All Men, you fay, for Fools or Knaves muji go. 
 And he*s a Man himfelf that calls them fo^ 
 And being Man is at his own Choice free, 
 pr in the Rank of Fools or Knaves to be 
 Let him be either, or elfe both, for me, 
 "But let me. Sir, reqtiefi, before you flip 
 Mo your Dog, or Bear^ or Monkeyfhipy 
 Whether you think their brutifh Form procures 
 Any Advantages exceeding yoursl 
 ^oth pog and Bear 9 as well as Men, willfighf^ 
 And {to no parfofe too) each other bi$e» 
 And as for ?uggy, all his Virtues lie 
 if» Aping Many the only Thing you flj. 
 The wifefi Way thefe Evils to redrefs, 
 is to be what you are, nor more^ nor lefs 5 
 that is, not Man, Dog, Bear, nor Monkey neither^ j 
 But a rare Something of them all together* 
 
 T H 
 
66 Vo^us on fever a I QccaJIons^. 
 
 T H E 
 
 Maim'd Debauchee. 
 I. 
 
 A S fome brave Admraly in former War 
 
 Deprived of Force, but preft with Courage ftill^., 
 Two Rival Fleets appearing from afar, 
 Grawlsto the top of an adjiccnt Hillj 
 IL 
 
 From whence (with Thoughts full of Concern) he viewSi 
 
 The wife and daring Conduct of the Fight: 
 And each bold A6i:ion to his mind renews, 
 
 His prefcnt Glory and his pafl: Delight, 
 
 III. , 
 From his fierce Eyes Flaflies of Rage he throws; 
 
 As from black Clouds when Lightning breaks away? 
 Tranfportcd thinks himfelf amidft his Foes, 
 
 And abfent, yet enjoys the bloody Day* 
 IV, 
 
 So when my Days of Impotence approach^ 
 And Tm by Love and Wine's unlucky Chance 
 
 Driv*n from the pleafing Billows of Debauch, 
 On the dull Shore of lazy Tcinperance; 
 
 V, 
 
 My Pains at lafl feme Refpite (hall afford, 
 While I behold the Battels you maintain: 
 
 Wheft' 
 
FoEMS 0^ fever al Occajions. 6j 
 
 When Fleets of Glaflls fail Ciroand the Board, 
 From whofe Broadlides Vollics of Wit fnall rain. 
 VI. 
 
 Nor (hall the fight of honourable Scars, 
 
 Which my too forward Valour did procure, 
 
 Frighten new-lifled Soldiers from the Wars, 
 Pafljojs have more than paid what I endure, 
 VII. 
 
 Shou'd feme brave Youth (worth being drunk) prove nicei. 
 
 And from his fair Inviter meanly (hrink, 
 ^*Twould plcafe the Ghoft of my departed VicCj 
 
 If, at my Council, he repent and drink. 
 
 VIIL 
 
 Or (hou'd fome old-complcxion*d Sot forbid, 
 With his dull Morals, our Night's brisk Alarms-^ 
 
 V'il fire his Blood, by telling what I did 
 
 When I was ftrong, and able to bear Arms. 
 IX. 
 
 ril tell of Whores attacked their Lords at home," 
 Bawds Quarters beaten up, and Fortrefs won^ 
 
 Windows dcmolifh'd, Watches overcome, 
 And handfom Ills by my Contrivance donCo 
 X. 
 
 With Tales like thefe I will fuch Heat infpire^ , 
 
 As to important Mifchicf (hall incline j 
 ril make him long fome ancient Church to firCj, 
 
 And fear no Lewdnefa they're call'd to. by WineJ 
 
 XI. Thus 
 
€B Poems on fever al Occajions, 
 
 XL 
 
 Thus Statefman- like Til faucily impofe, 
 And, fafefrom Danger, valiantly advife; 
 
 Sheker'd in Impotence urge you to Blows, 
 And, being good for nothing elfe, be Wife^ 
 
 Upon U 0 T H I U 
 
 Nothing ! thou elder Brother cv'n to Shade; 
 That hadft a Being ere the World was madej 
 And Cwell fixt) art alone, of Ending not afraid. 
 
 Ih 
 
 Ere Time and Place were, Time and Place were not, 
 When Primitive Nothing Something ftraight begot. 
 Then aU proceeded from the great united — What* 
 III. 
 
 Smething, the gen'ral Attribute of all. 
 Severed from thee, its fole Original, 
 Into thy boundlefs fclf muft uodiftinguifh'd fall. 
 
 IV, 
 
 Yet Something did thy mighty Pow'r command, 
 And from thy fruitful Emptinefs's Hand, 
 Snatchy Men, Beafts, Birds, Fire, Air and Land. 
 
 v. Matter 
 
Po Eus on fever al Occafms. 69 
 
 V. 
 
 Matter, the wickedfl: Offspring of thy Race, 
 By Form affifted, flew from thy Embrace, 
 And Rebel Light obfcur'd thy reverend dusky FaccJ 
 VI. 
 
 With Form and Matter, Time and Place did join; 
 Body, thy Foe, with thee did Leagues combine, 
 To fpoil thy peaceful Realm, and ruin all thy Line. 
 VIL 
 
 But Turn-coat Time affifts the Foe in vain, 
 And, brib'd by thee, aflifts thy fhort-liv'd Reign, 
 And to thy hungry Womb drives back thy Slaves againi 
 VIII. 
 
 Tho' Myfteries arc barr'd from Laick Eyes, 
 And the Divine alone, with Warrant, pries 
 Into thy Bofom, where the Truth in private lies^ 
 IX. 
 
 yet this of thee the Wife may freely fay> 
 Thou from the Virtuous nothing tak*ft away. 
 And to be part with thee the Wicked wifely pray*. 
 X. 
 
 Great Negative, how vainly wcu'd the Wife 
 [Enquire, define, diftinguifh, teach, devife? 
 jDidil thou not ftand to point their dull PhilofophicsJ 
 XL 
 
 r^, or li not, the Two great Ends of Fate, 
 ^nd, true or falfe, the Subjc6b of Debate, 
 That perfeft, or dcftroy, the vaft Dcfigns of Tate; 
 
70 Poems on fever al Occujions. 
 
 XTT. ■ I 
 \^hen they have rack'd the P(?fo/«>m's Bread, ; 
 "Within thy Bofotn nioft fecurely reft, 
 And, when reduced to thee, are Icafl unfafe and beft, 
 • XIII. 
 
 Bus Nothing, why does Something ftill permit. 
 That Sacred Monarchs fhould at Council fit, | 
 With Perfons highly thought st beft for nothing fit? 
 XIV. 
 
 Whilft sN^x^ty Something modeftly abfiarins, ' 
 From Princes Coffers, and from Statefmens Brains, 
 And Nothing there like ftately Nothing reigns. 
 XV. 
 
 Nothing, who dweH'fl with Fools in grave Difguife, 
 For whom they reverend Shapes, and Forms devife, 
 JLawn Sleeves, and Furrs, and Gowns, when they like 
 thee iook wife. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 ^■French Truth, Dutch Prowefs, Britijh Policy, 
 Hlbernim Learning, 5'c^?^^:^.Civilicy, 
 Spaniards Difpatch, Danes Wit, are mainly feen in thee* 
 XVII: 
 
 ^ The Great Man's Gratitude to his beft Friend, 
 Kings Promifes, Whores Vows, towards thee they bend 
 Flow fwiftly into thee, and in thee iver end, 
 
 Lucretius 
 
"Po E M s on federal Occajfions. yt 
 
 Lucretius^ in his Firft BOOK, has 
 thefe Lines* 
 
 f^Mnis enim per fe Dtvum Natura necejfe ejl 
 Immortalt avo fummci cum pace frmturt 
 iemota ab noflrls rebus , fejmBaqHe longe: 
 Nam privAta dolore omnii privata periclh, 
 ^Pf^ y///V pollem opsbus) nihil indiga nofiri^ 
 Nec bene promeritts capimry nec tmgitur ira. 
 
 Thus tranflated. 
 
 ^EEGods, by Right of Nature, muft pofTefs 
 
 An cverlafting Age of perfe<3: Peace: 
 Far off removed from us and our Affairs; 
 Neither approach'd by Dangers, or by Cares: 
 [lich in thcmfelves, to whom we cannot add : 
 Not pleas'd by Good Deeds 5 itor provok'd by Bad» 
 
 ELEGIA 
 
ft Po E M s on Jeveral Occajious. 
 
 E L E G I A IX. 
 
 Qvldii Amorum. Lib. 
 
 Ad c u P 1 D I N E M. 
 
 O Nunquam pro me fatis tndignau Cuftdo, 
 O in cordt me$ defidiofe Fuer! j 
 me, qui miles nmquam tuafigna reliqui, 
 LAdis ? in Cajiris vnkeror iffe tuis ? i 
 Cur taa fax urit, figit tms arcus Amicos t 
 
 Gloria pugmntes vincere major erat, 
 ^id? mn Hsemonius, quem cufpde perculit, HeroSf 
 
 Confojfum medica poftmodo jnvit ope f 
 Venator fequitur fygientia^ capta relinquit : 
 
 Semper ^ inventis ulteriora petit, 
 A% tua fentimuSf populus tibi deditus, arma : 
 
 Pigra reiu&anti cejfat in Hofte manus. 
 ^uidjuvat in nudis hamata recondere tela 
 Ojthm i OJJa mihi nnda relinoiuit Amor, 
 
 9 
 
Vo-Eus on fever al Occafions. 73 
 f H E 
 
 Ninth E L E G y 
 
 I N T H E 
 
 Second Book of Ovid's Amours % 
 TRANSLATED. 
 
 To L 0 F E. 
 
 Love! how cold and flow to take tny Part? 
 ^ Thou idle Wanderer about my Heart : 
 /hy, thy old faithful Soldier wilt thou fee 
 ipprefsM in thy own Tents? They murther me.' 
 hy Flames confume, thy Arrorps pierce thy Friends; 
 .a^hcr on Foes purfue more Noble Ends. 
 [Miles' Sword would certainly beftow 
 Cure, as certain as it gave the Blow* 
 unters, who follow flying Game, give o'er 
 /htn the Piey's caught, Hopes ftill lead on before^ 
 ^e thine own Slaves feel thy Tyrannick Blows, 
 fhM thy tame Hands unmov'd againfl thy Foes, 
 n Men difarm'd, how can you gallant prove ? 
 nd I was long ago difarm'd by Love, 
 f. . E Million^ 
 
74 PofiMS on fever al Occafions. 
 
 Tot fine amove viri, tot funt fine amove puelU : 
 
 Hinc tibi cum magna laude tvsumphus eat, 
 Roma, nifi Immenfum Vives fvomovijjet tn ^rbem$ 
 
 Stvammeis ejfet tunc quoque teBa cafiu 
 Tejfus in accept os Miles deducitur agvosy 
 
 Tutaque depofito pofcituv enfe rudis: 
 Zongdque fubduBam celant navalia Finum: 
 
 Idiitituv in faltus cavcere liber equus, 
 Me quoquey qui toties mevui fub amove puellast 
 
 DefmBum placide vivere Tempus erat. 
 Vive, Beus, pofito fiquis mihi dicat amove^ 
 
 Vefrecer 5 ufque adeo dnlce puella malum eft. 
 Cum bene partdfum ejl, animique revamit avdor, 
 
 Nefcio quo mifevA turbine mentis agor, 
 Ut vapit inpVAceps dominumy fpumantia fruftra 
 
 Ttma retentantem, durior ovis equus ; 
 Ut fubitus, pvope jam pvensA telluve, carinam 
 
 Tangent em povtus ventus in aha rapiti 
 Sic me fape vefevt incevta Cupidinis mva : 
 
 Kotaque purpureus tela vefumit Amor, 
 lige puev, pofitis nudus tibipvAbeor avmis*. 
 
 Hie t 'tbi funt viresy hie tua dextra valet. 
 Hue tanquam juffd veniunt jam fponte fagitta% 
 
 Vix ullis pvA me notafhavetva tua efl. 
 
P oEitAs on fever al Occajions. 7 
 
 Millions of dull Men live, and fcornful Maids: 
 We'll own Love valiant when he thcfe invades. 
 I Kome from each Corner of the wide World fnatch'd 
 \ A Laurel, or't had been to this Day thatch'd. 
 But the old Soldier has his refting Place; 
 And the good batter'd Horfe is turn'd to Grafs: 
 iThe harafi'd Whore, who liv'd a Wretch to pleafe,' 
 Has leave to be a Dawd, and take her Eafe. 
 For me then, who have truly fpent my Blood 
 CLove) in thy Serviccj and fo boldly ftood 
 In C<ciVs Trenches; were*t not wifely done, 
 Ev'n to retire, and live in Peace at home? 
 
 No might I gain a Godhead to difclaim 
 
 My glorious Title to my cndlefs Flame; 
 Divinhy with Scorn I would forfwear : 
 Such fweet, dear, tempting Devils Women are,' 
 "Whene'er thofc Flames grow faint, I quickly find 
 A fierce, black Storm pour down upon my Mind: 
 Headlong Tm hurl'd, like Horfemen, who, in vain,' 
 Their Fury- flaming Ccurfers would reftrain. 
 As Ships, juft when the Harbour they attain,' 
 Are fnatch'd by fudden Blafts to Sea again : 
 So Love's fantaftick Storms reduce my Heart 
 Half refcu'd, and the God refumes his Dart, 
 Strike here, this undiefcnded Bofom wound. 
 And for fo brave a Conqueft be renown'd. 
 Shafts fly fo faft to me from evVy Part, 
 You'll fcarce difcern the Quiver from my Heart 
 
 E a Whae 
 
7^ Poems on fever al Occajions. 
 
 Jnfelix^ iota quicmque quifcere m^e 
 
 Sufiinety ^ fomnos pr^mia magna zocat^ 
 Stulte^ quid eft fomnus, gelidA nifi mortis imago ? 
 
 Longar quiefcendi tempera fata dahmt. 
 Me modo decipiant voces fallacis amicA : 
 
 Sperando cert^e gaudia magna feram. 
 Bt modo blanditias dicati modo jurgia nedat; 
 
 S Ape f mar domindy fzpe repulftis earn, 
 ^ubd dubius Mars efi[y per te^ frivigne Cupidot ^ft : 
 
 Et movet exempk vitricus arma tuo. 
 Tu levis esy multoque tuts uentofior alts j 
 
 Gaudiaque ambigua dafque negafque fide. 
 Si tamen exaudis pulchrd cum matre rogantem i 
 
 Indeferta meo peBore regna gere. 
 ^ccedant regno nimiui^ vaga turba puelU j 
 
 Ambobm pofulis Jic venerandus er'ts. 
 
Poems on fever al Occafiom. 
 
 what Wretch can bear a live- long Night's dull Reft, 
 Or think himfelf in lazy Slumbers bleft? 
 Fool — is not Sleep the Isrsage of pale Death? 
 There's time for Reft, when Fate hath ftopt your Breathe 
 Me may my fofc deluding Dear deceive 5 
 Tm happy in my Hopes while I believe. 
 Now let her flitter, then as fondly chide- 
 Often -may I enjoy i oft be deny'd. 
 With doubtful ^teps the God of War does move 
 By thy Example, in ambiguous Love. 
 Blown to and fro like Down from thy own Wing; 
 Who knows when Joy or AnguiHi thou wilt bring,. 
 Yet at thy Mother's and thy Slaves Requ.ft, 
 Fix an Eternal Empire in my Breaft: 
 And let th*inconftant, charming Sex, 
 Whofe wilful Scorn docs Lovers vex. 
 Submit their Hearts before thy Throne : 
 The Vaffal World is then thy own. 
 
 E 3 
 
 THE 
 
78 Poems tf« fever al Occafions. 
 
 THE 
 
 C ri o RU s of the Second A£t 
 o F 
 
 S 'E K C A% T R 0 A Sl 
 
 Concludes with thcfe Lines, 
 
 TyoST mortem nihil eft^ tpfaque mors nihil, 
 
 Velocis fpacii meta novijpma, 
 Spem fonant avidiy foltciti metum, 
 ^HAris quo jaceas pofl obit urn l(Ko ? 
 ^Ho non nata jacent. 
 Tempus nos azsdum devorat^ ^ chaos. 
 Mors individua eft noxia corporis 
 ^ec parcetts animA, Tamra, ^ afpero 
 'Regnum fub domino, limen ^ obfidens 
 Cuftos non faciii Cerberus oftio^ 
 'Rumores vacui, verbaque inmi^t, 
 JEtpar foiscito faiula fomnio. 
 
 THE 
 
Poems on feveral Occafions. 7^ 
 
 C H 0 R U S of the Second AU 
 
 Seneca's TaOAS, Tranjlated. 
 
 Fter Death Nothing is, and Nothing Deaths 
 
 The utmoH: Limits of a Gafp of Breath. 
 Let the ambitious Zealot lay afide 
 His Hope of Heav^nj (whofe Faith is but his Pride) 
 Let flavifh Souls lay by their Fear, 
 Nor be concerned which way, or where, 
 After this Life they fhdl be hurl'd : 
 Dead, we become the Lumber of the World 5 
 And to that Mafs of Matter fliall be fvvcpt, 
 Where things deftroy'd with things unborn are keptj 
 Devouring Time fwallows us whole, 
 Impartial Death confounds Body and Soul. 
 For Hell, and the foul Fiend that rules 
 
 The everlafling fiery Goals, 
 Devis'd by Rogues, dreaded by Fools, 
 With his grim griefly Dog that keeps the Door, 
 
 Are fenfckfs Stories, idle Tales, 
 Dreams, Whimfies, and no more. 
 
 The latter End of the 
 
 O F 
 
8o Po EMS on fever al Occaji on s» 
 
 To His Sacred 
 
 MAJESTY, 
 
 On His ReftoratioD, 
 In the Y E A R i66o. 
 
 {Written at Twelve Tears old.) 
 
 TTlRtue's Triumphant Shrine! who do'ft engage 
 
 ^ At once Three Kingdoms in a Pilgrimage j ^ 
 Which in extatick Duty drive to come 
 Out of themfelves, as wtU as from their Home: 
 Whilft 'Enghnd grows one Camp, and Imdon is 
 3t felf the Nation, not Metroplh\ 
 And Loyal Kmt renews her Arts again. 
 Fencing her Ways with moving Groves of Men % 
 Forgive this diflant Homage, which does meet 
 Your blefsM Approach on fedentary Feet ; 
 And though my Youth, not patient yet to bear 
 The Weight of Amis, denies me to appear 
 In Steel before you j yet, Great SIR, approve 
 My manly Wiihes, and more vigorous Lovej 
 
 In 
 
Poems on fever al Occajions\ 8 1 
 
 In whom a cold Refpeft were Treafon to 
 A Father's Alhes, greater than to You; 
 Whofe one /Ambition 'cis for to be known. 
 By daring Loyalty, your WilmQt\ Son. 
 
 Waih. Coll. 
 
 Rochejier. 
 
 In Obitum Seren. M A R I M 
 Princip. Auran. 
 
 TM/>i/« hlafphemi fileant eon cilia vulgi: 
 
 ^ Abfolvo tnedicoSi iomcuawque mmum* 
 
 CuraJJent alios facili medicamine Morhos: 
 
 Ulcer a cum veniunt. An nihil ipfa valet, 
 VultH femineo qu^vis vel puftula vulnus 
 
 Lethale eft, pulchras certior enfe necah 
 Jdollia vel temeret fe quando mitior ora^ 
 
 Evadat forfan femina, Diva nequit. 
 Cm par eft AnimA Corpus^ qu^ ma venufta^i 
 
 lormA qui potis eft^ hu fupereffe fus, ? 
 
 Johan. Comes Roffen, 
 £ f To 
 
8z Vo's.iii^ on fever alOccaJions. 
 
 *To Her Sacred 
 
 M A J E S T J 
 
 THE 
 
 Q^U E E N-M O T H E R, 
 
 On the Death of 
 
 MARY, Trtncefs of Orange. 
 
 {JVritten at 'Twelve Tears old,) 
 
 REfpite, Great Queen, your juft and hafty Pears; 
 There's no Infedlion lodges in our Tear?, 
 Though our unhappy Air be arm'd with Death, 
 Yet Sighs have an untainted guiltlefs Breath. 
 Oh! flay a- while, and teach your equal Skill 
 To underftand, and to fupport our III. 
 You that in mighty Wrongs an Age have fpent. 
 And feecn'd to have our-Jiv'd ev'n Bauifliment: 
 Whom traitVous Mifchief fought its carlicft Prey, 
 When to mod Sacred Blood it mades its way s 
 
 Anc 
 
! Poems ^» fever al Occajions. 
 
 I And did thereby its bJack Defign impart, 
 
 To take his Head, that wounded firft his Heart: 
 
 you that unmov'd Great Charles his Ruin ftood, 
 
 When Three Great Nations funk beneath the Load 
 
 Then a young Daughter loft, yet Baham found 
 
 To ftanch that new and freOily-biecding Wound: 
 
 And, after ihis, with fixt and fteddy Eyes 
 
 Beheld your Noble Gloucefters Obfequies : 
 
 And then fuftain'd the Royal Trincefs Fall 5 
 
 You only can lament her Funeral. 
 
 But you will hence remove, and leave behind 
 
 Cur fad Complaints loft in the empty Wind j 
 
 Thofe Winds that bid you ftay, and loudly roar 
 
 Deftru<aion, and drive back to the firm Shore: 
 
 Shipwreck to Safety, and the Envy fly. 
 
 Of (baring in this Scene of Tragedy. 
 
 While Sicknefs, from whofe Rage you poft away, 
 
 Relents, and only now contrives your Stay : 
 
 The lately fatal and infedlious 111 
 
 Courts the fair Princefs, and forgets to kills 
 
 In vain on Fevers Curfes we difpenfe, 
 
 And vent our Paflion s angry Eloquence : 
 
 In vain we blaft the Minifters of Fate, 
 
 And the forlorn Phyficians imprecate 5 
 
 Say they to Death new Poifons add and Firej 
 
 Murder fecurely for Reward and Hire j 
 
 Art*s Bafil;»ks, that kill whom e'er they fecj 
 
 And truly write Bills of Mortality: 
 
S4 Poems on fever al Oc capons. 
 
 Who, left the bleeding Corps Ihould them betray, 
 
 Firft drain thofe vital fpeaking Streams away. 
 
 And wi)] you, by your Flight, take part with thcfc? 
 
 Become your fcif a Third, and new Difeafe ? 
 
 If they have caus'd our Lofs, then fo have you, 
 
 Who take your felf and the fair Tr 'mcefs too. 
 
 For we depriv'd, an equal Damage have 
 
 When France doth ravifti hence, as when the Grave.. 
 
 But that your Choice th'Unkindnefs doth improve, 
 
 And DerelifUon adds to your Remove. 
 
 ROCHESTER, 
 
 of Wadham College, 
 
 A N 
 
VoEMS OH fever al Occajwm, 
 
 A N 
 
 EPILOGUE 
 
 Ome few, from Wifj have this true Maxim got, 
 IhM Yts ftill better io 6e pleas% than mt\ 
 And therefore never their own Torment plot. 
 While the malicious Criticks ftill agree, 
 To loath each Play they come and pay to fee« 
 The firft know 'tis a meaner part of Senfe 
 To find a Fault, then tafte an Excellence: 
 Therefore they praife, and ftrive to like, v/hile thefe 
 Are dully vain of being hard to pleafe. 
 Poets and Women have an equal Right 
 To hate the Dull, who dead to all Delight, 
 Feel Pain alone, and have no Joy but Spight. 
 sTwas Impotence did firft this Vice begins 
 Fools cenfurs Wit, as old Men rail at Sin: 
 Who envy Pleafure which they cannot tafte, 
 And good for nothing, would be wife at laft. 
 Since therefore to the Women it appears, 
 That all the Enemies of Wit are theirs : 
 Our Poet the dull Herd no longer fears, 
 Wbate'cr his SAte my prove, 'twill be his 'BrlJt 
 To ftand, or fall; with Beauty on his Side, 
 
8^ Po EM s on feveral Occajions, 
 
 Q. HoRAxii Flacci 
 Lib. I. S AT. X. 
 
 'f^X^^i^ incompfito dlxi pde cumre verfus 
 Luetli, quh Urn Lucili fmtor inefte efi^ 
 tli non hoc fitteatur f at idem, quod fide multo 
 XJrbem defricuit, chartd laudatur eadem. 
 Nec iamen hcc tribuensi dederim quoque utera : mm fic 
 Zt Laben wimos, ut fulchra poemMU, mirer. 
 lErgo non fath eft rlfu didncere nUum 
 JiuJitcris: eft quddam tamen hie quoque virtHs). 
 JEjl hrev'ttate opus, ut currat fententia, ne^fe 
 Impediat verbis lajfas omrantibus aures : 
 Et firmone opus eft. mo do trifti, fiipe jocofi, 
 Difendente vkem tnodo rhetorhy atque poetA^ 
 Interdnm urbani parcent 'ts viribusy atque 
 Extenuantts ens conftilto. ridiculum acri 
 Tortihs fy> melius mugnas plernrnque feeat res] 
 lilt) fcripta quibus coWQcdia prift;4 viris eft^ 
 
 m 
 
Po SMS on feveral Occajions. 87 
 
 An ALLUSION to 
 
 T!he loth Satyr of the ift Book (?/ Horace. 
 
 XT] Ell Sir, 'tis granted, I faid Dryden's Rhimes 
 
 Were ftol*n, unequal, nay dull many times: 
 What foolilh Pr;tron is there found of hi^. 
 So blindly partial, to deny me this? 
 But that his Plays, embroidered up and down 
 With Wit and Learning, juftly pleas'd the Town, 
 In the fame Paper I as freely own. 
 Yet having this allow'J, the heavy Mafs, 
 That Stuffs up his loofe Volumest muft not pafs: 
 For by that Rule, I might as well admir, 
 Crown's tedious Scenes, for Poetry and Wit. 
 'Tis therefore not enough, when your falfc Senfc 
 Hits the falfe Judgment of an Audience 
 Of clapping Fools i^flembling, a vafl: Crowd, 
 Till the throng'd Playhoufe crack with the dull Load 5 
 Though ev'n that Talent meri s, in fome fort. 
 That can divert the Rabble and the Court 5 
 Which blund'iing Settle never cou'd attain, 
 And puzling labours at in vain. 
 But within due Proportion, circumfcribe 
 > What e'er you write, that with a flowing Tide, 
 
 The 
 
f 8 Poems on fever ai Occajtom. 
 
 Hoc Jlaiant, hoc fmt imltmdi: quos neque fnlcher 
 Hermogenes mcfHam legit y neque fimias ifigy 
 Nil fr^er Cdvnm ^ do^as cmim Catullum, 
 
 At magnum fecit y quod verbis Gr^ca Latinis 
 WfcHtt. O feri ftHdiomm ! quine f metis 
 Difficile ^ mirumt Rfjodio quod VithoUontt 
 Contigit, At firmo lingua concinnut utrdqu$ 
 Suavior, Ht Chio nota fi commijla Valemi eft. 
 Cum verfiis fmASy teipjum percontor, an, ^ chm 
 Dura tibi f»^r agenda ret fit caufa Tetillt, 
 Scilicet oblitus fatruque fatrifqMy Latins 
 Cum Fedius cat^fas exfudet Poplicola, atqui 
 Corvinus', patriis intermi/cere petit a 
 Verba forts malisi Canufini more bil'mguis? 
 Atqui ego chm Gtmos facmm^ natus mare citrs, 
 Verficulof j vetuit me tali voce ^uirinus 
 Toft mediam noBem vifus^, cum fomnia vera: 
 In filvam non Isgna feras infamusi ac fi 
 Magnas GrAcomm malts im^lere catervas. 
 
 Turgidus Mftnus jugulat dum Memnoutt, dnrnqm 
 lOiffingit Bjhemiutmm caput, hoc ego ludo^ 
 
Poems fever al Occajions. 
 
 The Style may rife; yet in its Rife forbear. 
 With ufelefs Words, t'opprefs the weary'd Ear. 
 I Here be your Language lofty, there more light, 
 ;i Your Rhetcrick with your Poetry unite , 
 \ For Elegance fake, fometimes allsy the Force 
 \ Of EftthetSt 'twill foften the Di/courfej 
 \ A Jeft in Scorn points out, and hits the Thing 
 i; More home, than the morofeft Satyr's Sting, 
 f shake/pear and Johnfon did in this excel, 
 And might herein be imitated well; 
 Whom refin'd Ether edge copies not at all. 
 But is himftif a fheer Original. 
 Nor that flow Drudge in fwift Pindaric Strains, 
 Tktmm, who Cowley imitates with Pains, 
 And rides a jaded Mufe, whipt, with loofc Reins. 
 When Lee makes template Scif io fret and rave, 
 And Hannibal a whining amorous Slave, 
 I laugh, and wifh the hot-brain'd Fuftian Fool 
 In Busbf^ Hands, to be well lafht at School. 
 Of allx>ur Modern Wits, none feem to me 
 Once to have touch"^d upon true Comedy, 
 But hafly Shadwell, and flow Wukerky. 
 ShadweWs unfinifli'd Works do yet impart. 
 Great Proofs of force of Nature, none of Art; 
 With juft bold Strokes, he daflies here and there. 
 Showing great Maftery, with little Carej 
 Scorning to varnifli his good Touches o'er, 
 I To make the Fools and Women praife em' more. 
 
90 Poems ou feveralOccaJiom, 
 
 nec in Ade finent certmtta, judlce TarfA^ 
 Nec rednmt tterum atc^ue iterum fpe^anda theatri$» 
 Jlrguta tneretrice potes, Davoque Chremet^ 
 Eludente jenemt comis garrtre liMhs, 
 Unus vivorr m, Vundmi: Tollio regum 
 TaBa emit pede ter percuJfQ : forte epos acer^ 
 Ut nemOy Vmus duett : moUe atque facetum 
 Virgilio mmeYUht gmdentes rure CstmocnA^ 
 Hoc eraty experto fruftra Varrone Atacino, 
 jitque quii^ufdam aliis, melihs quod firibere pojlfem^ 
 Inventor minor: neque ego ill't detrahere aufim 
 HArentem captti muka cum Iftude coronawt 
 
 At dixifluere hunc lutulentum, fape ferentem 
 Flura qtiidem tollenda relinquendls. age, qujijb, 
 Tu nihil in mcigno do5ius reprendis Homero ? 
 N// comis tragics mutat Lucilius Acci f 
 2s[on ridet lerfus Emi gravitate minoresy 
 Cum de fe loquitur ^ non ut majore reprenjis f 
 ^uid vet at ^ nofmet Lucili fcripta legentes,, 
 ^Arere num illius, num rerum dura negArit 
 Verjiculos nmm m^giifaffQSf euntes 
 
Poems tf;!^ fever al Occafms. 
 
 But PPlcherley earns hard whatever he gains; 
 
 He wants no Judgment, and he fpares no Pains: 
 
 He frequently excels; and at theleaft. 
 
 Makes fewer Faults than any of the reft. 
 
 Waller t by Nature for the B^ys defign*d. 
 
 With Force and Fire, and Fancy unconfin'd, 
 
 In Panegyricki does excel Mankind. 
 
 He beft can turn, enforce, and foften things, 
 
 To praife great Conquerors, and flatter Kings. 
 
 For pointed Satyr I wou'd Buckhurfi choofe. 
 
 The befl: good Man, with the worft natur'd Mufe. 
 
 For Songs and Vcrfes mannerly obfcene, 
 
 That can ftir Nature up by Springs unfeen. 
 
 And, without forcing Blufhcs, warm the Queen j 
 
 Sidlty has that prevailing gentle Art, 
 
 That can with a refiftlcfs Power impart 
 
 The loofeft Wiflies to the chafl:eft Hearts, 
 
 Raife fuch a Conflid, kindle fuch a Fire 
 
 Betwixt declining Virtue, and Defire ; 
 
 Till the poor vanquiih'd Maid diffolves away. 
 
 In Dreams all Night, in Sighs and tears all Day.' 
 
 Dryden in vain try'd this nice way of Wit j 
 
 For, he to be a tearing Blade, thought fit 
 
 To give the Ladies a dry Bawdy Bob ; 
 
 And thus he got the name of Poet Squa&. 
 
 But to be juft, 'twill to his Praife be found. 
 
 His Excellencies more than Faults abound : 
 
Poems ou /everal Occajiom, 
 
 Mollies ? ac fi nuts fedibus quid cl under e fenis 
 Hoc tantum contmtus, amet firipfijfe ducentos 
 Ante cibum verfus, tottdem cosnatus-^ (Etrufei 
 ^ualefuit Cafsi rap'tdo ferventius amni 
 Ingen 'mm j capfis quern fama eft ejfe librtfqui 
 Ambuftum propriis) fuerit Lucilim, inquam^ 
 Comis ^ ur banns 'y fuerit limatior iuem^ 
 ^uam rudisj ^ Greets intact carminis AH£lor% 
 ^amque psetarum feniortm turba : fed ilk^ 
 Ssfcret hoc noftrumfato dihtm in Avum\ 
 Detererct fibi mult a \ recideret omnet quod ultr^- 
 JerfeBum iraheretur'j ^ in verfu faclendo 
 Sape captit fcaberet, vivos ^ rodetet ungues, 
 
 Sdpe ftylum vertas, iterum quA digna leg! fint 
 Scripturus: neque te utmiretur turba, labores, 
 Contentus panels le^oribus, an tua demens 
 Vilibus in ludis diSiarl carmina malis I 
 Non ego, nam fans efi equitem mihi plaudere: ut mdaxl 
 Contemtis diis, explofa Arbufcula dixit. 
 Meri moveat cimex Pantilius f aut cruder^ quod 
 Vellicet abfentem Demetrius f aut quod ineptus 
 Imnius Hemogems l^at eonviva Tigellil 
 
Poems feveralOccaJions. 
 
 Tnr dare I from his facred Temples tear 
 
 ^he Laurel, which he b?ft deferves to wear. 
 
 ut does not Dryclen find ev'n Johnfon dull? 
 
 eaumont and Fletcher uncorre6t, and full 
 
 )f lewd Lines, as he calls *em? Shakefpear*s Stile 
 
 and afFeded ? To his own, the while 
 llowing all the Juftice that his Pride 
 D arrogantly had to thcfe deny*d ? 
 nd may not I have leave impartially 
 o fcarch and cenfure Dryden's Works, and try 
 thofe grofs Faults his choice Pen doth commit, 
 rocecd from want of Judgment, or of Wit ? 
 r if his lumpifti Fancy does refufe 
 )idt and Grace to his loofe flattern Mufc? 
 ive Hundred Verfes evVy Morning writ, 
 rove him no more a Poet, than a Wit: 
 ich fcribling Authors have been feen before: 
 ujlafha, the Tjland Frmcefs, Forty more, 
 'ere things perhaps composed in half an Hour. 
 
 0 write what may fecurely ftand the Tejl^ 
 
 1 being well read over thrice at leaft; 
 ampare each Phrafe, examine evVy Line, 
 ^cigh ev'ry Word, and ev'ry Thought refinei 
 orn all Applaufe the vile Rout can beftow, 
 
 ad be concent to pleafe thofc few who know; 
 
 mft thou be fuch a vain miftaken Thing, 
 
 ? wifh thy mrh might make a Play-houfe ring; 
 
94 Poems fever al Occafions. 
 
 Tlotiusy ^ Varius, M^cenas, VirgiliufcjHe 
 Valgiust ^ proBet hac O^^vius optimus^ atque 
 TufcfiSy ^ hdc uttmm Vifmem laudet uterquex 
 Amhitione relegatd, te dicere pojjfum, 
 Tollio; te, Mejfala, tuo cum fratfe\ fimulque 
 Voi Bibnlh & Servi; fimul his te^ candide lurni j 
 Complures alios, d$Bos ego quos ^ amicos 
 Trudens prAtereo : qu'ibus h^Cy fint qualiacmquet 
 Arridere velim 5 delitums, fi placeant fpe 
 JDeterius noftra, Demetri, teque, Tigelli^ 
 JDifcipulamm inter jubeo plomre cathedrets, 
 
 I pmr^ Atque m$o citus hAC fubfcribe libello. 
 
V. 
 
 Poems of^ fever al Occajions. 9 j 
 
 With the unthinking Laughter, and poor Praife 
 Df Fops and Ladies, Fadlious for thy Piays ? 
 Then fend a cunning Friend to learn thy Doom; 
 From the Ihrcwd Judges in the drawing Room, j 
 IVe no Ambition on than idle Score, 
 But fay with Betty Mortce heretofore, 
 When a Court Lady call'd her Buckle/ s Whorcj 
 [ pleafe one Man of Wit, am proud on'c too, 
 Let all the Coxcombs dance to bed to you. 
 Should I be troubled when the PurMind Knight, 
 Who fquints more in his Judgment, than his Sight, 
 . Fkks filly Faults, and cenfures what 1 write? 
 Or when the poor-fed Poets of the Town, 
 for Scabs and Coach-room cry my Verfes down? 
 I loath the Rabble, *£is enough for me 
 i^SiMey, Shadwely Shephard, meherley, 
 ^odolfhin, Butler, Buckhurfi, Buekinghm, 
 Andfome few more, wnom I omicto Name, 
 Approve my Senfe, I count their Cenfurc Fame. 
 
 T^H E 
 
96 P o EM s ^» fever al Occafions. 
 
 The following Ve r s e s were writtea 
 by Sir Car. Scrope, on his being re- 
 flefted upon at the' latter End of 
 the foregoing Copy. • 
 
 In Defence S at y R* "I 
 
 WUm Shakefpear, Johnfon, Fletcher, mVi the Staf ^ 
 They took fo bold a Freedom votth the Age^ 
 ThM there was fcarce a Knave, or Fool, in Town, ! 
 Of any Note, but had his V 't^nre Jhown ; 
 Jlnd {without doubt) though fome it may offend, 1 ^ 
 
 Nothing helps more than Satyr, to amend . > 
 
 III Manners, or is trulier Virtue's Friend, J 
 Frinces may Laws ordain, Triefts gravely preach 
 But Vcets mofi fuccefsfully will teach. 
 For as a Faffing- Bell f^fghts from his Meat, 
 The greedy fick Man, that too much wou^d eat j 
 So when a Vice ridculous is made. 
 Our Neighbours Shame keeps us from growing bad. 
 But wholefom Remedies few PaUtes pleafe. 
 Men rather love what flatters their Dtfeafe ; 
 Pimps, Par^dtes, Buff ons, and aU the Crew, 
 That under Friendfhip t Name, weak Men undo-, 
 
 Fm 
 
I P o E M s o» fever al Occajions. ^ 7 
 
 ?ind their falfe Service kindlier mderftoodj 
 rhan fuch as tell bold Truths to do us good. 
 :00k where you will, and you /lull hardly find 
 i Man without fome Sicknefs of the Mind, 
 ^nrvain W& wife woud feem, while ev'ry Lujl 
 Vhisks us about y as Whirlwinds do the Dufi. 
 lerefor fome needlefs Gain, a Wretch is hurVd 
 'rom Tole to Fole, and Jlavd about the Worlds 
 Vhileihe Reward of all his Tains and Care, 
 Inds in that defpicable Thing, hit Heir. 
 
 There a vain Fop mortgages all his LcmJ,. 
 '0 buy that gaudy Vlay-thing a Command^ 
 ^0 ride a Cock-horfe, -wear a Scarf afs Arft^ 
 ind play Jack-pudding in a May-day Farce, 
 
 Here one whom Fate to be a Fool thought fit^ 
 n fpight of its Decree will be a Wit. 
 }ut wanting Strength t'uphpld his ill-made Ctoice^ 
 et up for Lewdntfs, Blafphemy and Noife, 
 lere at his Miflrefs' Feet a Lover lies^ 
 Indfor a tawdry painted Baby dies; 
 'alls on his Knees, adores, and is afraid 
 fthe vain Idol he himfelf has made, 
 hefe, and a thoufand Fools unmention'd herel 
 late Poets all, becaufe they Foets fear, 
 'ake heed (they cry) yonder Mad Dog will bitel 
 le cares not whom he falls on in his Fiti 
 :me but in's way, and flraightfl new Lampoon 
 hdl [pnadymr mangled Fame about the Town, 
 
98 PoLMsm fever al Occajions. 
 
 But xsfhy am 1 this Bugbear to ye all ? 
 My Pen is dipt in no fuch bitter Gall. 
 He th^t can rail at one he calls his Friend, 
 Or hear him abfent wronged, and not ' defends 
 Who for the Jake of feme ill-natar'd Jefi, 
 Tells rohat he flioud conceal^ invents the refl\ 
 To fatal Midnight Quarrels, can betray 
 His brave * Companion^ and then run away 5 
 Leaving him to be murdered in the Street^ 
 Then put it off, with fome Buffoon Conceit \ 
 This, this is hoy you fhou^d beware of alU 
 Tet him a pleafant witty Man, yoti cally 
 To whet your dnll Debauches up and down, 
 ToH feek him as top Fidlcr of the Town. 
 
 But if I laugh when the gay Coxcombs fljo^^ 
 To fte the Booby Sotus dance Provoe. 
 Or chattering Vovus, from the Side-Bcx grin. 
 Tricked like a Ladfs Monkey new made clean^ 
 To me the Name of Railer firaight you give^ 
 Call me a Man that knows not how to live. 
 Bnt Wenches to their Keepers true fhall turnt 
 Stale Maids of Honotir proffer'd Huibands fcom, 
 Great Heroes Flattery and Clinches hate, 
 And long in Office die without Bjiatei 
 Without A Fee, great Council Caufes plead. 
 The Country Knav'ry want, the City Vrtde j 
 ^re that hlack Malice in my Rhymes you find^ 
 Tbut mongs a worthy Man, or hurts a Frmd. 
 
 * Col Downs^ * 
 
Poems fever al Occafions. 
 
 But then perh^ips you'll fay why do you write f 
 
 mat you think harmlefs Mirth, the mrldthinh S fight. 
 
 Why fl)OH'd your lingers itch to have a Lap7 
 
 At Simons the Buffoon, or Cuily Bafh? 
 
 Whut is't to you, //Alidor J Jine Whora 
 
 Lies voithfor/ie Friend, whilft hes jlmt out of Docrd 
 
 Confider pray, thjit dm^rous V/eapon Wit 
 
 Trightms a Minima when a feto you hit. 
 
 Whip but a Cur, as you ride through the Town, 
 
 Andfiraight his fellow Curs the parrel own, 
 
 Each Knave or Fool, that's confcious of a Crime, 
 
 ThoHgh he fcapes now, looks for t another time. 
 
 Sir, I confefs all you have faid is true. 
 
 But who has not fome Folly to purfue T 
 
 Mile turn'd Quixor, fanc/d Battels fights. 
 
 When the fifth Bottle hcid increased your Lights^ 
 
 Warlike dirt Vies, our Hero Paris forms. 
 
 Which defpWate BelTus without Armour ftormsl 
 
 Corn us, the kindefi Husband e'er was born^ 
 Still courts the Spark that does his Brows adorn. 
 Invites him home to Dinner, fills his Veins 
 With the hot Blood, which his dear Doxy drains. 
 
 Granciio believes himfdfa Beau-Gargon, 
 Goggles his Eyes, writes Letters up and down-. 
 And with his faucy Love plagues half the Town. 
 ■Mile pleas'd to have his Vanity thus fed, 
 ■ He's cMight with Gofnel, that old Hag, a-bed. 
 But fhou'd I all the crying Follies tell, 
 Wh^t rouze the fieeping S^tyv from his Cell-, 
 ¥ z 
 
V 
 
 100 Poems on feveralOccaJions 
 
 I to my Keiider fhou'd a tedious frove, 
 As that old Spark Albanus, making Love , 
 Or Rofcius, Tfihm with feme f moot h Flaw, 
 He gravely on the Tuhlick tries to fliam» 
 
 Hold then, my Mufe, Uis time to make an end^ 
 Zefi taxing others, thou thy fdf ojfend. 
 The World's a Wood, in which all lofe their Way, 
 Jhough by a different Tath, each goes ajlray. 
 
 On the fu^pos'd Author of a 
 Poem in T>efence of Satyr 
 
 To rack and torture thy unmeaning Brain, 
 In Satyrs Praife, to a low untun'd Strain, 
 In thee was moft impertinent and vain. 
 When in thy Perfon we more clearly fee 
 That's Satyr of Divine Authority, 
 Por God made one on Man when he made thee. 
 To fhew there were fome Men, as there are Apes, 
 Fram'd for mecr Sport, who differ but in Shapes : ^ 
 In thee are all thefe Contradidions joined, 
 ^That make an /Ifs prodigious and refki'd. 
 A Lump deformed and fliapelefs wcrt thou born. 
 Begot in Love's Defpight^and Nature's Scorn j 
 
Poems feveral Occafims. loi 
 
 And art grown up the moft ungrateful Wighr, 2 
 
 Harfti to the Ear, and hideous to the Sight j ? 
 
 Yet Love's thy Bufincfs, Beauty thy Delight, ^ 
 
 Curfe on that filly Hour that firft infpir'd 
 
 Thy Madnefs, to pretend tabe admir'd ; 
 
 To paint thy grifly Face, to dance, to drefs,' f 
 
 And all thofe aukward Follies, that exprcfs 
 
 Thy loathfome Love, and filthy Daintinefs. 
 
 Who needs wilt be an ugly Beau-Garfon, 
 
 Spit at, and fhun'd by ev'ry Girl in Town; 
 
 Where dreadfully Love's Scare-crow, thou art plac'd 
 
 To fright the tender Flock that long to taftc : 
 
 While every coming Maid, when you appear. 
 
 Starts back for Shame^ and flraight turns cbaflc for fear. 
 
 For none fo poor or proftitute have prov'd, 
 
 Where you made Love, t'cndire to be belov'd,' 
 
 *Twere Labour loft, or elfe I wou'd advife: 
 
 But thy half Wit will ne*er let thee be wife. 
 
 Half witty, and half mad, and fcarce half brave; 
 
 Half honeft (which is very much a Knave) 
 
 Made up of all thefe Halfs, thou can'ft not pafs 
 
 For any thing intirely, but an 4fi, 
 
toz Poems on feveral Occafms, 
 
 E P I L O G U E. 
 
 A S Charrrs sre Nonfenfe, Nonfenfe fcerns a Charm, 
 Which Hearers of all Judgment does difjrmj 
 For Songs, and Scenes, a double Audience bring, 
 And Doggrel takes, which Smhhs in Satti'n Zing. 
 Now to Machines, and a dull Mask you run; 
 We find that Wit's the Monfter you would fliun, 
 And by my Trcth 'cis moft difcreetly done. 
 For fince with Vice and Folly Wit is fed, 
 Through Mercy 'tis iroft of you are not dead, 
 Piayers turn Puppets now at your Defire, 
 In their Mouth's Nonfenfe, in their Tail's a Wire, 
 They £y through Crowds of Clouts and Showr's of 
 Fire. 
 
 A kind of ioiing Loadum is their Game, 
 Where the worfl Writer has the greateft F&me. 
 To get vile Plays like theirs, fhall be our Carcj 
 But of fuch aukupard A6lors we defpair, 
 
 Falfe taught at firft 
 
 Like Bowls ill biafs'd, fliil the more they run. 
 They're further off, than when they firi'l begun*' 
 In Comedy their unweighM ^Cihn mark, 
 There's one is fuch a dear familiar Spsrk^ 
 
I Poems on federal Occafans. 103. 
 
 yawns as if he were but half awake; 
 And fribling for free fpeaking, does miftahi 
 Falfe Accent, and ncgledful Adion too. 
 They have both fo n:gh good, yet neither true, 
 That both together, like an Ape's Mock-face, 
 (By near refembling Man, do Man difgrace. 
 Through pac'd ill Adors may, perhaps, be cur'Jj 
 Half Players, like half Wits, can^t be endured. 
 lYet thefe are they, who durfi expofe the Age 
 Of the great * Wonder of the -Engl'tjh Stage; 
 Whom Nature leemM to form for your Delight, 
 And bid him fpeak, as llie bid Shakefiear write. 
 Thofe Blades indeed are Cripples'in their Art, 
 JMimick his Foot, but not his fpeaking Part 
 Let them the Traim or Volpone try; 
 
 Could they 
 
 Rage like Cethegus, or like C#^i die, 
 They nc*er had fcnt to Varis for fuch Fancies, 
 As Monfters Heads and Merry- Andrevp's Dances; 
 Withered, perhaps, not perilh'd we appear. 
 But they are blighted, and ne'er came to bear. 
 Th'old Poets drefs'd your Miftrcfs Wit before, ^ 
 Thefe draw you on with an old painted Whore, f 
 And fell, like Bawds, patched Plays for Maids twicer 
 L o'er. D 
 
 Yet they may fcorn our Houfe and A6lors too, 
 Since they have fwcll'd fo high to hedor you. 
 
 F 4. They 
 
 * Major Mohun, 
 
1G4 Poems on fever al Occajions 
 
 They cry. Pox o* thefe Covent-Qarden Men, 
 Damn *em, not one of them but keeps out Ten. 
 Were they once gone, we for thofe thund'ring Blades 
 Should have an Audience of fubftantial Trades, 
 Who love our muzzled Boys, and tearing Fellows, 
 My Lord: great Neptune, and great Nephew i£olus« 
 O how the merry Citizen's in Love 
 With 
 
 Ffyche, the Goddefs of each Field and Grovel ^ 
 He cries, Tfaith, methinks 'tis well enough 5 
 But you roar out and cry, 'Tis all damn'd Stuffy 
 So to rheir Houfe the graver Fops repair, 
 Whik Men of Wit find one another here. 
 
Poems on fever alOccaJlons. lo^ 
 
 A 
 
 PROLOGUE, 
 
 Spoken at the 
 Court at Whitehall, 
 
 BEFORE 
 
 King C H A R L E S II 
 
 By the Lady Elixabeth Howard. 
 
 ' \AT IT has of late took up a Trick t' appear 
 Unmannerly, or at the beft, fevere : 
 
 And Poets fhare the Fate by which we fall. 
 
 When kindly we attempt to pleafe you all. 
 
 >Tis hard your Scorn fhould againft fuch prevail,' 
 
 Whofe Ends arc to divert you, tho' they fail. 
 
 You Men would think it an ill-natur*d Jeft, 
 \ Should we laugh at you when you do your beft. 
 
 Then rail not hercj though you fee Reafon for*t: 
 
 If Wit can find it felf no better Sport, 
 
 Wit is a very fooliih thing at Court 
 
10 6 VoLMS ori fever al Occafions^ 
 
 Wit's Bufincfs is to pleafe, and not to fright \ 
 *Tis no Wit to be always in the Right} ^ 
 You'll find it none, who dare be fo to-night» \ 
 Few fo ill-bred will venture to a "Play, 
 To fpy out Faults, in what we Women fay. 
 For us, no matter what we fpeak, bur how : 
 How kindly can we fay——— I hate yon nov» I 
 And for the Men, if you'll lau^h at 'cm, do j 
 They mind thcmfelves fo much, they'll ne'er mind yoir^ 
 But why do I defcend to lofe a Pray'r 
 Oa thoii fmall Saints in Wit? the God fits there. 
 
 To the K I N Gi 
 
 To yoU; (Great S IRJ my Meflage hither tends : 
 Fr6fn Youth, and Beauty, your Allies and Friends, 
 See my Credentials written in my Face, 
 They challenge your Protedion in this Place; 
 And hither come with fuch a Force of Charms, 
 As may give check cv'n to your profp'rous Arms^ 
 Millions of Cupids hov'ring in the Rear, 
 Like Eagles following fatal Troops, appear: 
 AH waiting for the Slaughter which draws nigh, 
 Gf thofe bold Gazers who this Night muft die. 
 Nor can you 'fcape our foft Captivity, 
 From which old Age alone muft fet you frc^. 
 Then tremble at the fatal Confequence, 
 since 'tis well known, for your own part, Great Trince^ 
 'Gainft u$ you ftill have made a weak Defefice, 
 
 Be 
 
Poems fever al Occajions. 
 
 Be generous and wife, and take our Part: 
 Rcmcral5cr we have Eyes, and You a Heart; 
 Elfe You may find, too late, that we are Things 
 Born to kill Vaflals> and to conquer %sngt. 
 But oil to what vain Conqueft I pretend ! 
 While Love is our Commander, and your FriendJ 
 Our Vi6tory Your Empire more alTuresj 
 For Love will ever make the Triumph YourSi 
 
To all Gentlemen^ Ladles^ and Other Sj 
 Whether of City ^ Town^ or Country^ 
 
 Alexander Bendo 
 
 Wijheth all Health and Profperity. 
 
 HERE AS this famous Metropolis 
 of England^ (and were the Endea- 
 vours of its worthy Inhabitants equal 
 to their Power, Merit, and Virtue, 
 1 jfhould not (tick to denounce it in a 
 Ihort time, the Metropolis of the whole /f^crW): 
 Whereas this City (as moft great ones are) has ever 
 been infefted with a numerous Company of fuch, 
 whofe Arrogant Confidence, backing their Igrio- 
 lance, has enabled them to impofe upon the People, 
 either premeditated Cheats, or at belt, the palpable, ^ 
 dull, and empty Miftakes of their felf-deluded Ima- 
 ginations in Phyfick, Chymical, and Galenick, in 
 Aftrology, Phyfiognomy, Palmeftry, Mathematicks, 
 
 Alchymyj 
 
[109 ] 
 
 Alehymy, and even m Government it felf; the 
 laft of which I will not propofe to difcourfe 
 of, of meddle at all in^ fince it no ways belongs 
 to my Trade or Vocation, as the reft do; which 
 (thanks to my God) I find much more fafe ; I 
 think equally Honeft, and therefore more Profits- 
 table: But as to all the former, they have been fo 
 erroneoufly praSis'd by many unlearned Wretches^ 
 whom Poverty and Needinefs for the moft part (if 
 not the reftlefs Itch of Deceiving) has forced to 
 ftraggle and wander in unknown Paths, that even 
 the Profefllons themfelves, though originally the 
 Produdts of the moft Wife Mens laborious Studies 
 and Experiences ; and by them left a wealthy and 
 glorious Inheritance for Ages to come; feem by 
 this Baftard-Race of Quacks and Cheats, to have 
 been run out of all Wifdom, Learning, Perfpicu* 
 oufnefs, and Truth, with which they were fo 
 plentifully ftock'd, and now run into a Repute of 
 meer Mifts, Imaginations, Errors, and Deceits 
 fuch as in the Management of thefe idle ProfefTors 
 indeed they were. 
 
 You will therefore (I hope) Gentlemen^ Ladies^ 
 and Others^ deem it but juft, that I, who foj;" fome 
 Years have, with all Faithfulnefs and Affiduity, 
 courted thefe Arts, and received fuch fignal Fa- 
 vours from them, that they have admitted me to 
 the happy and full Enjoyment of themfelves, and 
 trufted me with their greateft Secrets, fhould, with 
 an Earncftnefs and Concern more than ordinary, 
 
 take 
 
take their Parts againft thofe impudent Fops, whofe 
 ftucy impertinent Addrefies and Pretenfions have 
 brought fuch Scandal upon their naoft immaculate 
 Honours and Reputations. 
 
 Befides, I hope you will not think I could be fo 
 impudent, that if I had intended any fuch foul Play^ 
 my felf, 1 would have given you fo fair Warn* 
 ing by my fevere Obfervations upon others. Qui 
 alteruminctifatprobri^ipfum fi imuert oportet^ Plant; 
 However, Gentlemen^ in a World like this (where 
 Virtue is fo exafilly counterfeited, and Hypocrify 
 fo generally taken notice of, that every one, arm'd 
 with Sufpicions, ftands upon his Guard againft it) 
 'twill be very hard for a Stranger efpecially, to 
 efcape a Cenfure. 
 
 All I fnall fay for my felf on this Score, is this : 
 If I appear to any one like a Counterfeit, even for 
 the fake of that chiefly, ought I to be conftrued a 
 true Man, who is the Counterfeit's Example, his 
 Original, and that which he employs his Induftry 
 and Pains to imitate and copy: Is it therefore my 
 Fault, if the ^ heat by his Wits and Endeavours 
 makes himfelf fo like me, that confequently I can- 
 not avoid refembling of him? Confider, pray, the 
 Valiant and the Coward ; the wealthy Merchant, 
 and the Bankrupt; the Politician and the Fool; 
 they are the fame in many things, and differ but 
 in one alone. The valiant Man holds up his Head, 
 looks confidently round about him, wears a 
 Sword, courts a Lord's Wife, and owns it : So 
 4 does 
 
C "I I 
 
 ] Idoes the Coward ; one only Point of Hbnourf 
 and that's Courage (which, h'ke falfe Metal, , one 
 only Trial can difcover) makes the Diftindion, 
 
 The Bankrupt walks the Exchange^ buys Bar- 
 gains, draws Bills, and accepts them with the. 
 Richeft, whilft Paper and Credit are current Coin: 
 That which makes the Difference is real Calli, a. 
 great Defied indeed, and yet but one^and that the, 
 laft found out, and till then the leaft perceived. 
 I Now for thePolitician, he is a grave, deliberating,, 
 clofe, prying Man : Pray, are there not grave, de- 
 liberating, clofe, prying Fools? If then the Dif- 
 ference betwixt all thefe (though infinite in effedl) 
 he fo nice in all Appearance, will you expedl \t. 
 fliould be otherwife betwixt the falfe Phyfician^ 
 Aftrologer, ef^. and the true? The firfl: calls him-- 
 ftlf Learned DoQor, fends forth his Bills, gives 
 Phyfick and Counfel, tells and foretells-; the other: 
 is bound to do juft as much; 'tis only your Ex- 
 perience muft diftinguifli betwixt them, to which 
 I willingly fubmit my felf: Pll only fay fome- 
 thing to the Honour of the Mountebank, ia cafe 
 you difcover me to be one. 
 
 Refleft a little what kind of Creature 'tis : He. 
 is one then who is fain to fjpply fome higher Abi- 
 Iky he pretends to, with Craft: He draws great: 
 Companies to him, by undertaking ftrange Things 
 which can never be effeded. 
 
 The Politician (by his Example, no doubtj find- 
 ing how the People are taken with fpecious mira- 
 culous 
 
[ IIX ] 
 
 ciilous Impoffibilities, plays the fame Game, pro- 
 tefts, declares, promifes I know not what thing^y 
 which he's fure can ne'er be brought about ; The 
 People believe, are deluded, and pleas'd ; the Ex- 
 pedation of a future Good, which fliall never 
 befal them, draws their Eyes olf of a prefent Evil. 
 Thus are T^hey kept and eftabli(hed in Subjedtion,. 
 Peace, and Obedience; He^ in Greatnefs, Wealth 
 and Power: So you fee the 'Politician is, and 
 mud be a Mountebank in State-Aftairs, and the 
 Mountebank (no doubt if he thrives) is an arrant 
 'Politician in Phyfick. 
 
 But, that I may not prove too tedious, I will 
 proceed faithfully to inform you, what are the 
 Things in which I pretend chiefly at this time to 
 ferve my Country. 
 
 Firft, I will, by the Leave of God, perfedlly 
 cure that Labes Britannic a ^ or Grand Englijh Di- 
 fcafe, the Scurvy^ and that with fuch Eafe to my 
 Patient^ that he fhall not be fenfible of the leaft 
 Inconvenience whilft I fteal his Diftemper from 
 him ; I know there are many who treat this Di- 
 leafe with Mercury^ Antimony^ Sprits and Salts ^ 
 being dangerous Remedies, in which I fliall med- 
 dle very little, and with great Caution, but by 
 more fecure, gentle, and lefs fallible Medicines, 
 together with the Obfervation of fome few Rules 
 in Diet, perfeQly cure the Patient^ having freed 
 him from all the Symptoms, as Loofenefs of the 
 Teeth, Scorbutick Spots, Want of Appetite, Pains 
 
 and 
 
C "3 3 
 
 and Laflitude in the Limbs and Joints, efpeciari j 
 the Legs. And, to lay Truth, there are few Dis- 
 tempers in this Nation that are not, or at leaft pro- 
 ceed not originally from, the Scurvy ; which were 
 ft well rooted out (as I make no queftion to do it 
 of all thofe who lhall come into my Hands) there 
 would not be heard of fo many Gouts, Aches, 
 Dropfies and Confumptions : Nay, even thofe 
 thick and ffimy Humours which generate Stones 
 in the Kidnies and Bladder, are for the moft part 
 GfTsprings of the Scurvy. It would prove tedious 
 to fet down all its malignant Race; but thofe who 
 addrefs themfelves here, fhall be (lill informed by 
 me in the Natures of their Di (tempers, and the 
 Grounds I proceed upon to their Cure: fo will all 
 reafonable People be fatisfy'd, that I treat them 
 with Care, Honefty and Underftanding; for I am 
 not of their Opinion, who endeavour to render 
 their Vocations rather myfterious than ufeful and 
 fetisfa6tory. 
 
 ^ I will not here make a Catalogue of Difeafes 
 and Diftempers; it behoves a Phyftcian', I am fure^^ 
 to underftand them all: But if any one come to 
 me (as I think there are very few have efcapM my 
 Pradice) 1 (hall not be afham'd to own to my Pa-^ 
 tient^ where I find my felf to feek, and at leaft he 
 lhall be fecure with me from having Experiments 
 try'd upon him; a Privilege he can never hope to 
 enjoy, either in the Hands of the grand Doc- 
 tors of the Court and Town, or in thofe of 
 
 the^ 
 
[ ] 
 
 the lefler Quacks and Mountebanks. It is thought 
 fit, that I alTure you of great Secrecy, as well as 
 Care in Difeafes, where ic is requifite, whether. 
 Venerea!, or other; as fome peculiar to Women, 
 the Green- fickncfs, Weaknefles, Inflammations, 
 or ObftruSions in the Stomach, Reins, Liver^ 
 Spleen, i^c. (For I would put no Word in my 
 Billthit bears any unclean Sound; it is enough 
 that I make my felf underftood. I have feen Phy- 
 ficians Bills as Bawdy as Jlretme's Dialogues, 
 which no Man that walks wearily before God can 
 approve of). But I cure all Suffocations in thofe 
 Parts producing Fits of the Mother, ConvulfionSy- 
 Nodlurnal Inquietudes, and other ftrange Acci- 
 dents, not fit to be fet down here; perfuading 
 young Women very often that their Hearts are 
 like to break for Love, when, God knows, the 
 Diftemper lies far enough from that Place. 
 
 Likev/ife Barrennefs. proceeding from any ac-^ 
 eidental Gaufe, as it often falls out, and no natu- 
 ral Defe£t; (for Nature is eafily affifted, difficultly 
 reilor'd, but impoflible to be made more perfedt 
 by Man, than God himfelf had at firft created and 
 beftowed it). Cures of this kind I have done fignal 
 and many, for the which I doubt not but I have 
 the good Wiflies and hearty Prayers of many Fa- 
 milies, whov had elfe pin'd out their Days under 
 the deplorable and reproachful Misfortunes of Bar- 
 ren Wombs, leaving plentiful Eftates and Poffef- 
 fions, to be inherited by Strangers* 
 
[ " 5 ]- 
 
 As to Aftrological Predictions, Phyfiognomy^ 
 Divination by Dreams, snd otherwife, (Palrneftry 
 1 have not Faith in, beciiufe there can be noRea- 
 fon alledg'd for it) my own Experience has con- 
 vinc'd me more of their confiderable Effeds, and 
 marvellous Operations, chiefly in the Diredlions 
 of future Proceedings, to the avoiding of Dangers 
 that thrciiten, and kying hold of Advantages that 
 might offer themfelves. 
 
 I fay, my own Pradtice has convinced me more 
 than all the fage and wife Writings extant of thofe 
 Matters : For I might fay this for my felf, (did it 
 not look like Ollentation) that I have very feldom 
 fail'd in my PrediSions, and often been very fer- 
 viceable in my Advice; hov/ far I am capable ia 
 this way, I am fure is not fit to be deliver'd ia 
 Print. 
 
 Thofe who have no Opinion of the Truth of 
 this Art, will not, I fuppofe, come to me about 
 At; fuch as have, I make no queftion of giving 
 them ample Satisfa6tion. 
 
 Nor will I be afliam'd to fet down here, my 
 Willingnefs to pradtife rare Secrets (though fome* 
 what collateral to my Profeflionj for the Help, 
 Confervation, and Augmentation of Beauty and 
 Comelinefs : A thing created at firft by God, 
 chiefly for the Glory of his own Name, and then 
 for the better Eftablifliment of mutual Love be- 
 tween Man and Woman ; God had beftow'd on 
 Man the Power of Strength and Wifdom, and 
 
 there-' 
 
C "6 J 
 
 thereby renderM Woman liable to the Subje6i:fonf 
 of his abfolute Will ; it feem'd but requifite that 
 fhe fliould be endu'd likewife in Recompe;ice, with 
 fi.me Quality, that might beget in hirn Admiration 
 of her, and fo enforce his Tendernefs and Love. 
 
 The Knowledge of thefe Secrets I gathered in 
 my Travels abroad, (where I have fpent my Time 
 ever lince I was Fifteen Years^ old, to this my 
 nine and twentieth Year) in France and Italy z 
 Thofe that have travell'd in Italy ^ will tell you 
 to what a Miracle Art does there affift Nature 
 in the Prefervation of Beauty ; how Women of 
 Forty bear the fame Countenance with thofe of 
 Fifteen ; Ages are no way diftinguifti'd by Faces : 
 Whereas here in England^ look a Horfe in the 
 Mouth, and a Woman in the Face, you prefently 
 know both their Ages to a Year. I will therefore 
 give you fuch Remedies, that without deftroying 
 your Complexion (as moft of your Paints and 
 Dawbings do) fliall render them purely fair, clear- 
 ing and preferving them from all Spots, Freckles, 
 Heats, and Pimples, any Marks of the Small-Pox, 
 or any other accidental ones, fo the Face be not 
 feam'd or fcarr'd. 
 
 I will alfo preferve and cleanfe your Teeth, 
 white and round as Pearls, fattening them that are 
 loofe ; your Gums fhall be kept intire, and red as 
 Coral, your Lips of the fame Colour, and foft as 
 you could wifh your lawful Kifles. 
 
 I will. 
 
C 117 ] 
 
 I Will likewife adminifter that which fliall cure 
 the worft of Breaths, provided the Lungs be not 
 totally perilh'd, and impofthumated ; as alfo certain 
 and infallible Remedies for thofe whofe Breaths 
 are yet untainted, fo that nothing but either a very 
 long Sicknefs, or old Age it felf, fhall ever be 
 able to fpoil them. 
 
 I will befides (if it be defirMj take away from 
 their Fatnefs who have over-much, and add Flefli 
 to thofe that want it, without the leaft Detriment 
 jto their Conftitutions. 
 
 : Now fhould Gale?2 himfelf look out of his Grave, 
 and tell me thefe were Bawbles below the Pro- 
 fefFionof a Phylician, I would boldly anfwer him, 
 that I take more Glory in preferving God's Image 
 in its unblemifh'd Beauty, upon one good Face^ 
 than I fliould do in patching up all the decay'd Car- 
 cafles in the World. 
 
 They that will do me the favour to come to me^ 
 fliall be fure from Three of the Clock in the Af- 
 I ternoon, till eight at Night, at my Lodgings in 
 Tower-ftreet^ next Door to the Sign of the Black 
 Swafty at a Golclfmith'*s Houfe, to find 
 
 ^elr Humble Servant^ 
 
 A1.EXANDER Bendo. 
 
Familiar Letters. 
 
 To the HonourabJe 
 
 H E N R r S A VI L E. 
 
 Dear S A v i L || 
 O a Charity becoming one of your 
 pious Principles, in prefer ving your 
 humble Servant Rochefter^ from the 
 imminent Peril of Sobriety; which,; 
 for want of good Wine, more than: 
 Company (for I can drink like a Hermit betwixt| 
 God and my own Confciencej is very like to be-l 
 fall me: Remember what Pains I have formerly ' 
 taken to wean you from your pernicious Refolutions 
 of Difcretlon and IVifdom ! And if you have a grare-i 
 ful Heart, (which is a Miracle amonglt you Statef- 
 men) (hew it, by directing the Bearer to the beft 
 Wine in Town; and pray let not this higheft 
 Point of facred Friendpip be perform'd //^^^/)', but 
 
Familiar Letters. ii^ 
 
 go about it, vjitb all due deliberation and care^ as 
 holy Priejls to Sacrifice^ or as difcreet Thieves to 
 the wary performance of Burglary and Shoj^- liftings 
 Let your well-difcerning Palate fthe beft judge 
 about you) travel from Cellar to Cellar, and then 
 from Piece to Piece, 'till it has lighted on Wine 
 fit for its noble Choice a'/sd my Approbation. To en- 
 gage you the more in this matter, know I have 
 laid a Plot may very probably betray you to the 
 
 Drinking of it. My Lord will inform you 
 
 at large. 
 
 Dear Savilel as ever thou doft hope to outdo 
 Machiavel^ or equal Me^ fend fome good Wine ! 
 So may thy wearied Soul at laft find Reft, ^ 
 no longer hov'riog 'twixt th' unequal Choice 
 of Politicks and Levjdnefsl May'ft thou be ad- 
 jTiir'd and lov'd for thy domeftic Wit\ belov'd ^nd 
 K^herijh'd for thy foreign Interejl and Intelitg^nce. 
 
 ROCHESTER- 
 
S20 Familiar LEXEEas. 
 
 To the Honourable 
 
 H E N R r S A V I L E. 
 
 1 for, I perceive, you have no Opinion of a 
 Letter, that is not almofl: a Gazette : Now, to 
 me, who think the World as giddy as my felf, 
 ■ 1 care not which way it runs, and am fond of 
 no News, but the Profperity of my Friends, and 
 the Continuance of their Kindnefs to me, which 
 is the only Error I wifli to continue in Vm: For 
 my own part, I am not at all (lung with my 
 
 Lord M 's mean Ambition, but I afpire 
 
 to my Lord L \ generous Philofophy : 
 
 They who would be great in our little Govern- 
 ^ment, feem as ridiculous to me as School-boys, 
 who with much Endeavour, and fome Danger, 
 climb a Crab-tree, venturing their Necks for Fruit, 
 which folid Pigs would dilTdain, if they were not 
 ftarving. Thefe Reflexions, how idle foever they 
 feem to the Bufy, if taken into Confideration^ 
 would fave you many weary Step in the Day, 
 
 and help G y to many an Hours Sleep, which 
 
 i)S wants in the Night: But G' » * ^ y would be 
 
 Harry, 
 
 cannot fhake off the Stat^fman intirely, 
 
 rich 
 
Familiar Letters. ixj 
 
 rich; and by my troth, there is fome Senfc in that: 
 Pray remember me to him, and tell him, I wifli 
 him many Millions, that his Soul may find Reft, 
 i You write me word, That I'm out of Favour 
 iwith a certain Poet, whom I have ever admir'd 
 jforthethe Difproportion of him and his Attri-' 
 ; butes : He is a Rarity which I cannot but be fond of, 
 as one would be of a Hog that could fiddle, or 
 a linging Owl. If he falls upon me at the Blunt, 
 which is his very good Weapon in #it, I will 
 forgive him, if you pleafe, and leave the Repartee 
 to Black mil, with a Cudgel. And now, Dear 
 Harry, if it may agree with your Affairs to Ihew 
 jour felf in the Country this Summer, contrive r 
 fuch a Crew together, as may not be afliam'd of 
 ^pafling by Woodjlock ; and, if you can debauch 
 Alderman G — v/e will make a flaift to delight 
 
 his Gravity. I am forry for the declining D fs 
 
 and would have you generous to her at this Time j 
 far that is true Pride and I delight in it. 
 
 ROCHESTER, 
 
 G 
 
 To 
 
i^x Familiar Leeters. 
 
 To the Honourable 
 
 H E N R T S A VI L E, 
 
 Dear Sa\^ ile, 
 HP His Day I received the unhappy News of iny 
 own Death and BuriaL But, hearing what 
 Heirs and Succejfors were decreed me in my Place^ 
 and chiefly in my Lodgings^ it was nofmall joy 
 to me, that thofe Tidings prove untrue ; my Paf- 
 fionfor Living is fo increafed, that I omit f^o Care 
 of my felf\ which, before^ I never thought Life 
 vjorth the Trouble of taking. The King who knows 
 me to be a very ill-natur'^d Man^ will not think it 
 an eafy mritter for me to die^ now I live chiefly 
 out of Spight, Dear Mr. Savile^ afford me fome 
 News from your Land of the Living ; and though 
 1 have little Curiofity to hear w^ho's well^ yet I 
 would be glad my few Friends are fo^ of whom 
 you are no more the leafl than the leanefl. I have 
 better Compliments for you, but that may not look; 
 fo fincere as I would have you believe I am, whenj 
 I profefs my felf, 
 
 Tour faithful^ affeiltonate^ 
 
 Adderbury near humbk Servant^ 
 
 Banbury, J^i'.Uir. 
 
 ROCHESTER. 
 My Service to my Lord MiddlefexX 
 
Familiar Lexters* 
 
 IIS 
 
 To the Honourable 
 
 H E N Rr S A VI L E, 
 
 Harry, 
 
 I Am in a great Strait what to write to you; 
 the Stile of Bufinefs I am not vers'd in, and 
 you may have forgot the familiar one weus'd here- 
 tofore. What Alterations Minijlry makes in Men, 
 IS not to be imagined; though I can truft with 
 Confidence all thofe Ton are liable to, fo well I 
 knovj you^ and fo perfeSly I love you. We are in , 
 fuch a fettled Happinefs^ and fuch merry Security' 
 in this place, that, if it were not for Sicknefs^ I 
 could pafs my Time very well, between my own 
 Ilhnature^ which inclines me very little to pity 
 the Misfortunes of maliciom miftakenFooh^ and the 
 Policies of the Times, which expofe ?^ew Rarities 
 of that kind every day. The News I have to fend, 
 ^nd the fort alone which could be fo to yopt, are 
 things gyaris^' carc-er^ digna\ which I dare not 
 trufl: to this pretty Fool^ the Bearer, whom 1 hearti- 
 ly recommend to your Favour and Prote<^ion, and 
 whofe Qualities will recommend him more; and 
 truly if it might fuic with your Characier, at your 
 times of Leif Jrt% to Mr. Baptifl's Acquaintance, 
 the happy Con I'jquence would ho Singing, and in 
 which your Excellence might have a fliare not 
 G 2. worthy 
 
114 Familiar Letters. 
 
 worthy the greatejl Amhaffadors^ nor to be defpisM 
 even by a CardmahLegate ; the greatejl and 
 gravejl of this Court of both Sexes have tafted his 
 Beauties \ and, I'll affure you, Rome gains upon 
 us here in ^^/V point mainly ; and there is no part 
 of the plot carried with fo much Secrecy and Vi- 
 gour as this, Profelytes, of confequence, are daily 
 made, and Lord S — — 's Imprisonment is no check 
 to any. An account of Mr. George Porter's Re^ 
 tirement^ upon News that Mr. Gr/V/ej, with.o;^^ 
 Gentleman more^ had invaded England^ Mr. S — 's 
 Apology, for making Songs on the Duke of M. 
 
 with his Oration-Confolatory on my Lady D 's 
 
 Death, and a Politick Dijfertation between my 
 ]Lady P — 's and Captain Dangerfield with many 
 other worthy Treatifes of the like nature^ arc things 
 worthy your perufal; but I durft not fend 'em to 
 you viithout leave^ not knowing what Confequence 
 it might draw upon your Circumjiances and Cha^ 
 raSier ; but if they will admit a Correfpendence of 
 ^ that kind^ in which alone I dare prefume to think 
 my felf capable^ I fliall be very indujlrious in that 
 way, or any other^ to keep you from forgetting 
 
 Tour mofi affeSliomte^ 
 Whitehall, ohliged^ humble Servant^ 
 
 --79i ROCHESTER. 
 
 To 
 
Familiar LEXTERSr iif 
 
 To the Honourable 
 
 HENRY S A VI L 
 
 Dear Savile, 
 ERE I as Id[e as ever^ which I ftou'ci not 
 fail of being, if Health permitted ; I wou'd 
 write a fmall Romance^ and make the Sun with 
 his dipeveird Rays gild the Tops of the Paiaces 
 in Leather-lane: Then fhould thofe vile Enchanters 
 Batten and Ginman, lead forth their llluftrious 
 Captives in Chains of Quickfilver^ and confining 
 'em by Charms to the loathfome Banks of a dead Lake- 
 of Diet-drink:, you, as my Friend, fhou'd break 
 the horrid Silence, and Ipcak the moji pajfionate 
 Fine things that ever Heroic Lover utter'd ; which 
 being [oftly mdfweetly reply'd to by Mrs. RobertSy 
 
 fhould rtidely be interrupted by the envious F . 
 
 Thus wou'd I lead the mournful Tale along, tilL 
 the gentle Reader hath'd with the "Tribute of his^ 
 Eyes the Names of fuch unfortunate Lovers — 
 And this (I take it) wou'd be a moft excellent- 
 way of celebrating the Memories of my mo^ Pocky 
 Friends^ Companions and Mijlrejfes. But it is a mi^ 
 raculous thing (as the vjife have it) w^hen a Maa' 
 half in the Grave^ cannot leave off playing ths 
 Foal J and the Buffoon ; but fo it falls out in my 
 G 3 Gom^ 
 
126 Familiar Letters. 
 
 Comfort: For at this Moment lam in a dawned 
 Relqpfe^ brought by a Feyer^ the Stone^ and fome 
 other ten Difeafes more^ which have depriv'd me 
 of the Power of cravjlhg^ which I happily enjoy'd 
 fome days ago; and now 1 fear I muft/^//, that 
 it may ht fulfilled which was long lince written for 
 InfiruUion in a good old Ballad^ 
 
 But he who lives not Wife and Sober ^ 
 Falls with the Leaf flill in OSober. 
 
 About which time, hi all probability, there may be 
 % Period added to a Ridiculous Being of 
 
 Tour humble Servantj 
 
 ROCHESTER. 
 
 To the Honourable 
 
 H E N R r S A VI L K 
 
 Dear Savile, 
 TN my Return from Newmarket^ I met your 
 ^ Packet^ and truly was not more furprized at 
 the Indirednefs of Mr. P's Proceedings than over^ 
 joyed at his Kindnefs and Care for yours. Mifery.^ 
 
 makes 
 
P'amiliar Letters 127 
 
 makes all Mer^ Jefs or more dljhonejl\ and I am 
 not afioniped to fee Villany induftrious for Bread ; 
 efpectally living in a place where it is often fo de 
 gayete de Coeur. I believe the Fellow thought of 
 this Device to get fome Money, or elfe he \sput 
 'upon h by Somebody, v/ho has given it him al- 
 ready; but I give him leave to prove what he can 
 againft me : However, I will fearch into the Mat- 
 ter, and give you a further account within a Poft 
 or two. In the mean time you have made my 
 Heart glad in giving me fuch a Proof of your 
 Friendjhip ; and I am now fenfible, that it is iV^- 
 tural for you to be kind to me, and can never 
 more defpair of it. 
 
 / am your faithful^ oUiged^ 
 
 humble Servant^ 
 
 MJhop Stafford, 
 Apr, 5. g©. 
 
 ROCHESTER- 
 
 To 
 
128 Familiar Letters. 
 
 To the Honourable 
 
 H E N R T S A V I L E. 
 
 AmbafTadorin FRANCE. 
 
 Beguny WhitchaW, May 50/^, yg. 
 
 Dear Savile, 
 *^ IS neither Pr/W^ or Negleil (for I am not 
 of the nevj Council^ and I love you JiKcerely) 
 but Idienefs on one fide, and not knowing what 
 to (iiy on the othcr^ has hindred me from writing 
 to you, after fo kind a Letter and the Prefent you 
 fent me, for which I return you at laft my humble 
 Thanks. Changes m this place ^hq fo frequent^ that 
 F-- — himfelfcm now no longer give an account, 
 why this was done to-day^ or what will enfue to- 
 morrow^ and Accidents are fo extravagant^ that 
 my Lord //^—intending to Lye^ has with a Pro- 
 fhetick Spirit^ once told 'Truth. Every Man in this 
 Court thinks he (lands fair for Minifler^ fomegive 
 It to Shaftsbury^ others to Hallifax; hxxtMx JValler 
 fays S — does all; I am fure my Lord A — does 
 little, which your Excellence will eafily believe- 
 And now the War in Scotland takes up all the 
 Difcourfe of Politick Perfons. His Grace of Lati- 
 igrdaU values himfelf upon the Rebellion^ and tells 
 
 the 
 
Familiar Letters. 119 
 
 Ihe King, it is very aufpicious and adva?2ta^eons to- 
 the drift of the frefent Councils : The reft of the- 
 
 Scots, and efpedally D. H -are very inquilitive 
 
 after News from Scotiand^ and really make a 
 handfome Figure in this Conjundure at London^ 
 What the D. of Monmouth will effeS, is now 
 the general Expedation^ who took Pofi unex^ 
 fededlyy left all that had ofFer'd their Service in> 
 this Expedition^^m the lurch; and being attended^ 
 
 only by Sir Thomas Armflrong^ and Mr. C * 
 
 will, without queftion, have the full Glory as well ^ 
 of the Prudential as the Military Part of this- 
 Adion intire to himfelf. The moft Profound Poti^ 
 ticians have weighty Brows and careful Jfpe^s' 
 at prefent, upon a Report crept abroad, Thar 
 Mr, Langhorn, to fave his Life^ offers a Difco^- 
 Dery of Priefts and Jefuits Landsy to the value of 
 fourfcore and ten thoufand Pounds a Tear; which 
 being accepted, it is feared, Partifans and Under- 
 takers will be found out to advance a confidera* 
 ble Siim of Money upon this Fund^ to the uiter 
 Interruption of Parliament s^ and the Dejlrudion 
 of many hopeful Dejigns, This^ I muft call God 
 to witnefs, was never hinted to me in the leaji by 
 
 Mr -P to whom I beg you will give me your 
 
 hearty Recommendations. Thus much to afford, 
 you a tafte of my flrious Abilities^ and to let you 
 know I have a giQ2X Goggle-eye to Bufmefs : And 
 now I cannot deny you a fliare in the high fatif^ 
 f0im 1 have received at the account which flou- 
 
130 Familiar Letters. 
 
 rifties here of your high Protejlancy at Parh : 
 Charenton was never fo honour'd^ as fince your 
 Refidence and Mimjiry in France^ to that Degree^ 
 that it is not doubted if the Parliament be fit- 
 ting at your Return, or otherwife the Mayor and 
 Common Council will petition the King you may 
 be Dignified with the Title of that place ^ by way 
 of Earldom^ or Dukedom^ as his Majefly fhail 
 think mofl proper to give^ or you •accept. 
 
 Mr. S — is a Man of that Tendernefs of Heart 
 and approved Humanity^ that he will doubtlefs be 
 highly offli^edYfhm he hears of the unfortunate 
 Pilgrims^ though he appears very obdurate to the 
 Complaints of his ovjn bejl Concubine^ and your 
 fair Kinfwoman M — who now ftarves. The 
 Packet inclos'd in your laft, I read with all the 
 fenfe of Compaffion it merits, and if I can prove 
 fo unexpefitedly happy to fucceed in my Endea* 
 n)ours for that pair Unfortunate, fne lhall have a 
 fpeedy account. I thank God^ there is yet a 
 Harry Savile in England^ with whom I drank 
 your Health laft Week, at Sir William Coventrf^r 
 and v/ho, in Features^ Proportion and Pledging^ 
 gives me fo lively an Idea of Tour felf that I am 
 refolvcd to retire into Oxfordjbire^ and enjoy him 
 ^till Shiloe come, or lou from France. 
 
 ROCHESTER. 
 Ended the iph ^/June, 1679. 
 
 To 
 
FAMiLiAa Letters^ 131 
 
 To the Honourable 
 
 H E N R r S AVI L E. 
 
 Harry, 
 
 N Y kind of Correfpondence with fuch a 
 Friend as You, is very agreeable; and there- 
 fore You will eaiily believe, I am very ill when 
 I Jofe the Opportunity of writing to you. But 
 Mr. Povy comes into my mind, and hinders far- 
 ther Compliment : In a plainer way I maft tell 
 You, I pray for Your huppy Reft or at ion ; but was 
 not at all forry for Your glorious Difgrace^ which 
 is an Honour, confidering the Caufe. 1 would 
 fay fomething to the Serious part (as You were 
 pleas'd to call it) of Your former Letter; but it 
 will difgrace my Politicks to differ from yours, 
 who have wrought now fome time under thQ ieft^ 
 and keeneft Statefmen our Cabinet boafts of ; But 
 to confefs the Truth, my Advice to the Lady you 
 wot of, has ever been this, Take your Meafures 
 juft contrary to your Riva"ls, live in Peace with 
 all the IVorld^ and eafily with the King ; Never 
 he fo Ill-natured toftir up his Anger againft others^ 
 but let him forget the u[e of a Paffion,^ which is nsr 
 "^^K^to do you good: C^oerifh his Love vjhere-ever it 
 inclines^ and be ajjur^i You canH commit greater 
 
I3t Familiar Letters. 
 
 J*olly^ than pretending to be Jealous ; but on ih^ 
 contrary^ with Hand^ Body, head^ Hearty and all 
 the Faculties Ton have^ contribute to his Pleajure 
 all You can^ and comply with his Defires through* 
 cut: And^ for new Intrigues^ fo you be at one endy 
 '//> no matter which : Make Sport when ToUr can^ 
 
 at other times help it. Thus I have given 
 
 You an account how unfit I am to give the Ad- 
 vice You proposed : Befides this, You may judge, 
 whether I was a good Pimp^ or no. But fome 
 thought otherwife ; and fo truly I have renounced 
 Bufinefs\ let abler Men try it. More a great deal 
 I would fay, but upon this Subjed, and for this 
 time, I beg this may fuffice, from 
 
 Your humble and mofi affeiiionate 
 
 faithful Servant^ 
 
 ROCHESTER. 
 
 To the Honourable 
 
 H E N R T S A VI L E. 
 
 Dear Savili, 
 ^"Tp I S not that I am the idled Creature livings 
 ^ and only choofe to employ my Thoughts ra- 
 ther upon my Friends, than to languifh all the Daji 
 
Familiar Letters. itj 
 
 in the tedioufnefs of doing nothing, that I write to 
 You ; but owning that (tho' Ydu excel moft Men 
 in Friendfhip and Good -nature) You are not quite 
 exempt from all Human Frailty; I fend this to 
 hinder You from forgetting a Man who loves You 
 very heartily. The IVorld^ ever fince I can remem- 
 ber, has been ftill fo infupportably the fame, th^ ' 
 'twere vain to hope there were any Alterations; 
 and therefore I can have no Curiofity for News i 
 only I would be glad to know if the Parliament 
 be like to fit any time ; for the Peers of England^ 
 being grown of late Years very conflderable in 
 the Government, I wouM make one at the Sef- 
 lion. L/z;y and Sicknefs has a little inclin'd me. 
 to Policy^ when I come to Town, I make no 
 queftion but to change that Folly for fome lefs; 
 whether Wine or Women I know not; according 
 as my ConJtHntion ferves me : Till then, (Dear 
 Harry) Farewel !' When you Dine at my Lord 
 LtJle'^Sy let me be remember'd. 
 
 Kings and Princes are only as Incomprehenfible, 
 as what they fretend to reprefent ; but apparently 
 
 as frail as thofc they govern This is a Seafon 
 
 of Tribulation ; and I pioully beg of Almighty God-^ 
 that the ftri6l Severity fliewn to one fcandalous 
 S'ln amongft us, may expiate for all grievous CaU-^ 
 mhiei — So help them God^ whom it concerns ! 
 
 To 
 
134 Familiar Leteers* 
 
 To the Honourable 
 
 H E N R T S A V I L E, 
 
 Harry, j 
 T F Sack and Sugar he a Sm^ God help the Wicked^ 
 
 was the Saying of a merry fat Gentleman, who 
 livM in Days of Yore^ lov'd a Glafs of Winey 
 wouM be merry with a Friend, and fometimes had 
 an unlucky Fancy for a Wench. Now (dear 
 Mr. Savile) forgive me, if I Gonfefs, that, upoa 
 feveral Occafions, you have put me in mind of 
 this {2X .Perfon^ and now more particularly, for 
 f thinking upon your prefent Circumftances, I can- 
 not but fay with my felf, if loving a pretty Wo- 
 man, and hating Lauderdale^ bring Banifl:iments 
 and Poxy th^ Lord have Mercy upon poor Thieves 
 audi* — —i/ But, by this time, all your Inconve-. 
 niences (for, to a Man of your very good Senfe^ 
 no outward Accidents are more) draw very near 
 their end : For my own part, Tm taking pains not 
 to die, without knowing how to live on, when I 
 have brought it about : But moft Human Affairs 
 are carried on at the fame Nonfenfical rate, which 
 makes me, (who am now grown SJiperftittous) 
 think it a Fault to laugh at the Monkey we have 
 
 here. 
 
Familiar Letters. 135* 
 
 here, when I compare his Condition with Mankind. 
 You will be very Good-natur'd, if you keep your 
 Word, and write to me fometimes : Andfo Good- 
 niRht, dear Mx*Savile. 
 
 ROCHESTER. 
 
 To the Honourable 
 
 HENRY SA V I L E. 
 
 Harry, 
 
 TT7Hether Love^ WinCyOx Wifdom^ (which rule 
 you by turns) have the prefent Afcendam^ I 
 cannot pretend to determine at this Diftance; but 
 Good-nature^ which waits about you with more 
 Diligence than Godfrey himfelf, is my Security^ 
 that you are Unmindful of your abfent Friends : 
 To be from you, and forgotten by you at once,, 
 is a Misfortune I never was criminal enough to 
 merits fince to the black and fair Countefs I vil- 
 Janoully betrafd the daily AddreiTes of your di- 
 vided Heart : You forgave that upon the firjl 
 Bottle^ and upon the fecond^ on my Confcience, 
 wou'd have renounced them and the whole Sex\ 
 Oh ! That fecond Bottle (Harry ! ) is the fincereft^. 
 wifefl^ and moft impartial downright Friend we 
 have; tells^us Truth of our felves^ and forces us 
 tojjeak Truths of others'^ banifhes Flattery horn 
 our^ Tongues^ and Diftrujl from our Hearts j fets 
 
13^ Familiar Letters, 
 
 us above the mean Policy of Court Prudence^ which 
 makes us lye to one another all Day^ for fear of 
 being Betrayed by each other at Night. And ("be- 
 fore God) I beh'eve the erranteft Villain breathing 
 /V honefl as long as that Bottle liues^ and few of that 
 ■ T'ribe dare venture upon him, at leafl: among the 
 CoHrtiers Statesmen. I have ferioufly confider'd 
 one Thing, That of the ^three Bufinefles of this 
 ' h%t^ Women ^ Politicks and Drinking'^ the lajl is 
 the only Exercife at which you and I have not 
 prov'd our felves errant Fumhlers : If you have not 
 Vanity to think othervji[e\ when we meet, let us 
 appeal to Friends of both Sexes^ and as they (hall 
 determine, live and die their Drunkards^ or entire 
 Lovers. For as we mince the Matter, it is hard 
 to fay which is the moft tirefome Creature^ Loving 
 Drunkard^ or the Drunken Lover. 
 
 If you ventur'd your fat Buttock a Gallop to 
 VonfmoHthy I doubt not but through extreme G^/- 
 //V/g", you now lie Bed-rid of the PHes^ or tiftula. 
 in Ano^ and have the Idfure to write to your 
 Country Acquaintance; which if you omit, I fhall 
 jake the liberty to conclude you very Proud. Such 
 a Letter fhould be direded to me at Adderbury^ 
 near Banbury^ where. I intend to be within thefe 
 teee Days. From 
 
 Tour obedient humble Servant^ 
 
 Batb, Juneia* 
 
 ROCHESTER; 
 
Familiar Letters. 
 
 137 
 
 To the Honourable 
 
 pH E N R r S A VI L E, 
 
 Dear Savile, 
 Hether Love^ or the Politicks^ have the 
 greater Intereft in your Journey to France^ 
 becaufe it is argued among wlfer Men, I will not 
 conclude upon; but hoping fo much from your 
 Friendliiip, that, without referve, you willtruft me. 
 with the time of your (lay in Paris ; I have writ ' 
 this to allure you, if it can continue a Month, I 
 
 ,;Will not fail to wait on you there. My Refolutions 
 are JO improve this^ Winter, for th^ Improvement 
 of my Parts m Foreign Countries ; and if ih^Temp- 
 tatioYi of feeing you be added to the Dejires I have 
 
 i already, the Sin is fo fweet, that I am refolved to^ 
 
 I embrace it, and leave out of my Prayers, Libera 
 
 I nos a malo. 
 
 ROCHESTER. 
 
 Qxford, Seftt 5. 
 
 \ - 
 
138 Familiar. Letters. 
 
 H E N R T S A V I L E, 
 
 Harry, 
 
 'IS not the Ler.Jl of my Happinefs, that I 
 
 ^ think you love me; Bat the Firft of all 
 Pretenftons is to make it appear, that I faithfully' 
 endeavour to deferve it. If there be a Real Good 
 upon Earth, 'tis in the Name of FR lEND^ with* 
 out which, all others are meer fantallical. HgW 
 few^of us are fit Stuff to make that Thing, wc 
 have daily rhe melancholy Experience. 
 
 However, dear Harry! Let us not give out, 
 nor defpair of bringing that about, which, as it is 
 the moft difficult and rare Accident of Life, is al-l 
 fo the beft; nay ^perhaps) the only good one. This 
 * Thought has fo intirely poffefs'd me fince I eamei 
 into the Country, ("where, only, one can think ; for 
 yon at Court think not at all;^r^ at leaft, as 'if 
 you^were fliut up in a Drum; as you think of no- 
 thing but the Noife that is made about you) thai 
 I have made many ferious Reflefilions upon it, and 
 ■amongfl others, g:ither'd one Maxim, which 1 de- 
 lireftioti'd be communicated to our Friend Mr. «' 
 That^ fVe are bomd in Morality and^ common 
 
 To the Honourable 
 
 Honefty, 
 
Familiar Letters; 139 
 
 ^onefly, to endeavour aftcr^ Competent Riches ^ 
 ince it is certain, that few Men, if any, uneafy 
 n their Fortupes, have prov'd firn\ and clear in 
 r Friendfhips. ^ Avery poor Fellow is a very 
 cor Friend: and not one of a thoufand caa be 
 ;ood natur'd to another, who is not pleas'd wkh- 
 n himfelf. But while I grow into Proverbs, I 
 c brget that you may impute my Philofophy to the. 
 log-days^ and living alone: To prevent the Incon-^ 
 eniencies of Solitude, and many others, I intend 
 0 go to i\\^^ath on Sunday next, in Vifitation to 
 !ny Lord Treafurer. Be fo Pol&t[ck, or be fo Kind 
 lor a little of both, which is better) as to ftep 
 lown thither, if famous Affairs at Windfor do not 
 ietain you. Dear Harry^ I am 
 
 Tour Hearty^ Faithful^ AffeHlonate 
 Humble Servant^ 
 
 ROCHESTER. 
 
 If you fee the Dutchefs of P — > very often, 
 ake fome Opportunity to talk to her about what 
 fpoke to you at London. 
 
 Ta 
 
140 Familiar Letiers* 
 
 To the Honourable 
 
 H E N RT S A VI L e/ 
 
 Dear S A v i l e, 
 1 F it were the Sign of an honeft Man to be happj 
 in his Friends, fure I were marked out for th^ 
 worft of jMen; fince no one ne'er lofl fo many 
 I have done, or knew to ^make fo few. The Se^ 
 
 verity you fay the Dutchefs of P fliews tc 
 
 me, is a Proofy that 'tis not in my Power to dei 
 ferve well of any body; fince (I call truth to witi 
 nefs) 1 have never been guilty of an Error, that 1 
 know, to her: And this may be a Warning to youi 
 that remain in the Miftake of being kind to me! 
 never to exfpeft a grateful Return ; fince I am fc 
 utterly ignorant how to make it : To^, valu( 
 ^ you in my Thoughts, to prefer youjn my Wiflies 
 to ferve you in my Words;, to obferve, ftudy 
 and to obey you in all my Afiions, is too lit- 
 tle ; fince I have performed all this to her 
 without fo much as an ofienfive Accident. Am 
 yet (he thinks it jufl to ufe me ill. If I were no 
 malicious enough to hope fhe were in the wrong 
 I muft have a very melancholy Opinion of my felf 
 I wifli your Intereft might prevail v/ith her, as s 
 Friend of hers, not mine, to tell how I have de 
 
 fervec 
 
Familiar Letters. 141 
 
 ferved it of her, fince flie has ne'er accufed me of 
 iny Crime, but of being Cunning; and I told her ' 
 'o^^e^ody had been Cunninger than I to perfuade 
 lerjo. I can as well fiipport the Hatred of the 
 Me World as any body, not being gene-! 
 ally fond of it. Thofe whpm I have obliged may 
 ife me with Ingratitude, and not afBidt me much • 
 3ut to be injur'd by. thofe who have obliged me' 
 ind to whofe Service I am evcf bound, is fuch a 
 Jurfe, as I can only wifli on them who wrouff 
 [He to the Dutchefs. ^ 
 I hope you have not forgot what G~~~y 
 ou have promis'd me; but within fome time you 
 vill come and fetch me to L<»»^9»: I (hall fcarce 
 hink 0/ coming till you call me, as not having 
 inany prevalent Motives to draw me to the Court 
 f it be fo that my Mafter has no need of my Ser- 
 'ice, nor my Friends of my Company. 
 ( Mr. Sbej^rd is Man of a fluent Stile, and . 
 ?Spt'^''°"^'''' >'f' as I f«fpea, he writ your ' 
 
 I I wifli my Lord Haliffax Joy of every Thine 
 i»n^ of his Daughter to boot. 
 
 ROCHESTER. 
 
 T* 
 
142^ Familiar Letters. 
 
 To the Honourable 
 
 H E N R T S A VI L E. 
 
 Harry, 
 
 YO U, who have known me thefe Ten Year; 
 the Grievance of aH prudent Perfons, thj 
 By- word of Statefmen, the Scorn of ugly Ladies 
 which are very near All, and the Jrreconcilabl 
 Averfion of fine Gentlemen, who are the orns 
 mental Part of a Nation, and yet found me feJ 
 dom fad, even under thefe weighty Oppreffions 
 can you think that the loving of lean Arms, fma! 
 Legs, red Eyes and Nofe (if you confider th^ 
 Trifle ioo) can have the Power to repreft the m, 
 tural Alacrity of my carelefs Soul ; efpecially upo 
 receiving a fine Letter from Mr. Sainle^ whic 
 never wants Wit^ and Good nature; two Qua! 
 ties able to tranfport my Heart with Joy, tho' 
 
 were breaking ? 1 wonder at ilf— 's liauntffi 
 
 it in Court with fuch fine Clothes; fure he is a 
 alter'd Perfon finc^e I faw him , for, fince i ca 
 remember, neither his own felf, nor any ht\on[ 
 ing to him, were out of Rags: His Page aloi 
 was well cloath'd of all his Family, and that bi 
 in appearance ; for of late he has made no mo; 
 of wearing Second-hand C—ts^ than Second har 
 
 Shoe, 
 
j Familiar Letters. 143 
 
 ihes; tho' I muft confcfs to his Honour, he 
 rhang'd 'em oftner. I wifh the Kmg were foberly 
 idvis'd about a main Advantage in this'^Marriage, 
 vhich may polTibly be omitted ; I mean the ridding 
 lis Kingdom of fome old Beauties, and young De- 
 brmities, who fwarm, and are a Grievance to his 
 ^iege People. A Foreign t^rince ought to behave 
 limfelf like a Kite, who is allowed to take one ' 
 loyal Chick for his Reward ; but then 'tis ex- 
 uded, before he icaves the Country, his Flock 
 hall clear the whole Parifli of all the Garbage and 
 Jarrion many Miles about. The Kwg had never 
 lich an Opportunity , for the Dutch are very foul 
 feeders, and what they leave muft never expe£l: to 
 3e rid of, unlefs he let up an Intrigue with the 
 Tartars or Cojj'acks. rFor the Libel you fpeak of^ 
 ipon that moll: unwitty Generation, the prefent 
 ?o€ts^ I rejoice in it with all my Heart, and fhall 
 ake it for a Favour if you will fend me a Copy^ 
 Hie cannot want Wit utterly that has a Spleen to 
 hofe Rogues, tho' never fo dully exprefs'd. And 
 low, dear'Mt. Savile^ forgive me, if I do not 
 ivind up my felf with an handforn Period. 
 
 \ ROCHESTER. 
 
X44 Familiar Letters* 
 
 To the Honourable ^ 
 
 H E N R T S A V I L E. 
 
 Dear S A v i L E, 
 
 /J^HO' I am almoft B//W, utterly Lame^ and 
 fcarce within the Hopes of ever feeing Lc?»- 
 don again, I am not yet fo wholly mortified and; 
 dead to the Tafte of all Happinefs, not to be ex» 
 tremely revivM at the receipt of a kind Letter 
 from an old Friend, who in all Probability might 
 have laid me afide in his Thoughts, if not quite 
 forgot me by this time. I ever thought you an 
 
 . extraordinary Man, and mufl: now think you fuch 
 a Friend, who, being a Courtier, as you are, can 
 love a Man, whom it is the great Mode to hate. 
 Catch Sir G. H. or Sir G^rr, at fuch an ill-bred 
 Proceeding,, and I ainmiftaken: For the hideous 
 Deportment, which you have heard of, concern- 
 
 'ing running naked, fo much is true, that we went 
 into the River fomewhat late in the Year, and had 
 a Frisk for forty Yards in the Meadow to dry 
 our felves. I will appeal to the Ki?9g and the 
 Dukc^ if they had not done as much ; nay, my Lord 
 Chancellor^ and the Archbijhops both, when they 
 were Schoolboys ? And, at thefe Yeaf s, I heard the 
 
 one 
 
Familiar Lette RS. 145* 
 
 ,one declaimed like Cicero^ the other preach'd like 
 St. Auftin: Prudenter Perfons, I conclude, they 
 were, even in Hanging fleeves, than any of the 
 flafhj F^y (of which I muft own my felf the moft 
 unfoh'd) can hope to appear, even in their Man- 
 hood. 
 
 And now (Mr. Savile) fince you are pleasM to 
 quote your felf for a grave iMan of the number of 
 the Scandalized, be pleas'd to call to mind the ^ 
 Year 1676, when two large fat Nudities led the 
 Voramo round Rofamond's fair Fountain, while 
 the poor violated iVyi;?/;^ wept to behold the ftrange 
 Decay of Manly Parts, lince the Days of her dear 
 ^arry the Second. And now 'tis time to thank 
 fou for your kind inviting me to London^ to make ^ 
 Dutchmen merry \ a Thing I would avoid like 
 killing Punaifes^ the filthy Savour of Dutch Mirth 
 being more terrible. If GOD, in Mercy, has 
 made 'em hujh and melancholy, do not you roufe 
 their fleeping M/Wi?', to make the Town mourn; 
 3ie Princ>e of Orange is exalted above 'em, and I 
 ;ou'd wifh my felf in Town to ferve him' in fome 
 refin'd Pleafure; which, I fear, you are too much 
 I Dutchman to think of. 
 
 The beft Prefent I can make at this Time is the 
 iBearer, whom i beg you to take care of, that the ' 
 "^ing may hear his Tunes, when he is eafy and 
 j5rivate; becaufe I am fure they will divert him 
 extremely : And may he ever have Harmony in his 
 Mind, as this Fellow will pour it into his Ears : 
 H Maj 
 
14^ Familiar Letters. 
 
 May he dream pleafantly, wake joyfully, love fafc- 
 ly and tenderly, live long and happily; ever pray 
 (Dear SavUe) Un Bougre lajfe qui fera toute fa 
 fositue rsfii de P'iej 
 
 Fojire fidel Amy ^ 
 jr€S humble Servlteufy 
 
 ROCHESTER. 
 
 To the Honourable , 
 
 H E N RT S A VI L E, 
 
 Harrt, 
 
 TP Hat Night I received by Yours thefurprizing 
 Account of my Lady Dutchefs's more than 
 y ordinary Indignation againft me, I v^^as newlj 
 brought in dead of a Fall from my Horfe, oi 
 which I ftill remain Bruis'd and Bed-rid, and car 
 now fcarce think it a Happinefs that 1 favM m] 
 Neck. What ill Star reigns over me, tbat Tm ftil 
 tnark'd out for Ingratitude^ and only usM barba 
 ^^^^ touflj to thofe I am obliged to ! Had 1 bea 
 troublefbme to her in pinning the Depetidance o 
 mj ForSHue upon her Solicitations to the King^ o 
 
 hi 
 
Familiar Letters. 147 
 
 her Unmerited Recommendations of me to fome 
 Great Man, it would not have movM my Won- 
 der much, if (he had fought any Occafion to be 
 rid of a ufelefs Trouble: But, a Creature, who 
 had already received of her all the Obligations he 
 ever could pretend to, except the Continuance of ! 
 her good Opinion, for the which he refolv'd, and 
 did diredl every Step of his Life in Duty and Ser- 
 vice to her, and all who were concern'd in her; 
 mhy (hould (he take the Advantage of a falfe idle 
 Story, to hate fuch a Man ; as if it were an In- 
 conveniency t6 her to be harmlefs, or a Pain to 
 continue judl By that God that made me, I have 
 ao more offended her in Thought, Word, or Deed, 
 no more imagined or utter'd the leaft Thought to 
 her Contempt or Prejudice, than I have plotted 
 I'reafon^ conceal'd Arms, irainM Regigients for 
 z Rebellion. If there be upon Eaf^ % Man of 
 Common Honefty^ who will juftify a Tinle of her 
 Accufalion, I am contented never to fee her. After 
 this, flie need not bid me come to her, I have 
 jittle Pride or Pleafure in ftiewing my felf where 
 I am accufed of a Meannefs I were not capable 
 |Of, even for, her Service, which would prove a 
 (hrewder Trial of my Honejly^ than any Ambi^ 
 tion I ever had to make my Court to. I thousht 
 the Dutchefs of P — more an Angel than I find 
 .her a Woman; and as this is the firft, it fliail be 
 jthe'moft malicious thing I will ever fay of her. 
 For her generous Refolution of not hurting me ^ 
 10 jthe King^ I thank her; but llie muft think a' 
 H i Man 
 
148 Familiar Letters. 
 
 Man much obliged, after the caHing of him Knave, 
 to fay fhe will do him no farther Prejudice. For 
 the Countefs of P — , whatever fhe has hearc 
 nie fay^ or any body elfe, of her, I'll (land the 
 ^ejloim^ impartial Judge, 'twas neither injuri- 
 ous nor unmannerly; and how levere foever (he: 
 pleafes to be, i have always been her humble Ser- 
 vant, ;*nd will continue fo. I do not know how 
 to afiure my felf the D. will fpare me to ih^Kwg^ 
 tvho would not to you; 1 am fure fhe can't fay 
 I ever injur'd you to her, nor am I at all afraid 
 ihe can hurt me with you; I dare fwear you don't 
 think I have dealt fo indifcreetly in my Service to 
 her, as to doubt me in the Friendlliip I profefs to 
 jou. And, to (hew You I rely upon yours, let me 
 beg of you to talk once more with her, and defirc 
 her to give me the fair hearing fhe would afford 
 any Footman of hers, who had been complain'd 
 of to her by a lefs worthy Creature (for fuch a 
 one, I afTure my felf, my Accufer is) unlefs it be 
 for her Service, to wrong the moft faithful of hex 
 Servants; and then I (hall be proud of mine. ] 
 ■would r>ot be run down by a Company of Rogues, 
 and this looks like an Endeavour towards it 
 Therefore, Dear Harry^ fend me word, how I an 
 with other Folks; ifyouvifit my Lord Treafurer 
 name the Calamity of this matter to him, and tel 
 me fincerely how he takes it : and if you hear th( 
 mention me, do the Office of a Friend to 
 Tour humble Servant^ 
 ROCHESTER 
 
Familiar Letters. 149 
 
 To the Honourable • 
 
 HENRY S A VI h E. 
 
 Dear S A vile, * 
 
 *T^HE Loufinefs of Affairs in this Place is fuch, 
 (forgive the unrriannerly Phrafe! Exprefilpns 
 miift defcend to the Nature of things exprefs'd) 
 'tis not fit to entertain a privc^te Gentleman, much 
 lefs one of a publick CharaSer, with the Retail 
 of them; the general Heads, under which this ^ 
 whole Ifland may be confider'd, are Spies, Beg- 
 gars, and Rebels, the Tranfpofitions and Mixtures 
 of thefe make an agreeable Variety; Bufy Fooh^ 
 and Cautious Knaves are bred out of them, andi? 
 fet otF wonderfully ; tho* of this latter fort, we 
 have fewer now than ever; tlypocrify being the 
 only Vice in decay, amongft ps, few Men here 
 diffemble their being Rafcals ; and no Woman 
 difowns being a Whore. |Mr^^^^^9 was trj'd 
 twoJDays ago for Buggery and clear'd: The next 
 Day he brought his Adion to the King^s Bef2ch 
 againfl his Accufer, being attended by the Earl of ^ 
 Shaftshury^ and other Peers, to the Number of 
 Seven, for the Honour of the Protejlam Caufe. 
 
 . "3 I 
 
tso Familiar Letters. 
 
 1 have fcnt you herewith a * Libel,, in which my 
 ^own fhare is not the lead; the Kwg having pe- 
 rufed it, is no way diffaiisfied with his; The Au- 
 thor is apparent Mr. Z) - , his Patron my L — 
 
 M ■ having a Panegyrick in the midft; upon 
 which happened a handfom Quarrel between his 
 L — p, and Mrs. ZJ — at the Dutchefs of P— ; 
 jhe caird him, The Heroe of the Libel, and com- 
 ^plimented him upon having made more Cuckolds 
 than any man alive; to which he anfwer*d. She 
 very well knew one he never made, nor never 
 
 cared to be employed in making » ^98"^ 
 
 Bitch enfued, 'till the taking his Grand- 
 
 Tather^s (jharaSer upon him, became the Peace* 
 maker. I will not trouble you any longei:, bui 
 beg you ftill to love 
 
 Tour faithful^ humhk Servant 
 
 ROCHESTER, 
 
 EJfay on Satyr. 
 
 T0 
 
Familiar Letters. i^i 
 
 H E N R T S A VILE. 
 
 Harry, 
 
 J0\J are the Only Man of England that keep' 
 
 ^ IVit with your H'tfdom ; and I am happy in a 
 Friend that excels in both; were your Good nature 
 the leaft of your Good Qualities^ I durft not pre- 
 fume upon it, as I have done; but I know you 
 are fo fincerely concerned in ferving your Friends 
 truly, that I need not make an Apology for the 
 Trouble I have given you in this .ftair. 
 
 I daily expefil more confiderable Efteds of your 
 Friendship, and have the Vanity to think, I (hall 
 be the better for your growing poorer. 
 
 In the mean time, when you pleafe to diftin- 
 guifh from Pro[ers and IVindhaw^ and comply 
 with Rofers and Bnll^ not forgetting John Stevens^ 
 you (hall find me 
 
 To the Honourable 
 
 Tour mofl ready 
 
 and mofl obedient Servantj 
 
 ROCHESTER. 
 
 H4 
 
 LOVE 
 
Love-Letters. 
 
 To Mrs. 
 
 Madam, 
 
 O much Wit and Beauty^ as You 
 have, fhouM think of nothing lefs 
 than doing Miracles \ and there can-- 
 not be a Greater than to continue 
 to love Me: affedling every thing is 
 mean^ as loving Pleafure, and being fond where 
 you find Merit ; but to pick out the wildeft^ and 
 mo{!i fantajlical odd Man alive, and to place your 
 Kindnefs there, is an A6t fo brave and darings as 
 will fhew the Greatnefs of your Spirit, and dijlin^ 
 gui/h.Yoxx in Love^ as you are in all things elfe, 
 from Womankind. Whether I have made a good 
 Argument for my felf^ I leave you to judge ; and 
 beg you to believe me, whenever I tell you what 
 Mrs. R, is, fince I give you fo fincere an Account 
 ofherhumbleft Servant: Remember the Hour of 
 a ftri6l Account, when, both Hearts are to bq 
 and we obliged to fpeak freely as you 
 
 ordered' 
 
Love-LetterS. I5'3 
 
 ©rderM it Tefierday^ for fol muft ever call i\\tDay 
 I faw you lajl^ fince all time between that and the 
 next Vifit is no part of my Ltfe^ or at lead like a 
 long tit of the Fallmg-ficknefs^ wherein I am dead 
 to all Joy and Happinefs. Here's a damiiM imper- 
 tinent Fool bolted in, that hinders me from ending 
 
 my Letter \ the Plague of take him and any 
 
 Man or Woman alive that take my Thoughts ^ 
 of ToH : But in the t vening I will fee you, and be 
 happy in fpite of all the Fools in the World. 
 
 Madam, 
 
 TF there be yet alive within you the lead Memo- 
 ry of me, which I can hope only, becaufe o£ 
 the Life that remains with me, is the dear Remem- 
 brance of you ; and methinks your KindneC, as 
 the younger, fliould out-live mine : Give me leave 
 to aflure you, I will meet it very ftiortly withfuch 
 a (hare on my fide, as will juftify me to you from 
 all Ingratitude ; tho' your Favours are to me the 
 greateft Btifs this IVorld^ or Womankind^ which I 
 think Heaven^ can beftow, f but the hopes of it :) 
 If there can be any Addition to one of the higheft 
 Misfortunes, rny Absence from you has found the 
 way to give it me, in not affording me the lead: 
 Occafion of doing you any Service lince I left you : 
 It feems, till I am capable of greater Merits you 
 refolve to keep me from the Vanity of pretending 
 any at all Pray confider when you give another 
 H s leave 
 
15^4 Love - Letters* 
 
 leave to ferve you more than I, how much hjti» 
 fttce you run the hazard of committing, when \t 
 will not be in your power to reward that more 
 deferv'mg Man with half fo much Happinefs as you; 
 have thrown away upon my IVor thief s Self, 
 
 Tour rejilefs Servant. 
 
 Madam^ 
 
 IKnow not well who has the werft on't, yoiii 
 who love but little, or 1, who doat to an Ex^ 
 travagance; fure, to be hajf kind, is as bad as to 
 be halNwitted; and Ma^inefs hoih in Love ani 
 Reajon^ bears a better Chara'dler than a moderate 
 ftate of either. Would I could bring, you to m^ 
 Opinion^ in this Point j 1 wou'd then confidently 
 pretend you had too juft Exceptions either againft> 
 me or my Pajjion^ the Flefr and the Devih^l m^m^ 
 all the Fools of my own Sex^ and that fat^ with, 
 the other lean One of yours, whofe prudent Ad? 
 vice is daily concerning you, how dangerous it \^ 
 to be kind to the Man, upon Earth^-y^ho loves i 
 you beft. I, who dill perfuade my felf, by al^ 
 the Arguments 1 can bring, that I am Happy, find, 
 this none of the leaft, that you are too unlike thefe. 
 People every way, to agree with them in any Parr 
 ticular. This is writ between fleeping and waking, 
 and I will not anfwer for its being Senfe^ but, t 
 dreaming you were at Mrs, N — 's with five o^; 
 fix Fools^^ndi the Lean Lady, wak'd in one of your 
 
Love-Letters. iss 
 
 Honours^ and, in Ama?c, Fright, andConfufion, 
 fend this to beg a kind one from you, that may 
 remove my Fears^ and make me as Happy as I am 
 Faithful. 
 
 Dear M A D A M, 
 VO U are ftark Mad, and therefore the fitter for 
 me to love ; and that is the Reafon, I thinfc^ 
 I can never leave to be 
 
 Tour humhk Servant. 
 
 M A D A 
 
 npO convince you how juft I muft ever be to 
 you, I have fent this on purpofe, that you may 
 know you are not a moment out of my Thoughts ; 
 and fince fo much Merit as you have, and fuch 
 eonvincing Charms (to me at leaft) need not wifli 
 \ greater Advantage over any to forget you, is the 
 only Reprieve poliible for a Man fo much your 
 Greature and Servant as I am; which I am fo far 
 ffom wifliing, that I conjure you by ^11 the aflii- 
 rance of Kindnejfes you have ever made me proud 
 ^nd happy with, that no: two Days can pafs with- 
 patfome Letter from you to me : You muft leave 
 -^m,Ssr'i'.— to be fent to me with fpeed. And till the 
 ^iejl Honx wherein I (hall fee you again, may Hap- 
 ^oefs of all kinds be as far from me, as I do, both 
 
 in 
 
156 Love-Letters. 
 
 in Love and Jealoufy^ pray Mankind may be from 
 you. 
 
 Madam, 
 
 'T'H E R E is now no Minute of my Life that does; 
 
 not afford me fomenew Argument how muoh 
 1 love you; the little Joy I take in every thing 
 wherein you are not concern'd, the pleafing P^r- 
 fUxity of endlefs!Zl7<?^^^* which I fall into,where- 
 cver you arc brought to my Kemetyibrance\ and 
 laftly^ the continual Difquiet I am in, during your 
 Ahfence^ convince me fufficiently, that 1 do you 
 Jujiice^ in loving you, fo as Woman was nevei 
 loved before. 
 
 Madam, 
 
 XrOU R fafe Delivery has delivered me too from 
 /v^r/ for your fake, which were, rilpromifi 
 joxx^^^ burthenfome to me, as your Great^^bellycoKx^t 
 be to you. Every thing has fallen o^ut to my Wifb, 
 for you are out of Danger^ and the Child is of th€ 
 foft Sex I love. Shortly my Hopes jtre to fee you, 
 and in a little while after to look on you with ali 
 your Beauty about you. Pray let no f3ody bul 
 ^ your felf open the Box I ftnt you ; I did noi 
 know, but that in Lying-in you might have ufe oj 
 thofe Trifles: Skky and ia B^d^ as 1 am, I could 
 
 come 
 
Love -Letter 15. 157 
 
 come at no more of 'cm ; but if you find 'em, or 
 whatever is in my^power, of ufe to your Services^ 
 kt me know it. 
 
 MabaivT, 
 
 TpH I S is the firft Service my Hand has doneme^, 
 fince my being a Cripple^md I wou'd not em- 
 ploy it in a Lie fo -foon ; therefore; pray believe 
 me Jtnccre^ whfin I alTure you that you are very 
 dear to me; and,, as long as 1 live, I will be kind' 
 to you : 
 
 P . S This is all my Hand wou'd write ^ but 
 my i^eart thinks a great deal more. ] 
 
 Madam, 
 
 1 O T H I N G can ever be fo dear to me z$ 
 you are; and I am fo convmc*d of this, that 
 I dare undertake to love you whilft I live: Bch'eve 
 all I fay, for that is the kindcil thing imaginable, 
 and when you can devife any way that may make 
 me appear fo to you, inftrnd me in it, for I need 
 a better Vnderftandlng^ than my own, to flicw my 
 have^ without wrong to it. 
 
 M AD AM^ 
 
Love- Letters. 
 
 O W, as I love you, I think I have reafon to* 
 ■ b^Jeahus; your Neighbour came in laft 
 Night with all the Marks and Behaviour ofa^/>y;; 
 every Word and Look ioiply'd that fhe came to 
 folicite your Love or Conjlancy: May her En- 
 dem ours prove as vain as I wi(h Vix^ Fears. May 
 no Man fhare the Blejfmgs I enjoy, without my> 
 Curfes; and if they fall on him alone, without- 
 touching you, r am happy, tho' he deferves 'em 
 not: but fhou'd you be concerned, they'll all flic 
 back upon my felf ; for he, whom you are kind: 
 to, is fo bleft, he may fafely (land the Curfes of 
 all the World without repiniiig; at leaft, if like 
 me, he be fenfibleof nothing but what comes from; 
 
 OU are the moft afBiaing fair Creature in the 
 
 World; and however you wou'd perfuade 
 me to the contrary, 1 cannot but believe the Faul^ 
 you pretend to excufe,is the only one I cou'd ever 
 be guifty of to you: When you think of receiving 
 an Anfwer with Common Senfe in it, you muft 
 write LeUers that give lo&Confufion than your lafl: 
 
 Mrs 
 
 Madam, 
 
 I 
 
Love>Letters^. 
 
 Il; will wait on you, and be reveng'd by continuing 
 10 love you^ when you grow- wearied of it.. 
 
 Madam; 
 
 7^ E S T E R D A y it was impoffible to anfwer 
 
 your Letter, which I hope, for that reafon, 
 you will forgive me; tho' indeed you have been^^ 
 pleas'd to exprefs your felf fo extraordinarily, that 
 I know not what 1 have to anfwer to youi Give 
 me fome Reafon upon your own account only, to 
 be forry I ever had the Happinefs to know you^, 
 fince I find you repent the Kindnefs you fliew'd. 
 nic, and undervalue the humble Service I had for 
 you ; and, that I might be no happier in your Fa- 
 vours, than you could be in my Loz;^, you have 
 contrived it fo well, to make them equal to my 
 Hatred; fince that cou'd do no more than thefe 
 pretend to, take away the of my Life, I tell 
 this not to exempt my fclf from any Service I can^ 
 do you, (for I can utv^x forget how very happy 1 
 have been) but to convince you, the Loue that ^ 
 gives you the Torment oi Repentance on your fide, 
 and me the Trouble of perceiving it in the other^. 
 is equally uujufl: and cruel to us both, and ought 
 therefore to die. 
 
 MapaMj 
 
i6o Love -Letters. 
 
 M A £) A m:, 
 
 "Y'O U fliall not fail of— — on .y^^^r^^^ ; and foi 
 your IVretcbes^ as you call 'em, it is ufuall]! 
 my Cuftom when I wrong fuch as they to make 
 'em amends ; tho' your Maid has aggravated tha 
 matter more to my Prejudice than I expedted fron 
 one who belonged to you ; and for your own fharc 
 if I thought you a Woman of Forms^ you fliou'd 
 receive all the Reparations imaginable; but it is fc 
 unqueflionable, that I am thoroughly your humble 
 Servant, that all the World muft know, I cannot 
 offend you, without being forry for it. 
 
 M A D A ^^, 
 
 nr HO' upon the Score of Love, which is imme- 
 diately my Concern^ I find aptnefs enough to 
 ht jealous ; yet upon that of our Safety, which is 
 the only thing in the World weighs more with me 
 than my Love, I apprehend much more. I know, 
 by w* fni Experience, what comes of dealing with 
 Kmves ; fach I am fure you have at this time to 
 do with; therefore look well about you, and take 
 it for granted, fhat unlefs you can deceive them, 
 Hhey will certainly co^en you. If I am not fo wije 
 as they, and therefore lefs fit to advife you, I am 
 at leaU more concern d for you, and for that reafon 
 
 the 
 
L ovE - Letters. i6i 
 
 the likelier to prove honefl^ and the rather to be 
 irufted. Whether you will come to Duke^% 
 Plaj-houfe to Day, or at leaft let me conietoyou 
 when the Play is done, I leave to your Choice ; 
 let me know, if you pleafe, by the Bearer. 
 
 ; Madam, 
 
 I Tl>f I G H r I be fo happy to receive fuch Proofs 
 *• ^ of your Ktndnefs^ as I my felf wou'dr^<?q/^, 
 
 [one of the greattft I cou'd think of were, that all 
 my however they apprr^r'd at firft, might 
 
 be interpreted as meant for y ur Service'^ fince no-' 
 thing is fo agreeable to my Nature, as feeking my 
 
 : own Satisfa^ion ; and fince ynu are the bed Ob' 
 
 jeB of that I can find in the World, how can you 
 entertain ^ Jeakufy or Fear'^, You have the firon- 
 
 , geft Security our frail and daily changing Frame 
 can give, that I can live to no End fo much, as 
 that of pleafing and ferving you. 
 
 Madam, 
 
 T Have not finn'd fo much as to deferve to live 
 two whole Days without feeiiig of you From 
 your Jujiice and Good-mture therefore I will pre- 
 fume you will give me leave to wait on you at 
 Night, and for your fake ufe not that Power (which. 
 
 you^ 
 
i6t Love-Letters. 
 
 you find you have abfolutely over me) fo unmcf. 
 cifully as you did time, to divert and keep mi 
 off, from convincing you, by all the Reafons iiina. 
 gfnable, how necelTary 'tis to prcferve you fault- 
 lefs, and make me happy ; and alfo, that you be- 
 lieve and ufe me like the moft Faithful of all youj 
 Servants, i^c. ' 
 
 Madam, 
 
 T^EAREST of all that ever was Deareft m 
 . ^ me, if I love any thing in the World like you,| 
 or wifh it in my Power to do it, may I ever be as 
 unlucky and as hateful as when 1 faw you laft. 1| 
 who have no way to exprefs my Kindnefs to yoqj 
 but Letters, which cannot fpeak it half ; whetheii 
 fhall I think my felf more unfortunate, who cap 
 not tell you how much I love, or you, who car; 
 never know how well you are belov'd. I woujc 
 fain bring it about, if it were poffible, to wait up- 
 ^ on you to Day ; for befides that I never am withj 
 out the pafTionate Defire of being with you, at thij 
 time I have fomething to tell you, that is for youi 
 Service, and will not be unpleafant News ; but ] 
 am in Chains here, and muft feek out fome De- 
 vice to break *em for a quarter of an Hour. 
 
 Madam 
 
Love^Letters. 165 
 
 I Madam, 
 
 IT is impoflible for me to neglefl: what I love^ 
 J as^ it would be impertinent to profefs Love 
 where I had none; but I take the vanity to alTure 
 my felf, you cannot conclude fo feverely both of 
 my Truth and Reafon, as to fufpedl me for either 
 of thofe Faults. If there has been a Misfortune 
 m the Mifcarriage of my Letters, I befeech you 
 not to add to it by an uncharitable Cenfure, but 
 'do me the Right to believe the laft thing poffible in 
 'the World, is the lead Omiffion of either Kindnefs 
 pt Service to you : I wifh the whole World was a& 
 intircly yours as I am, you wou'd then have na 
 reafon to complain of any Body, at lealt, it wou'd 
 be your own Fault, if they were not what you 
 pleas'd. Thofe Wretches you fpeak of in your 
 Letter, are fo little valuable, that you will ealily 
 forget their Malice, and rather look upon the more 
 eonfiderable part of the World, who will ever 
 find their Intereft, and make it their Vanity to ferve 
 you. And now to let you know how foon I pro- 
 pofe to be out of Pain, two Days hence I leave 
 this Place, in order to my Journey towards Lon- 
 don; and may I then be but as happy as your Kind* 
 nefs can make me, I fliall have but very little room, 
 cither for Envy or Ambition. 
 Oaob. 6th. This Morning 
 yom Mejfenger cams. 
 I Madam^ 
 
LoVE-LETtERS. 
 
 Madam, 
 
 T Found you Jn a Chiding Humour to Day, and 
 fo I left you ; to Morrow I hope for better 
 Luck : 'till when, neither you, nor any you caal 
 employ, (hall know whether I am under or above 
 Ground; therefore lie flill, and fatisfy your felfy 
 that you are not, nor can be half fo kind to Mrs.— • 
 as 1 am : 
 
 Good'WghK 
 
 Madam, 
 
 Tl/T Y Faults are fuch, as among reafonable Peo- 
 pie, will ever find Excufe; but to youlwil} 
 make none, you are fo very full of Myfiery: I be* 
 lieve you make your Court with good Succcfs, at 
 leaft I wifli it; and as the kindeft thing 1 can fay^ 
 do affure you, you (hall never be my Pattern^ ei- 
 ther in Good-nature^ or Friendflj'tp, iot I willbeaf- 
 ter my own rate, not yours, -i 
 
 Your humile Servant. I 
 
 Madam, 
 
 T Am far from delighting in the Griefl havegiveti 
 you, by taking away the Child\ and you, who 
 
 made 
 
I 
 
 Love-Letters. t6s 
 
 .iniade it fo abfolutely neceffary for me to do fo, 
 . muft take that Excufe from me, for all the Ill-na- 
 ture of«it: On the other fide, pray be alliir'd, I 
 {love Betty fo well, that you need not apprehend 
 any NegleS from thofe I employ ; and I hope ve- 
 ry fhortly to reftore her to you a finer Girl than 
 ever. In the mean time you wou'd do well to 
 think of the Advjce I gave you, for how little (hew 
 foever my Prudence makes in my own 4ffairs^ in 
 yours it will prove very fuccefsful, if you pleafe 
 to follow it; and fince Dtfcretion is the thing alone 
 you are like to want, pray ftudy to get it. 
 
 „ Madam, 
 
 IT Came to Town late laft Night, tho' time e- 
 "■^ nough to receive News from the King very fur- 
 prizing, you being chiefly concerned in't : I muft 
 beg that I may fpeak with you this Morning, at 
 ten a Clock; I will not fail to be at your Door: 
 The /Affair is unhappy, and to me on many Scores, 
 but on none more than that it has difturb'd the 
 Heava^ of Thought I was in, to think, after fo 
 long an Abfence^ I had liv'd to be again bleft with 
 feeing my Deareft Dear, Mrs. » i > 
 
t66 
 
 Love-Letters. 
 
 Madam^ 
 
 T Am fore'd at laft to own. That 'tis very uii-2 
 eafy to me to live fo long without hearing S 
 word of you, cfpecially when I reflecft how III- 
 nature d the World is to pretty Women, and what 
 Occafion you may have for their Service. Befidcs, 
 I am unfatisfied yet, why that Inconfiderable Ser- 
 vice you gave me leave to do you, and which I 
 left pofitive Orders for when I came away, was 
 left unperform'd; and if the Omijfion refleS upon] 
 my Servant^ or my felf, that I might punilh the 
 one, and clear the other. I have often wifli'd, I 
 know not why, but I think for your fake more, 
 than my own, that Mrs. might forget me] 
 quite: but I find it wouM trouble me of all things, 
 lliou'd (he think ill of me, or remember me to hate 
 me, but when -ever flie wou'd make me happy ; if fhe 
 can yet wrfli me fo, let her command feme real 
 Service, and my Obedience will prove the beft/J^*i 
 ward my Hoj^es can aim at. 
 
 Madam, 
 
 TU[ Y Vifit Yefterday was intended to tell you, I 
 
 had not Dhfd in Company of Women 
 (tho' for a certain Reason I cou'd not very well 
 exprefs with Words)^^% however fufBcientlymade 
 4 appear, 
 
Love- Letters. i6f 
 
 ppear, fince you could not be fo very Ill-natured 
 3 make fevere Refledions upon me when I was 
 one. Were Men without Fraihies^ how wou'd ^ 
 ou bring it about to make 'cm love you foWindlf 
 Vthey do. I cannot yet imagine what Fault you 
 ou'd find in my Love-letter; certainly 'twas full 
 f Kindnefs and Duty to you; and whilft thefe 
 Points are kept inviolable, 'tis very hard when 
 ou take any thing ill, 1 fear flaying at Home fo 
 auch gives you the Spleen (for I am loth to believe 
 f.is I) I have therefore fent you the two Plays 
 hat are aSed this Afternoon; if that Diverfion 
 ou'd put you into fo good a Humour, as to make 
 K>u able to endure me again, I fliou'd be very 
 nuch oblig'd to the Stage. However, if your An- 
 er continue, fliew your felf at the Play^ that I 
 nay look upon you, and ^oMad, Y out Revenue 
 s in your own Eyes: and if I muft fuffcr I wou'd 
 choofe that way. 
 
 Madam, 
 
 THO' not for real Kindnefs fake, at Icaft to 
 make your own Words good, (which is a 
 i^oint of Honour proper for a Woman) endeavour 
 
 0 give me iom^ undeniable Proofs that you love me. 
 |[f there be any in my Power which 1 have yet nei- 
 her given nor ofFer'd, you muft explain your felf; 
 
 1 am perhaps very dull, but withal very fincere: 
 could Willi, for your fake, and my own, that 
 
 your 
 
i6% Love-Letters. 
 
 7our Failings were fuch : but be tliey what they will,; 
 iince I muft love you, allow me the liberty of teUj 
 ' ling you fometimes unmannerly Truths^ when myj 
 Zeal for your Service caufes, and your own 
 tereji requires it : Theft Inconveniences you mufti 
 bear with from thofe that love you with greater 
 regard to you than themfelves ; fuch a One I pre- 
 tend to be, and I hope, if you do not believe it,i 
 you will in time find it. j 
 You have faid fomething that has made mefan^i 
 cy to Morrow will prove a happy Day to me;| 
 however, pray let me fee you before yx)u fpeaki 
 with any other Man, there are Reafons for id 
 Dearefl of all my Defires, Icxp^dyom Commands! 
 
 An Hour afur I left You. i 
 
 Madam, 
 
 ^ Have a very juft Quarrel to Bufwefs, upon s 
 -I thoufand Faults^ and will continue it, whilft 1 
 live, fince it takes from me fome Hours of youi 
 Company. 'Till two in the Afternoon, I cannol 
 come to you; pity my Ill-fortHne^ and fend m( 
 word where I lhall then find you. 
 
 Madam, 
 
i 
 
 Love-Letters. 
 
 Madam, 
 
 f Was juft beginning to write you word, that I 
 am the moft Unlucky Creature in the World, 
 when your Letter came in, and made me more ^ 
 :ertain ; for you tempt me by defiring me to do 
 >he thing upon Earth I have the moft fondnefs of, 
 It this time; that is, going with you to Windsor:, 
 )ut the Devil has laid a B/o^-yt in my way, 'and I 
 cnuft not, for my Life ftir out of Town thefe 
 en Days. You will fcarce believe me in this Par- 
 icular, as you fhou'd do, but I will convince you 
 )f the Truth, when I wait on you; in the mean 
 ime (to fliew the Reality of my Intentions) there 
 % a Coach ready hired for To-morrow, which, if 
 iiot true, you maydifprove me by making ufeof it. 
 
 Madam, 
 
 D Elieve me, {Dearefi of all Pleafures) that thofe 
 ^ I can receive from any thing but You, are fo 
 xtremely dull they hardly deferve the Name. If 
 fou diftruft me, and all my Profeffions, upon 
 he fcore of Truth and Honour^ at leaft let 'em 
 ^ave Credit on another, upon which my greateft 
 '-nemies will not deny it me ; and that is, its be- 
 3g Notorious^ that I mind nothing but my own 
 1 Sattf^ 
 
Love-Letters. 
 
 Satis faSiion. You may be fure I cannot choofe but^ 
 tlove You above the World, whatever becomes 
 of the King^ Courts or Mankmd^ and all their 
 Impertinent Bufinefs. I will come to you this 
 Afternoon. 
 
 Madam, I 
 
 THAT I do not fee You, is not that I wou*^ 
 not, for that, the Devil take me, if I would 
 not do every Day of my Life, but for thefe Reaf- 
 fons You (ball know hereafter. In the mean timti 
 1 can give You no Account of your Bufinefs ^ 
 yet ; but of my own part, which I am fure wB 
 not be agreeable without others, who, I am cotk\ 
 iident will give full Satisfailion in a very fbori 
 time to all your Defires: When 'tis done, I wil 
 tell you fomething that, perhaps, may make yoi5 
 think that I am Mrs.— 
 
 Tour humble Servant 
 
 Madam, 
 
 TILL I have mended my Manners I amaflianif% 
 to look you in the Face, but feeing you is ai 
 neceffary to my Life, as Breathing ; fo that 1 mui 
 fee you, or be yours no more; for that's the Imag 
 
 I hav< 
 
Love-Letters. 
 
 171 
 
 have of Dying. The Sight of you then, being 
 ny Life, I cannot but confefs, with an humble 
 md fincere Repentance, that I have hitherto liv'd 
 /eryill; receive my Gonfeffion, and let the Pro- 
 iBife of my future Zeal and Devotion obtain my . 
 i^ardon, for laft Night's Blafphemy againft you, my 
 Heaven ; fo iTiall I hope, hereafter, to be made 
 ^artaker of Juch Joys in your Arms, as meeting 
 Tongues but faintly can exprels. Amen. 
 
 Madam, 
 
 DAffure you I am not half fo faulty as unfortu- 
 nate in ferving you; I will not tell you my 
 Endeavours, nor excufe my Breach of Promife; 
 but leave it to you to find the Gaufe of my doing 
 b ill, to one I wifli fo well to ; but I hope to 
 ^ive you a better account Ihortly. The Complaint 
 t^u fpoke to me, concerning /kZ//>, I know nothing 
 rf, for (he is as great a Stranger to me, as (he 
 :an be to you. So, thou pretty Creature, Farewel. 
 
 Tour humble Servant^ 
 
 Madam, 
 
 YOUR Letter fo tranfports me, that I know- 
 not how to anfwer it, the Expreffions are fo 
 feft, and feem to be fo fincere, that I were the 
 I z unrca* 
 
L ovE -Letters. 
 
 unreafonablefl Creature on Earth, could I but feem 
 to dinruft my being the happier : and the beft Con- 
 ^ trivaiice I can think of, for conveying a Letter to 
 me, is making a Porter bring it my Footwa>3^ 
 where-ever I am, whether at St. James's^ White- 
 hall^ or home. They are at prefent pulling down 
 fome part of my Lodging, which will not permit 
 me to fee you there ; but I will wak on you at 
 any other Place, what time you pleafc. 
 
 Madam, 
 
 T Could fay a great deal to you, but will conceal 
 it till I have Merit: fo thefe fliall be only to 
 beg your Pardon for defiring your Excufe till 
 Monday^ and then you fliall find me an honeft 
 Man, and one of my Word. So Mrs.— 
 
 Your Servant* 
 
 Madam, 
 
 1^^ Y Omitting to write to you all this while, 
 AVI -yyere an unpardonable Errour, had I be«n 
 gailty of it through Negleii towards you, which 
 I value you too much ever to be capable of. But 
 I have never been twc5days in a Place, fince Mrs. - 
 went away ; which I ought to have given you no- 
 tice 
 
Love- Letters. 173 
 
 tic€ of, and have let you known, that her Crime 
 was, making her Court to — with Stories of you; 
 entertaining her continually with the Shame fhe ' 
 underwent to be feen in Company of fo hor- 
 rid a Body as your felf, in order to the obtaining 
 
 of her ^'s Em-phyment ; and laflly, that my — - 
 
 fwas ten times prettier than that nafty B — 1 was 
 ifo fond of at London^ which I had by you. This 
 iwas the grateful Acknowledgement fhe made yoa 
 for all your Favours^ and this Recommence for all 
 the little Services^ which, upon your x\ccount, (he 
 [received from 
 
 Tour humble Servant^ 
 
 I Madam, 
 
 1 A NGER, Spleen, Revenge, and Shame, ar^ not 
 yet fo powerful with me, as to make me 
 [difown this great Truth ^ That I love you above 
 all things in the World: But I thank God^ I can 
 Idiftinguiih, I can fee very Woman in you, and from 
 (your felf am convinced I had never been in the 
 'Wrong in the Opinion of Women: 'Tis impoflible 
 ' for me to curfe you ; but give me leave to pity 
 my felf, which is more than ever you will do for 
 me. You have a Charafter, and you maintain it; 
 but I am forry you make me an Example to prove 
 it: It feems (as you excel in every thing) you 
 fcorn to grow lefs in that noble Quality of ufing: 
 
 1 3 yoAiJr 
 
174 Love-Letters. 
 
 your Servants very hardly : You do well not tt 
 forget it, and rather pradlife upon me, than lofij 
 the Habit of being very Severe \ for you thatchoofii 
 rather to be Wife than Juft or Good-natur'd, ma^l 
 freely difpofe of all things in your Power, with 
 out Regard to one or the other. As I admire you 
 would be glad I could imitate you ; it were bu; 
 Manners to endeavour it; which, fincelamnotabli 
 to perform, I confefs you are in the right to cat 
 that Rude, which I call Kind; and fo keep me it 
 the wrong for ever, which you cannot chooCj 
 but take great delight in : You need but continii<l 
 to make it fit for me not to love you, and yoi; 
 can never want fomething to upbraid me with. 
 
 T'hree a Clock in tht 
 Morning. 
 
 V A L E N- 
 
VALENTIN JAN: 
 
 A 
 
 TRAGEDY. 
 
 As it is alter'd by the late 
 
 Earl of Rochejier, 
 
 And Adled at the 
 
 THEATRE- ROYAL. 
 
 LONDON: 
 Printed in the Year MDCC XXXII. 
 
THE 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 I Am dejit^d to let the World know, that my late Lord^ 
 Rocheftcr intended to hi^ve altered and correBed this 
 play much more than it is, before it h,id come abroad 3 
 0ndtohave mevded not only thofe Scenes of Yittcl tr which 
 remain, but his own too, and the Model of the plot it Jelf, 
 If therefore the Reader do not find it every where to anfwer 
 the great Reputation of the Author if he think the plot tea 
 thin, or any of the Scenes too long^ ^tis hop'd he ' .i;// be [0 
 jufl to remember, that he looks upon an unfinifh d Pieces 
 and what Faults foever of this or any other kind fome may 
 fretend to fee, who cannot yet forgive my Lord the having, 
 had more Wit than themfelves, we have all the reafon ima» 
 gmMe to conclude from the Correcinefs of his other Pop.try^ 
 that had he Ilvd to pu% the lafl Hand to this, he wot^'d 
 have left true Cri ticks and impartial Judges no bufinefs but 
 to admire efpecially if we conjider how much he has mended 
 
 thB 
 
The P R E F A C E. 
 
 #W flay by that little he has done to it, for he had b$4$ 
 ^ jnft drawn it into a regular Form, and laid the Vlan ef 
 what he farther deftgn^d^ tvhen his Country and his\ 
 Friends had the irreparable Mi fortune to lofe him* But as 
 $he loofeft Negligence of a great Genius is infinitely prefera* 
 ble to that obfcura diligentia, of which Terence fpeaks, the\ 
 ebfcure Diligence and laboured Ornaments of little Fretendersii 
 and as the rudeft Drawings of famous Hands have been aU 
 ways more efleem^d ( efpecially among the knowing ) than the 
 moft perfeB Pieces of ordinary Taint ers, the Publifhers of Va- 
 lentinian coud not but believe, the World woH*d thank 'em 
 for any thing that was of my Lord Rochefter*/ manmr^ 
 tho* it might want fome of thofe nicer Beauties, thofe Grace* 
 firokes and finijhing Touches, which are fo remarkable both in\ 
 his firmer and latter Writings: and yet as imperfeSi as Va- 
 lentinian /; left, I am of Opinion his Enemies will not meet 
 mth that occafion in it for their Ill-nature^ which perhaps 
 they -expeci ^ for befides tht^t my Lord has made it a flay^\ 
 which he did not find it, the chief Bufinefs of it {as Fletcher 
 had contrived it) ending with the Fourth A£l, and a new\ 
 Defign, which has no kind of relation to the other, is intro»\ 
 duc d in the Fifth, contrary to a Fundamental Rule of the 
 Stage-, I fay befides that 'tis now adorn d with that necejfary 
 'Beauty of a Flay, the Unity of ABion, and judicioufly heightened 
 and reform" d through the whole conduB of ihe Plot from what 
 it was, thofe Scenes which my Lord has added, have a grace* 
 fpilnefs in the C^fl, a juftnefs in the Senfe, and a noblenefs his \ 
 the Genius, altogether like himfdf which {to do my Lord but 
 a bare Bight) is far beyond that of moft Men who write now% 
 md equal even to the Fancy of Fletcher, which J think no \ 
 Man's can exceed ; there is a chearfulnefs in it that is every 
 where entertaining, and a Mettle that never tins. But as 
 
jl The P R E F A C E. 
 
 1^^ Lord in the [uiting of his Style to that of Fletcher, (which 
 he here feems to have endeavoured, that the Vlay might look 
 more of a Fiece) camot with any jujlice be deny'd the Glory of 
 [having reached his tnofl admir'd Height Sy and to have match' d 
 ^him in his Fancy y which was his chief Excellence^ fo it muji 
 be alfo confefs'd, that my Lord^s conftant living at Courts 
 and the Converfation of Perfons of Quality, to which from 
 his greene/i Xonth both his Birth and his Choke had accuf 
 tom'd him, gave ^ him feme great Advantages above this fo 
 much and fo jufily applauded Author, I mean, a nicer knoW" 
 ledge both of Men and Manners, If it were at all proper to 
 purfne a Comparifon, where there is fo little Refemblance^ 
 tho' Fletcher might be allowed fome Preference in the skill of 
 a play 'Wright, (a ihing[my Lord had not much fludfd) in 
 the contrivance and working up of a pafftonate Scene, yet my 
 Lord had fo many other far mere eminent Virtues to lay in 
 the corarary Scale, as mufl neceffariiy weigh down the Ba- 
 lance^ for fure there has not liv*d in many Ages (if ever) 
 fo extraordinary^ and I think I may add fo nfeful a Per* 
 fon, as mofi Eaglifhmen know my Lord to have been^ 
 whether we eonfider the coMant good Senfe, and the agree^ 
 \Able Mirth of his ordinary Converfation, or the vafi Reach 
 and Compafs of his Invention^ and the wonderful Depths 
 of his retifd Tfrntghts, the uncommon Graces of his 
 ; Fa fhiont or the inimitable Turns of his Wit, the becoming 
 gentlenefs, the bewitching foftnefs of his Civility^ or the 
 force and fitnefs of his Satyr for as he was both the De^ 
 light and the Wonder of Men, the Love and the Dotage of 
 Women, fo he was a continual Curb to Impertinence, and 
 the publick Cenfor of Folly, Never did Man fay in his 
 Company un- entertain' d, or le^ve it un-infru^edj never 
 
 was 
 
The P R E F A C E. 
 
 was his XJnderftmding biafsdy or his TUftfantnefs forc^i'^ 
 never did he laugh in the wrong Place^ or proftitute hit 
 Senfe to ferve his Luxury 'y never did he ftab intathe Womdr \ 
 of fallen Virtue, with a bafe and cowardly Infult^ or fmooth \ 
 the lace of profperous Villany^ with the Paint and Wajhes^ 1 
 $f a mercenary IVit-^ never did he fpare a Top for being \ 
 rich, or flatter a Knave for being great, moft Men \ 
 had an Ambition (thinking it an indifputable Title to iVit } 
 be in th£ number of his 'Friends, fo few were his Ene* \ 
 mies, but fuch as did not know him, or fmh as hated him 
 for what others lov*d him; and never did he go among 
 Strangers but he gained Admirers, if not Friends^ and com* 
 monly of fuch who had been before prejudiced againfl him* 
 Kever was his Talk thought too much, or his Vifit too long'^ 
 Enjoyment did but increafe Appetite, and the more Men had" | 
 of his Company, the left willing they were to part with 
 it. He had a Wit that cou^d make even his Spleen and his 
 III -humour pleafant to his Friends', and the publick chiding \ 
 tf his Servants, which would have been Ill-breeding and 
 intolerable in any other Man, became not only civil and in* 
 ^jfenfive, but agreeable and entertaining in him, A Wi$ 
 that cou'd pleafe the moft morcfe, perfuade the mofl obftim 
 natey and fojten the moft obdurate, A Wit whofe Fdg^ 
 cou'd eafe by cutting, and whofe Point cou'd tickle while it 
 frob*d. A Wit that us'd to nip in the very Bud the grow* 
 ing Fopperies of the Times, and keep down thofe Weeds and j 
 suckers of Humanity , nor was it an Enemy to fuch only 
 as are troublefdme to Men of Senfe in Converfation, bu$ 
 to thofe alfo {of si, far worfe Nature) that are deftruBivt 
 ef publick Good, and pernicious to the common Intereft of 
 Mankind'^ that Vein of Knavery that has of late Tears run i 
 
 through 
 
The PREFACE. 
 
 'hroHgh all Orders and Degrees of Men among usy ffruding 
 H feif like a pefiilential Foifon through the great and lef- 
 'er Arteries of our feeming ftrong- built Leviathan^ damping 
 and corrupting the Bloody and choakiog the very "vital Spi*- 
 rits of the Kingdom, 
 
 I might here take occafwn to point out in particulars 
 and lafh (as they deferve) thofe daily-increajing Vices and 
 long uncorrected lollies, vpbich are our prefent Grievances'* 
 the Subjedl is but too fruitful, and the Ufifulnefs too appa-^ 
 renty nor cov^d I ever purchafe Reputation at a cheaper 
 Kate nothing is more eafy than to full off the thin Veil^ 
 and bare the vilenejs of thofe odious TraSiiceSi which fome 
 who art ready at any time to run with a Multitude to 
 CO mifchief, applaud for the highefl Virtue and Merit no- 
 thing rec[uires lefs skilly than to baffle and expofe to uni^ 
 verfal Contempt thofe flight and trivial Notions , which others 
 who feem given over to believe a Lye, cry up for Mafter* 
 pieces of Wit and Keafon to n»me ^em for Arguments is to 
 ridicule 'em, and but to fiate \m right is to confute *em. 
 But common Prudence will teach a Mm net to hurt him- 
 filf while he vainly endeavours the good of others ^ fr as 
 there never was any Time or Country that wanted Satire 
 fo much'i that cou'd hear it fo little as oursy jb the Men I 
 wou^d reform are a fort of hardened irreclaimable Block' 
 heads, whofe Underfiandings feem perfect Solids, as dead 
 \to PVtt, and as infenfible of Keafon, as if their Souls and 
 their Bodies (according to Fiobbes'; Thtlojofhy) were both 
 made of the fame fluff, and equally impenetrable', fo ty^d to 
 their little Prejudices, and fo wilful in their Blindnefs, that 
 were they in a Storm at Sea^ that threatened every mo^ 
 mm thofe Lives and Fortunes of which they are fome* 
 
The PREFACE. 
 
 times fe mnecejfarily prodigal^ it mu'd be impffible to mah 
 ^em own there -were a breath of IVtnd ftirring, mkfs it 
 fuited with their Htmoursy or was to the purpofe of their 
 Folly, With them Seeing in fome Cafes is not Believing^ 
 and the mofi perfeB Senfe they have [ // it crofs their In* 
 clination'\ mufl pafs for an Irifli Evidence. 1 Jljdl leave 
 therefore to their own Condu^ and Veft'my this forlorn 
 Mope of Ignorance and Stupidity, and return to what I was 
 faying of my Lord Rocheller. 
 
 He hsid a Wit that was accompanied with an maffeBed 
 Creatnefs of Mind, and a natural Love to Jufiice and 
 Truth y a Wit that was in perpetual War with Knavery ^ 
 and ever attacking thofe kind of Vices moft, whofe malig* 
 ntty was like to be moll dijfu/ive, fuch as tended more im^ 
 mediately to the prejudice of publick Bodies^ and were of a 
 common Nufmce to the Happinefs of humane kind. Never 
 was his Pen drawn but on the fide of good Senfe, and Up 
 fually implofd like the Arms of the ancient Heroes^ to flop th$ 
 progrefs of Arbitrary OppreJJIon, and beat down the Bruti/h* 
 nefs of headftrong Wtll , to do his King and Country jufik$ 
 upon fuch publick State-Thieves, as wou'd beggar a King* 
 dom to enrich themfelves, who abufing the Confidence, and 
 undeferving the favour of a gracious Vriace, will not b^ 
 afhamd to maintain the cheating of their Maftery by tha 
 robbing and ftarving of their fellow-Servmts^ and under the 
 befi ^orm of Government in the World blufh not to live 
 upon the Spoil of others, 'till by their impudent Violations 
 of Right they grow like Beafts of Prey, Hoftes humaai 
 Generis. Thefe were the Vermin whom {^to his eternal Ho* 
 nour'\ his Pen was continually pricking and goading. A Pen, 
 if net fo happy in the Succefs, as generous in the Aim, as 
 either the Sword of Tiidtuh or the Club (>/ Hercules j 
 
The PREFACE. 
 
 nor was it lefs fljarp than that y or lefs mighty than this. 
 If he did not take fo much care of himfelf as he ought, 
 he had the Humanity however to mfl? tpell to others, and 
 I think I may truly affirm , he did the World as much 
 good by a right ^application of Satire, as he hurt himfelf tf 
 a wrong purfuit of Pleafure. 
 
 J mufi not here forget, that a confiderable time before his 
 lafl Sicknefs, his Wu began to take a more ferious Bent, and 
 to frame and fafhion it felf to publick Bufinefs ; he begun 
 to inform himfelf of the Wifdom of our Laws, and the ex- 
 cellent Confiitutsou of the Englifh Government, and to fpeak 
 in the Houfe of Veers with general Approbation-, he was 
 inquifitive after all kind of Hijiories that concerned Eng- 
 land, both ancient and modern, and fet himfelf to read the 
 Journals of Parliament Vroceedings. In ejfeB he feem'd to 
 Jiudy nothing more, than which way to make that great 
 Underfianding God had given him, mofl ufeful to his Com-- 
 try; and I am confident, had he liv'd, his riper Age wou^d 
 have fervid it, as much as his Youth had diverted it. Add 
 to thisi the Generoufnefs of his Temper, and the Affability of 
 his good Senfe ; the Wdlingnefs he fldl fhow'd to raife the 
 opprefsd, and the Jpleafure he took to humble the proud 
 the conftant readinefs of his Tarts, and that great prefence 
 of Mind, that never let him want a fit and pertinent An- 
 fwer to the mofl fudden and unexpe^ed ^^efiion, \_a Ta- 
 lent as ufeful as 'tis rare'] the admirable Skill he was ma- 
 fter of, to countermine the Plots of his Enemies, and break 
 through the Traps that were laid for him, to work himfelf 
 out of the Entanglement of unlucky Accidents, and repair 
 the Indtfcretions of his Tc4ith, by the quicknefs and fine- 
 nefs of his Wit j the firange facility he had to talk to 
 
 all 
 
The PREFACE. 
 
 mU Capacities in their evon DialeB, and make hlmfelf govd . 
 Company to all kind of Teople at all times j fo that if we 
 rpon'd firJ a Soul to refemhle that bemtiful Portraiture of 
 Man, mth which Lucretius [according to his fublime man^ 
 ner of Defcription'] compliments his Friend Memmius, when 
 he fays that Venus, the Goddefs of Beauty, and fecond 
 Caufe of all things, had form' d him to excel [and that upon 
 all Occajions'] in every neceffary Grace and Virtue I fay, if 
 we wou'd jujiify this charming TiBure, and clear it from 
 Flattery even to human Nature, we mufl fet it by rrty latei 
 Lord Rochefler; of him it may be truly faid in the fullefll 
 Senfe of the MMs, 
 
 . Quern (u Dea, tempore in omuj. 
 
 Omnibus ornatum voluifti exccllcre rebus 
 
 Tf'ipat lafi, and mofi of all, deferves admiration in my 
 Lord, was his Poetry, which alone is SubjeB enough for per^ 
 fetual Panegyrick. But the CharaHer of it is fo generatly\ 
 known, it has fo eminently difiinguifh*d it felf frorn that tj 
 other Men, by a thoufand irrefiflible Beauties 5 every Boify 
 is fo well acquainted with it, by the FffeB it has had upm 
 *em that to trace and fingle out the feveral Graces, may 
 feem a Task as fuperftuOHs^ as to d^fcribe to a Lover th$ 
 Lines a>jd Features of his Miflref's lace. ^Tis fnfficlent to 
 obferve, that his Poetry, like himfelf, was all Original, and 
 has a flamp fo particular , fo unlike any thing that has been 
 writ before, that as it difdain'd all fervile imitation^ and cO' 
 f)ing from others, fo neither is it capable {in my Opinion) of 
 beinq Copy*d» any more than the manner of his Difcomfe 
 cmld be Copfd 5 tfoe Excellencies are too many and too 
 
 m^fprly^ 
 
The PREFACE. 
 
 mfterly, on the other Jide the Fatdts are few, an J thcje 
 nconfiderable their "Eyes tnufi be bitter than ordinary^ wLo 
 ■an fee the minute Spots with which fo bright a Jewel is 
 hindi cr rather fet of, for thofe it has are of the kind 
 vhich Horace fays can never offend^ 
 
 — — Quas aut incuria fudif j 
 Auc humana parum cavit Narura, 
 
 • uch little Negligences as Humanitj cannot be exempt frovf^ 
 \nd fuch as perhaps were neceffary to make his Lines run 
 iatnral and eafy: Tor as nothing is more difagreeable either 
 *3 Verf e or Trofe than a flozenly locfenefs of Style, fo on th^ 
 ther hand too nice a CorreBnefs will be apt to deaden the 
 Jfe, and make the Tiece too ft iff between thefe two Bxd 
 ^emes is the juft Chara5itr of my Lord Rochcfter'j Toetry 
 ? be found \ nor do I know any thing that the fevereft Cri* 
 ick, who will be impartidy can objecl, unlefs he will fay 
 as fome have done) that there is not altogether fo much 
 rerigth and Clofenefs in my Lord's Style as in that of me 
 f his * Friends, a Verfon of great ^altty and Worthy 
 >hom I think it not proper to name, becaufe he has never 
 1?^ piiblickly own^d any of his Writings, tho^ none have been 
 wre generally or more juftly admir'd-, but if my Lord*s 
 enfe be not always fo firong and full [for often it isj as 
 m of this Honourable Perfon his Friend, yet in revenge 
 oe Spirit that dffufes it felf through the Whole, and warms 
 nd animates every Tart, the newnefs of his Thought , the 
 velinefs of his . ExpreJJ?on, the purity of his Vhrafe, and the 
 elicacy of his Turn is admirable-, if he does not fuy fo much 
 « [o little CompafSf yet he fays always enough to fleafei 
 «^ Lord Dorfet. 
 
The P R E F A C E. 
 
 Iifhat be wanis in Torce, is fupplfd in Grace, and 'where hi\ 
 bas not this firength and fulnefs of Senfe^ that is fo muck] 
 his Friend's particular Talent, he has Touches that are mor^ i 
 offering, fo that when we do not find it, we do not mife 
 To conclude this Toint, his Toeiry has every where a TMurt 
 that unaccountable Charm in his Fa/hion and Converfa".] 
 tion, that peculiar Becomingnefs in all he [aid and dsd^ that\ 
 drew the 'Eyes and i»on the Hearts of dl i»ho came near\ 
 him* 
 
 FRO: 
 
PROLOGUE, 
 
 Spoken by Mrs. Cooky the Fir ft Day. 
 
 Written by Mrs. B EHN, 
 
 ^VVTITH that AJfurance we to Day Addrefs^ 
 ^ As Standard Beauties^ cert am of Succefs^ 
 With carelefs Pride^ at once they charm and veiC^ 
 And [corn the little Censures of their Sex* 
 Sure of the unregarded Sj?oil^ defpife 
 ^he needlefs AffeSlation of the Eyes^ 
 The fof tuning Languifloment that faintly warms^ 
 But truji alone to their refiftlefs Charms^ 
 So wej fecur'^d by undifputed Wit^ 
 Difdain the damning Malice of the Pit^ 
 Nor needfalfe Arts to fet great Nature off^ 
 Or Jludf^ Tricks to force the CUp and Laughs 
 Te wou^d-be-Criticks^ ye are all undone^ 
 For here^s no Theme for you to work upon. 
 ^ Faith feem to talk to Jenny, / advife^ 
 Of who like'*s who, and how Lovers Markets rife* 
 Try, thefe hard Times, how to abate the Pricey 
 Tell her how cheap were Damfels on the Ice, 
 ^Mongfl City Wives and Daughters that came there^ 
 How far a Guinea went at * Blanket-Fair. 
 Thus you may find fome good Ex cufe for failing 
 Of your beloved Exercife of Railing. 
 
 7hat 
 
 * The Fair on the Thames fo call'd* 
 
PROLOGUE. 
 
 T'hativhen Friend cries — How did the Play fucceed^ 
 
 Demme^ I hardly minded what they did. 
 
 We pall not your lil-nature pleafe to Day^ 
 With fomefond Scribler'*s new uncertain Play^ 
 Loofe as vain Touth^ and tedious as dull Age^ 
 Or Love and Honour that o'^er-runs the Stage. 
 Fam*d and fubftantial Authors give this Treaty 
 And twill be Solemn^ Noble all ^ and Great. 
 Wit^ [acred Wit^ is all the Bufmefs here^ 
 Great Fletcher, and the greater Rochefter. 
 lS[ow name the hardy Man one Fault dares find 
 In the vajl Work of Two fuch Heroes join'^d, 
 "None but great StrephonV [oft and pow''rful Wity 
 Durji undertake to mend what^ Fletcher writ. 
 Different their heav'*nly Notes: yet both agret 
 To make an everlajling Harmony. 
 Lijlen^ ye Virgins^ to his charming Song^ 
 Eternal Mufick dwelt upm his Tongue. 
 The Gods of Love and Wit infpir'*d his Pen, 
 And Love and Beauty was his glorious Theme » 
 
 Now^ Ladies^ you may celebrate his Name^ 
 Without a Scandal on your fpotlefs Fame* 
 With Praife his dear-lov^d Memory purfue^ 
 And pay his Death what to his Life was due. 
 
 PRO 
 
PROLOGUE 
 
 T O 
 
 FALENTIN I AN. 
 
 Spoken by Mrs. COOK^iht Second Day. 
 
 ^T'/vS not your Eafinefs to give Applaufe^ 
 
 This long'htd Jewel into Publick draws: 
 Our matchlefs Author^ who to Wit gave Rules^ 
 Scorns Praife^ that has been projiitute to Fools ; 
 To jailious Favour^ the fole Prop and Fence 
 Of Hackney -Scriblers^ he quits all Pretence^ 
 And for their Flatteries brings you Truth and Senfe. 
 Things we our felves confefs to be unfit 
 For fuch Side-Boxes and for fuch a Pit. 
 To the Fair Sex fome Compliment were due^ 
 Did they not flight themf elves in liking you i 
 How can they here for Judges be thought fit^ 
 Who daily your [oft Nonfenfe take for Wit ; 
 Do on your ill- bred Noife for Humour doat^ 
 And choofe the Man by the Embroider"* d Coat ? 
 Our Author lov*d the Youthful and the Fair^ 
 But ev*n in thofe their Follies could not /pare ; 
 Bid them difcreetly ufe their prefent Store^ 
 Be Friends to Pleafure^ when they pUafe no morei 
 
 Defir'd 
 
PROLOGUE, 
 
 Defir^d the Ladies of maturer Ages^ y 
 If fome remaining Spark their Hearts enrages^ ^ 
 At home to quench their Embers with their Pag^s, y 
 Pert J patch' d and painted^ there to fpend their Days ; 
 Nor crowd the Fronts of Boxes at New Plays : 
 Advisd young fighing Fools to be more pr effing^ 
 And Fops of Forty to give over DreJJlng. 
 By this he got the Envy of the Age'^ 
 No Furfs like a liheWd Blockhead's Rage. 
 Hence fome defpis^d him for his want of IVit^ 
 And others faidhe too obfcenely writ. 
 Dull Nicenefs^ enviofis of Mankinds Delight^ 
 Abortive Pang of f^anity and Spite I 
 It Jbows a Mafler^s Hand^ "^twas VirgilV Praife^ 
 Things low and abjed to adorn and ruife, 
 'The Sun on Dunghils pining is as bright.^ ']> 
 As when his Beams the fair efl Flower invite \ 
 But all weak Eyes are hurt by too much Light. \ 
 Let then thefe Owls againfl the Eagle preach.^ 
 And blame thofe Flights whi^h they want Wing t§ 
 reach. 
 
 Like FalftafFe let them conquer Heroes dead^ 
 
 Andpraife Greek Poets they could never read. 
 
 Criticks Jhould Personal Quarrels lay afide^ 
 
 The Poet from the Enemy divide. 
 
 ^Twas Charity that made our Author Write ^ 
 
 For your InfiruBion His we A61 to Night j I 
 
 For fure no Age was ever known before^ i 
 
 Wanting an ^cius and Lucina more. \ 
 
 PRO-i 
 
 ] 
 
PROLOGUE, 
 
 Intended for Valenttmany 
 
 To be rpokenby lAx^. B ARRET. 
 \^01V would y OH have me rail, fwell and look 
 
 Like rampant Tory over couch ant Whig. ■ 
 
 [fit fire Bullies fixfagger^ fivear and roar^ 
 And hrandijb Bilbo^ when the Fray is 6*er. 
 Mujl we huff on J when we^re opposed by none ? 
 But Poets are mojl fierce^ on thofe who'* re down. 
 Shall I jeer Popi(h Plots that once did fright us^ 
 And with mojl bitter Bobs taunt little Ticus ? 
 Ir with parp Style on fneaking Trimmers fally 
 JVbo civilly themfelves Prudential call ? 
 Tet IVJtlings to true Wits as foon may rifcj 
 ds a Prudential Man can e*er be wife, 
 No^ even the worfi ofall^ yet I will fpare 
 The naufeous Floater^ changeable as Air^ 
 A nafty things which on the Surface rides^ 
 Backward and forward with allT'urns ofTides^ 
 An Audience I will not fo courfely ufe; 
 ^Tis the lewdvjay of ev'ry common Mufe. 
 het Grubftreet Pens fuch mean Diverfion find^ 
 But we havs Subjects of a nobler kind. 
 
 We 
 
PROLOGUE. 
 
 JJ^€ of Legitimate Poets fing the Praifcj 
 No kin to tlj* fpurious IJfues of thefe Days. 
 But fuch as with Defert their Laurels gain'd^ 
 And by true Wit Immortal Names obtain' 
 Two like ^/V-Confuls rul'^d the former Age^ 
 With Love and Honour graced that flouripingStage J > 
 And t^ev'ry PaJJion did the mind engage. J 
 They Sweetnefs firjl into our Language brought^ f 
 They all the Secrets of Man's Nature fought^ f 
 And lafling Wonders in Conjun^i'on wrought. > 
 
 Now joins a Third^ a Genius as fublime 
 As ever fiourip'*d in RomeV happieji Time. 
 As jbarply could he wound^ as fweetly engage^ 
 As fojt his Love^ and as divine his Rage^ 
 He charm'' d the tender"* jl Virgin to Delight.^ 
 And with his Style didfierceji Blockheads fright. 
 Some Beauties here I fee — ^ 
 Though now demure., have felt his pow'*rful Charms 
 And languip^d in the Circle of his Arms. 
 But for ye Fops^ his Satyr reached ye all^ 
 Under his La fh your whole vajl Herd did fall. 
 Oh fatal Lofs! that mighty Spirit^s gone! 
 Alas! his too great Heat went eut too foon ! 
 So fatal is it vajily to excel; 
 Thus youngs thus mourn' d^ his lov^d huctQims fell. 
 
 And now ye little Sparks who infejl the Pitj 
 Learn all the Rev'*rence due to facred Wit. 
 
 Dijlurh 
 
PROLOGUE. 
 
 Diflurb not with your empty Noife each Benchy 
 |iVi?r break your bawdy J efts to tV Orange- Wench j 
 ■Nor in that Scene of Fops ^ the Gallery^ 
 Went your No- wit ^ and fpurious Railery : 
 That noify Place, where ' meet all forts of Tools^ 
 Tour huge fat Lovers, and confumptive Fools, 
 Half Wits andGamefters, and gay Fop s^whofe Tasks 
 We daily to invade the dangerous Masks: 
 And all ye little Brood of Poetafters ^ 
 Amendy and learn to Write from thefe your Maftcrs. 
 
 K 
 
Dramatis Perfonse. 
 
 Valentiman, Emperor; 
 MeiuSf The Homm General. 
 Maximus, Lieutenant- General. 
 Vont'msy Captain; 
 LyclmuSi 
 
 > Servants to the Emperor. 
 Trocumi V 
 
 Chylax. j 
 
 LyciuSf An Eunuch belonging to Maxtmus] 
 Lucina, Wife to Maximus. 
 
 Claudia, ">„ •,. . . 
 
 „. S. Ladies attending Luma. 
 
 Marcellma, 5 
 
 Ardelia, J , , , . i ^ , 
 
 Thorba S Lewd Women belonging to the Court. 
 
 ThidUs, ? Friends to ^eidSi and Servants to the Em 
 Arms, 5 pcror. 
 
 VALER 
 
VALENriN IAN. 
 
 ACT I. SCENE I. 
 
 \7he Curtain flies up with the Mufuk of Trumpets 
 and Kettle-Drums^ and difcovers the Emperor 
 pajfing through to the Garden, attended with a 
 great Court \ ^'cius Maximus Jiay behind. 
 
 MAX^IMUS, ^GIUS. 
 
 M A X I M U S. 
 
 RE AT is the Honour, which our Em- 
 peror 
 
 Does, by his frequent Viiits, throw on 
 
 Maximm j 
 
 Not kfs than thrice this Week has his gav 
 Court, 
 
 With all its Splendor fliin'd within my Walls: 
 Mor docs thi.. glorious Sun beftow his Beams 
 iJpon a barren Soil; My happy Wife, 
 
 2. Fruitful 
 
i 
 
 196 Valentin IAN. 
 
 Fruitful in Charms for Valent'mims Heart, 
 
 Crowns the foft Moments of each welcome Hour, 
 
 With fuch Variety of fuccefli^^e Joys, 
 
 That loft in Love, when the long Day is done. 
 
 He willingly would give his Empire up. 
 
 For the Enjoyment of a Minute more ; • ^ 
 
 While I ■ 
 
 Made glorious through the Merit of my Wifc> 
 Am at the Court ador*d as much as fhe. 
 As if the vaft Dominion of the World 
 He had exchanged with me for my Lmm. 
 
 JE ClU S. 
 
 I rather wifh he would exchange his Paffions, 
 Give you his Third of Love for yours of Honour; 
 And leaving you the due PoiTeffion 
 Of your juft Wiflies in Lucim's Arms, 
 Think how he may, by force of Worth and Virtue,' 
 Maintain the Right of his Imperial Crown, 
 Which he negkds for Garlands made of Rofesj 
 Whilft, in Difdain of his ill-guided Youth, 
 Whole Provinces fail off, and fcorn to have 
 Him for their Prince, who is his Pleafures Slave.' 
 M A X I M U S, 
 
 I cannot blame the Nations, noble Friend, 
 For falling off fo faft from this wild Man, 
 When, under our Allegiance be it fpokcn. 
 And the moft happy Tie of our Affedions, 
 The whole World groans beneath him : By the Gods, 
 I'd rather be a Bondflave to his Panders, 
 Conftrain'd by Power to fcrve their vicious Wills, 
 Than bear the Infamy of being held 
 A Favourite to this Fool-fiaJtcr'd Tyrant. 
 
V A L E N T 1 N I A N. I97 
 
 Where lives Virtue, 
 
 Honour, Difcrerion, Wifdom ? Who are caffd 
 And chofen to the fteering of his Empire, 
 But Whores, and Bawds, and Trairors? Oh my JEcitisl 
 The Glory of a Soldier, and the Truth 
 Of Men made up for Goodnefs fake, like Shells 
 Grow to the rugged Walls for want of Adion; 
 Only your happy felf, and I that love you, 
 ^Which is a hrgtr means to me than Favour ■ 
 M CI V S. 
 No more, my worthy Friend, tho' thefe be Truths,' 
 And tho' thefe Truths would ask a Reformation, 
 Atleaft a little Mending—— Yet remember: 
 We are but Subjects, Maximt^s; Obedience 
 To what is done, and Grief for what's ill done 
 Is all we can call ours. The Hearts of Princes 
 Are like the Temples of the Gods. Pure Incenfe 
 ('Till fome unhallow'd Hands defile their OfF'rings,) 
 Burns ever there. We muft not put 'em out, 
 Becaufe the Priefts who touch thefe Sweets are wicked. 
 We dare not, deareft Friend ; nay more, we cannot. 
 While we confidcr whofe we are, and how. 
 To what Laws bound, much more to what Lawgiver, 
 While Majefty is made to be obeyed j 
 And not inquired into. 
 
 M A X I M U S. 
 Thoubeft of Friends and Men, whofe wife Inftru£iions 
 Are not Icfs charitable, weigh but thus much. 
 Nor think I fpeak it with Ambition, 
 For, by the Gods, I do not. Why, my Mc'msy 
 Why are we thus? Or how became thus wretched? 
 
 ^C; US 
 
V A L E N T 1 N I A 
 
 C I U S. 
 
 You'il fall again into your Fit. 
 
 M A X I M U S. 
 
 I will not. 
 
 Or are we now no more the Sons of 'Rowans? 
 No more the Followers of their mighty Fortunes! 
 Bui- conquered Gauls, and Quivers of the Panhiansf 
 Vv' hy is the Emperor, this Man we honour, 
 This God that ought to be 
 
 ^You are too Curious. 
 
 M A X I M U S. 
 
 Give me leave — Why is this Author of us * 
 C 1 U S. 
 
 I dare not hear you fpeak thus. 
 
 M A X I M U S. 
 
 ril be modef} . 
 
 Thus led away, thus vainly led away, 
 And we Beholders! Mifconceive me notj" 
 J fow no Danger in my Wordsj but wherefore, 
 And to what end are we the Sons of Fathers 
 Famous and faft to Rome! Why are their Virtues 
 Sramp'd in the Dangers of a thoufand Battles, 
 Their Honours Time out-daring? 
 I think fcr our Example. 
 
 C I U S. 
 
 You fpeak well. 
 
 M A X I M U S. 
 
 ' "Why are we Seeds of thofe then to fhake Hands 
 With Bawds and bafe Informers? ICifs Difcredir, 
 And court her like a Miftrefs? Pray your leave yet, 
 You'll fay the Emperor's young, and apt to take 
 
 Imprcf- 
 
Valenxinian. 1^9 
 
 Impreffion from his Pleafures, 
 
 Yet even his Errors have their good EfFefl:?, 
 
 For the fame gentle Temper which inclines 
 
 His Mind to Softnefs, does his Heart defend 
 
 From favage Thoughts of Cruelty and Blood, 
 
 Which thro' the Streets of Rome in Streams did flow 
 
 From Hearts of- Senator?, under the Reigns 
 
 Of our feyerer warlike Emperors; 
 
 While und«r this fcarcely one Criminal 
 
 Meets the hard Sentence of the dooming Law,^ 
 
 And the whole World diflblv'd into a Piece, 
 
 Owes its Security to this Man's Pleafures. 
 
 But, JEcius be fincere, do not defend 
 
 Anions and Princi-ples your Soul abhors. 
 You know this Virtue is his greatell Vice: 
 Impunity is the higheft Tyranny : 
 And what the fawning Court mifcalls his PleafurefJ 
 Exceeds the Moderation of a Man : 
 Nay, to fay juftly, Friend, they are loath'd Vices, 
 And fuch as fhake our Worths with foreign Nations^ 
 C I U S. 
 
 You fearch the Sore too deep j and let me tell you. 
 In any other Man, this bad been Treafon, 
 And fo rewarded : Pray deprefs your Spiritj 
 For tho' I conftantly believe you honeH, 
 (You were no Friend for me elfej) and what now- 
 You freely fpeak, but good you owe to th' Empire: 
 Yet take heed, worthy Maximus all Ears 
 Hear not with that Diftindllon mine doj few you'll find 
 Admonifhcrs, but Urgcrs of your Anions, 
 And to the heavieft (Friend;) and pray confider 
 We arc but Shadows, Motions others give us^ 
 
 K 4 - And 
 
V A L E N T I N I A N. 
 
 'And rho' our Pities may become the Times, 
 
 Our Power* cannot j nor may we juAify 
 
 Our private Jealoufies by open Force. 
 
 "Wife, or whst dfe to me it matters not, 
 
 I am your Friend; bat durfl: my own Soul urge me; 
 
 And by that Soul I fpeak my juft AfJediions 
 
 To turn my Hand from Truth, which is Obedience^ 
 
 And give the Helm my Virtue holds to Anger, 
 
 ,Tho' I had both the BkfTings of the JBmi, 
 
 And both their Inftigatioiis, tho' my Caufe 
 
 Carry'd a Face of Juftice beyond theirs, 
 
 Apd as I am a Servant to my Fortunes, 
 
 That daring Soul that firfl taught Difobediencei^ 
 
 Should fed the firft Example. 
 
 M A X I M U S. 
 
 ' I^iflake me not, my deareft ^cius, 
 Do not believe, that through mean Jealoufy 
 liow far the Emperor's Faffions may prevail 
 On my Lmim's Thoughts to our Difhonour, 
 
 .That I abhor the Perfon of my Prince. 
 
 -Alas! that Honour were a trivial Lofs, 
 
 "Which fhe and I want merit to prefervej 
 
 ("Virtue and Maximus are plac'd too near 
 
 Zucinas Heart, to leave him fuch a Fear j 
 
 Ko private Lofs or Wrong inflames my Spirits. 
 
 The Roman Glory, JEeiusy languifhes j 
 
 I am concern'd for Rome^ and for the World, 
 
 And when the Emperor pleafes to afford 
 
 Time from his Pleafurc?, to take care ©f thofe, 
 
 1 am his Slave, and have a Sword and Life 
 
 Still ready for his Service. 
 
 ^ C I u s. 
 
VaLENTINIAN. 2.01 
 
 JE CIV S. 
 
 i , Now you arc brave, 
 
 I' And, like a Rom^in/^uOily are concern'd. 
 But fay he be to blame : Are therefore we 
 
 ' Fit Fires to purge him? No, my deareft FrienJ, 
 The Elephant is never won with Anger, 
 Nor muft that Man, who would reclaim a Lion/ 
 Take him by the Teeth. 
 Our honeft Adions, and the Truth that breaks 
 Like Morning from our Service, chafte and blufliing, 
 Is that that pulls a Prince back, then he fees. 
 And not 'till then truly repents his Errors. 
 
 M A X I M U S, 
 My Heart agrees with yours : Til take your Counfel, 
 The Emperor appears j let us withdraw; 
 And as we both do love him, may he flouri{h, lExeuntl 
 
 Bnter V A L E N T I N I A N and LU CI U A, 
 
 Valentinian. 
 which way, Lucinay hope you to efcape 
 The Cenfure both of Tyrannous and Proud, 
 While your Admirers languifh by your Eyes, 
 And at your Feet an Emperor defpairs ! 
 Gods! why was I mark'd out of all your Brood 
 To fuffer tamely under mortal Hate ? 
 Is it not I that do prote£i: your Shrines? 
 Am Author of your Sacrifice and PrayVs? 
 Forc'd by whofe great Commands the knowing World 
 Submits to own your Beings and your Power: 
 And muft I feel the Torments of Negledl? 
 BetrayM by Love to be the Slave of Scorn? 
 But 'tis not you, poor harmiefs Deities, 
 
 K s That 
 
10% - Valientinian. 
 
 That can make V^lentinian figh and mourn! 
 Alas ! all Power is in Lucha's Eyes ! 
 How foon could I (liake off this heavy Earth, 
 Which makes me little lower than your fclvesj 
 And fit in Heaven an Equal with the Firftj 
 But Love bids me purfue a nobler Aim j 
 Continue Mortal, and Lueim*s Slave, 
 From whofe fair Eyes, would Pity take my Part, 
 And bend her Will to fave a bleeding Heart, 
 I in her Arms fuch Bleflings (hould obtain. 
 For which th' unenvy'd Gods might wifli in vain. 
 L U C I N A. 
 Ah ! Ceafe to tempt* thofe Gods and Virtue too? 
 Great Emperor of the World, and Lord of me! 
 Heav'n has my Life fubmitted to your Will! 
 My Honour's Heav'n's, which will preferve its own. 
 !IoW vile a thing am I when that is gone! 
 When of my Honour you have rifled me. 
 What other Merit have I to be yours ? 
 
 fWith my fair Fame let me your Subje6!: live, 
 
 'And fave that* Humblenefs you fmile upon: 
 
 Thofe gracious Looks, whofe Brightnefs (hould rejoice. 
 
 Make j our poor Handmaid tremble, when (he thinks 
 
 That they appear like Light'ning's fatal Flafh, 
 
 Which by deftrudlive Thunder is purfu'd, 
 
 Blafting thofe Fields on which it (hin'd before ! 
 
 And fhould the Gods abandon worthlefs Me, 
 
 'A Sacrifice to Shame and to Diflionour 5 
 
 A Plague to Rome, and Blot to C^far^s Fame ! 
 
 For what Crime yet unknown Ihall MAximns 
 
 By me and C^far be made infamous ? 
 
 The faithfuirft Servant, and thckindeft Lord? 
 
 So 
 
i Valentinian, 203 
 
 I 
 
 I So true, fo brave, fo generous, and fo juft, > 
 
 ii Who ne'er knew Faulty why fhould he fall to Shame! 
 f: VALENTINIAN. 
 
 Sweet Innocence ! Alas ! your Maximus 
 
 \ (Whom I like youefteem ! ) it is no Danger, 
 
 i If Duty and Allegiance be no Shame! 
 
 I Have I not Prsccors through the fpacious Earth, 
 
 f Wbo in my Name do mighty Nations fway? 
 
 j Enjoying rich Dominions in my Right, 
 Their Temporary Governments I change, 
 Divide or take away, as I fee goodj 
 And this they think no Injury nor Shame j 
 Can you believe your Husband's Right to youi 
 
 ; Other than what from me he docs derive? 
 V/ho judly may recal my own at pleafure j 
 
 ! Am I not Emperor ? This World my own ? 
 Given me without a Partner by the Gods ? 
 And fhall thofe Gods, who gave me all, allow 
 That one lefs than my felf fhould have a Claim 
 
 ! To you, the Pride and Glory of the whole? 
 You, without whom the reft is worthlefs Drofsj 
 Life a bafe Shvcry, Empire but a Mock : 
 And Love, the Soul of all, a bitter Curfc! 
 
 I No, only Bleding, Mciximui and I 
 Muft change our Provinces, the World fhill bow 
 Beneath my Scepter, grafp'd in his ftrong Hand, 
 Whofe Valour may redtice rebellious Slaves, 
 And wife Integrity fecure the reft 
 In all thofe Rights the Gods to me have given 
 While I from tedious Toils df Empire free. 
 The fervile Pride of Governnierit defpifc! 
 Find Peace arid Joy,-and Love and Heav'n in Thee,' 
 
ao4 Vale ntinian. 
 
 And feek fcr all tny Glory in thofe Eyes. 
 
 L U C I N A. 
 Had Heav'n defign'd for me To great a Fate 
 As Cdijars Love, I ftiould have been prcfcrv*d 
 By careful Providence for him alone, 
 Not offer'd up at firft to Maximus-y 
 For Princes Ihould not mingle with their SlavesJ 
 Kor feek ro quench their Thirft in troubled Streams. 
 Kor am 1 fram'd with Thoughts fit for a Throne, 
 To be commanckd ftili has been my Joyj 
 And to obey the height of my Ambition. 
 When young;, in anxious Cares I fpent the Day^ 
 Trembh'ng for fear, left each unguided Step 
 Should tread tfce Paths of Error and of Blame: 
 'Till Heav'n in gentle Pity fent my Lord, 
 In whof; Command-: my Wifhes meet their End, 
 Pleas'd ani.i f^cure while following his Willj 
 "Whether to live or die, I cannot err, ^ 
 
 Tou, like the Sun, Great Sir, are plac'd above, 
 
 i, a low Myrtle, in the humble Vale, 
 
 3May flourifh by ycur diftant Influence; 
 
 But fhoula you b:nd your Glories nearer mc> 
 
 Such fatal Favour withers mc to Duft. 
 
 Or I in foolifli Gratitude defire 
 
 To kifs your Feet, by whom wc live and grow 
 
 To fuch a height, I (hould in vain afpirc, 
 
 "Who am already rooted here beloWr 
 
 Fix*d in my Maximus's Breaft I lie! 
 
 Join from that Bed, like gather'd Flow'rs, I die; 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 Ceafe to opprefs me with a thoufand Charms! 
 
 There needs no Succour to prevailing Arms! 
 
 Your 
 
1 
 
 I V A L E N T I N I A N, ZOf 
 
 I Your Beauty had fubda'd my Heart before, 
 
 ij Such Virtue could aione enflave me more: 
 
 I If you love Maximus to this degree! 
 
 ij How would you be in love, did you love me^ 
 
 i In her, whf to a Husband is fo kind, 
 
 i What Raptures might a Lover hope to find? 
 
 ! I burn, Lucina, like a Field of Corn y 
 
 } By flowing Streams of kindled Flames o'er-borni C 
 
 I When North Winds drive the Torrent with a Storm : 3 
 
 i Thefe Fires into my Bofom you have thrown, 
 
 i And muft in pity quench 'cm in your own : 
 
 jHeav'n, when it gave your Eyes th' inflaming PowV, 
 
 J Which was ordain'd to caft an Emperor 
 
 «Into Love's Fever kindly did impart 
 
 Th.it Sea of Milk to bathe his burning Heart, 
 
 Thro* all thofe Joys. [L(iyih$ld on her, 
 
 L U C I N A. 
 Hold, Sir, for Mercy's fake 
 
 Love will abhor whatever Force can take. 
 
 I may perhaps perfaade my fell in time. 
 
 That this is Dury which now feems a Crime 5 
 
 1*11 to the God^5 and beg they will infpire 
 
 My Bread, or yours, with what it (hould defirel 
 VALENTIN IAN. 
 Fly to their Altars ftraight, and let 'cm know 
 
 Kow is their time to m^ke me Friend or Foe, 
 
 if to my Wifties they your Heart incline. 
 
 Or they're no longer Favourites ot mine. [EAr.Lucina* 
 
 inter 
 
Valentinian. 
 
 mter CHYLAX, PROCULUS, BALBU^S 
 and L YCINIUS. 
 
 As ever you do hope to be by me 
 
 Protected in your boundlefs Infamy, 
 
 For Diflblutenefs cherifh'd, lov'd and praiVd, 
 
 On Pyramids of your own Vices rais'd 
 
 Above the reach of Law, Reproof, or Shame,^ 
 
 Aflift me now to quench my raging Flame. 
 
 'Tis not as heretofore a lambent Fire, 
 
 Rais'd by fome common Beauty in my Breaft, 
 
 Vapours from Idlenefs or loofc Defire, 
 
 By each new Motion cafily fupprefs'd, 
 
 But a fix*d Heat that robs me of all Reft. 
 
 Before my dazzled Eyes could you now place 
 
 A Thoufand willing Beauties, to allure 
 
 And give me Luft to every loofe Embrace, 
 
 Zucina's Love my Virtue would fecure: 
 
 .From the contagious Charm in vain I jfly, y 
 
 *T has feiz*d upon my Heart, and may defy > 
 
 That great Prefervative, Variety ! 3' 
 
 Go, call your Wives to Council, and pi:epare 
 
 To tempt, diflemble, promife, fawn and fwcarj 
 
 To make Faith look like Folly ufe your Skill, 
 
 Virtue and ill-bred Croflnefs in the Will. 
 
 Fame, the loofe Breathings of a clam'rous Croud! 
 
 Ever in Lyes moft confident and loud ! 
 
 Honour a Notion ! Piety a Cheat! 
 
 And if you prove fucccfsful Bawd?, be great.' 
 
 CHYLAX. 
 All hindrance to your Hopes we'll foon remove^ 
 And dear the Way to your triumphant Love. 
 
 BAL- 
 
Valentinian* 207 
 
 B A L B U S, 
 
 Lucma, for your WiHres we'll prepare, 
 And fliew we know to merit what we are. [Exemu 
 I VALE NT IN I AN. 
 
 Once more the Pow'r of Vows and Tears 1*11 proveO * 
 \\ Thcfe may perhaps her gentle Nature move, ^ 
 [I To pity firft, by Confcquence to love. ^ 
 (; Poor are the brutal Conqucfts we obtain 
 \,, O'er barb'rous Nations by the force of Arms, 
 4 But when with humble Love a Hea^t we gain. 
 And plant our Trophies in our ConquWs Charm^i 
 -Enter C I U S. 
 j Such Triumphs ev'n to us may Honour bring: 
 No Glory's vain, which does from Pleafure ipring. 
 How now, MctHs / are the Soldiers quiet ? 
 
 MClVS, 
 Better I hope, Sir, than they were. 
 
 V A L E N T I N I A N. 
 They're pless'd, I hear, 
 
 To cenfure me extremely for my Pleafuresi 
 Shortly they'll fight again ft me. 
 
 iE C I U S. 
 
 Gods defend, Sir. And for their Cenfures, they are 
 Such flirewd Judges " ' ■ i 
 A Donative of Ten efterces 
 I'll undertake fhall make 'em ring your Praifes 
 More than they fung your Pleafures. 
 
 V A L E N T I N I A N, 
 I believe thee ? 
 
 Art thou in Love, ^cms^ yet ? 
 
 C I U S. 
 
 Oh no, Sir, I am too coarfe for Ladies 5 my Embraces,' 
 
 That 
 
Xo8 V A L E N T I N I A N. 
 
 That only am acquainted with Alarms, 
 Would break their tender Bodies. 
 
 VAL£NT1NIAN, 
 Never fear it. 
 They are ftronger than you think — — 
 The Emprefs Iwears thou art a lufty Soldier,' 
 A good one I believe thee. 
 
 iE C I U S. 
 All that Goodnefs is but your Creature, Sir,^ 
 
 VALENTIN IAN. 
 But tell me truly, 
 For thou dar'ft tell me. 
 
 -/E G I U S. 
 Any thing concerns you. 
 That's fit for me to fpeak, or you to pardon^ 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 "What fay the Soldiers of me! And;the fame Words! 
 Mince 'em not, good JEciuSj but deliver 
 r?he very Forms and Tongues they talk withal. 
 iE G I U S. 
 ril tell you, Sir 5 but with this Gaution, 
 You be not ftirr'd: For (hould the Gods live with u$l 
 Even thofe we certainly believe are Righteous, 
 Give 'cm but Drink, they'd cenfure them too, 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 Forward } . 
 
 Then to begin> They fay you flcep too much; 
 By which they judge you, Sir, too fenfuah 
 Apt to decline your Strength to Eafe and Fleafure: 
 And when you do not fleep, you drink too much; 
 From which they fear Sufpicions firftj then Ruin ; 
 
 And 
 
Valentinian. 109 
 
 And when you neither drink nor fkep, you gwcfs, Sir, 
 Which they affirm firfl breaks }our U/»derftanding, 
 Then dulls the ' dge of Honour, nakes ^bem fecm. 
 That are the j<lib$ and R^j-t pires of the En^pire, 
 [ Fencers and beaten Foolf, and fo regarded: 
 But I believe 'cm not: For were thefe Truths, 
 Your Virtue can corredl them, 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 They fpeak vainly. 
 
 iE C I U S. 
 
 They fay moreover. Sir, fince you will have it ; 
 ^ For they will take their Freedoms tho' the Sword 
 Were at their Throats: That of late times, like NerOr 
 And with the fame Forgetfulnefs of Glory, 
 You have got a vein of Fidling: So they term it^ 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 Some drunken Dreamers, ^cins. 
 
 MClUS. 
 
 So I hope, Sir. 
 They fay befides, you nourifh flrange Devourers; 
 Fed with the Far of th' Empire, they call Bawds, 
 Lazy and luftful Creatures that abufe you. 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 What Sin's next ? For I perceive they have no mind 
 .To fpare me! 
 
 I iE C I U S. 
 
 r Nor hurt you on my Soul, Sir : But fuch People 
 (Nor can the Pow'r of Man rcflrain it) 
 When they are full of Meat, and Eafe, mufl: prate^^^ 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 
 Forward. 
 
 iECIUS. 
 
 I have fpoken too much, Sir. y A: 
 
210 Valentin I A Nr 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 
 Til have all. 
 
 MClu s: 
 
 It IS not fit 
 
 Your Ears (hoiild hear their Vanities, no Profit 
 Can juftly arife to you from their Behaviour, 
 Unlefs you were guilty of thefe Crimes, 
 
 VALENTINIaN. 
 It may be I am fo. Therefore forward. 
 
 CI U S. 
 I have ever learn'd to obey. 
 
 VALENTINIAN, 
 No more Apologies. 
 
 iECIUSr 
 They grieve befides. Sir, 
 To fee the Nations, whom our ancient Virtue 
 "With many a weary March and Hunger conquer^. 
 With lofs of many a daring Life fubdu*d. 
 Fall from their fair Obedience j and cv'n murmur 
 To fee the warlike Eagles mew their Honours 
 In obfcure Towns, that us*d to prey on Princes j 
 They cry for Enemies, and tell the Captain 
 The Fruits of Italy are lufcious: Give us JEgypr, 
 Or fandy ^frick to difplay our Valours, 
 There, where our Swords may get us Meat, and Dangers 
 Digeft our well-got Food ; for here our Weapons 
 And Bodies that were made for fhining Brafs, 
 Are both unedg'd, and old, with Eafe and Women! 
 And then they cry again, Where are the Germans 
 Lin'd with hot Spain or Gallia^ bring 'em near: 
 And let the Son of War, ftcel'd Mithridates, 
 
 Poui 
 
V A L E N T I N I A N . i2 1 1 
 
 Pour on us his wing'd Varthlans like a Storm, 
 
 Hiding the Face of Heav'n with Showr's of Arrows, 
 
 Vet we dare fight like Romam-y then as Soldiers 
 
 Tir*d with a weary March, they tell their Wounds, 
 
 Ev'n weeping ripe, they were no more nor deeper. 
 
 And glory in thcfe Scars that make *em lovely. 
 
 And fitting whefe a* Camp was, like fad Pilgrims 
 
 They reckon up the Times and loading Labours 
 
 Or yulius or Germamus, and wonder 
 
 That Rome, whofe Turrets once were topt withHonourJ 
 
 Can now forget the Cuftom of her Conquefts ? 
 
 And then they blame you, Sir— and fay, Who leads us 
 
 Shall we ftand here like Statues! Were our Fathers 
 
 The Sons of lazy Moors, our Princes Verfims t 
 
 Nothing but Silk and Softnefs ? Curfes on 'em 
 
 That firft taught Nero Wantonnefs and Blood, 
 
 Tiberius Doubts, Caligula all Vices, 
 
 For from the Spring of thefe, fucceeding Princes— 
 
 Thus they talk, Sir. 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 
 Well? 
 
 Why do you hear thcfe things? 
 
 C I U 8,1 
 
 Why do you do 'em ? 
 I take the Gods to witnefs, with more Sorrow 
 And more Vexation hear I thefe Reproaches, 
 Thanweremy Lifedropt from me through an Hour-Glafs» 
 VALENTINIAN, 
 
 'Tis like then you believe 'em, or at leaft 
 Are glad they fhould be fo : Take heed — you were better 
 Build your own Tomb, and run into it living. 
 Than dare a Prince's Anger. 
 
 iECIUS 
 
212 VaLENTINIAI^* 
 
 M CIV S. 
 
 I am old, Sir: 
 And Ten Years more Addition is but nothing: 
 Now if my Life be pleafing to ycu, take it. 
 Upon my Knees, if ever any Service 
 (As let me brag, fome have been worthy notice \) 
 If ever any Worth or Truft you gavis me 
 Deferv'd a Favour, Sir ; if ail my A6lion?, 
 The Hazards of my Youth, Colds, Burnings, W^tJ^u 
 For you and for the Empire, be not Vices: 
 By the Stile yoa have ftamp*d upon me, Soldier ! 
 Let me not fall into the Hands of Wretches. 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 
 1 underftand you not. 
 
 M CIMJ S. 
 
 Let not this Body 
 That has look'd bravely in his Blood for C^/ar, v 
 And covetous of Wounds, and for your Safety j 
 After the 'fcape of Swords, Spears, Sling? and Arrows^, 
 *Gainft which ray beaten Body was my Armour, 
 Thro' Seas, and thirfty Defarts, now be Purchafc 
 For Slaves and bafe Informers: I fee Anger 
 
 And Death look through your Eyes I am mark 
 
 for slaughter, 
 And know the telling of this Truth has made me 
 
 A Man clean lofl: to this World 1 embrace it, 
 
 Only my laft Petition, Sacred C^far! 
 
 Is, I may die a Raman . 
 
 V A L E N T I N I A N. 
 Rife ! my Friend ftill. 
 
 And worthy of my Love: Reclaim the Soldiers! 
 I'll ftudy to do fo upon my felf. 
 
Valentinian. 213 
 
 }o — keep your Command and profper. 
 
 iE C I U S. 
 
 Life to C<ifir, {^ExiU 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 
 The Honefty of this JEcii^s, 
 Who is indeed the Bulwark of my Empire, 
 [s to be cherifli*d for the good it brings, 
 ^ot valued as a Merit in the Owner ! 
 fill Princes are Slaves bound up by Gratitude, 
 ^nd Duty has no Claim beyond Acknowledgment^ 
 Which rJl pay ^cius, whom I ftill have found 
 Dull, faithful, humble, vigilant and brave, 
 Talents as I could wifh *em for my Slave: 
 But, oh this Woman!-— || 
 Is it a Sin to love this lovely Woman? 
 Noi (he is fuch a Pleafure, being goodj 
 That tho' I were a God fhe'd fire my Blood. lExit. 
 
 ACT IL SCENE I. 
 
 Enter BALBUS, PROCULUS, CHY L- AX^ 
 L Y C I N I U S. 
 
 B A L B U S, 
 
 I Never faw the like, fhe's no more ftirr'd, 
 No more another Woman, no more alter'd 
 With any Hopes or Promifes laid to her, 
 .Let them be ne'er fo weighty, ne'er fo winning, 
 Th^n I am with the Motion of my own Legs, 
 
 PR O- 
 
214 V A^L .E N T I N I A N. 
 
 PROCU LUS. 
 
 Chyhx t 
 
 You are a Stranger yet in tbefe Defigns, . 
 At leaft in Kome. Tell me, and tell me Truth 5 
 Did you e'er know in all your Courfe of Practice, 
 In all the Ways of Women you have rode through? 
 For I prefume you have been brought up, Chylax, 
 As we to fetch and carry. 
 
 C H Y L A X. 
 
 True 1 have fo. 
 
 PROCULUS- 
 • Did you, I fay again, in all this Progrefs, 
 Ever difcover fuch a Piece of Beauty, 
 £yer fo rare a Creature, and no doubt, 
 Wne that muft know her Worth too, and affeft it; 
 Ay, and be flatter'd, elfe *tis none; and Honeft, 
 Honeft againft the Tide of all Temptations? 
 Honeft to one Man, and to her Husband only. 
 And yet not Eighteen, not of Age to know 
 Why Ihe is Honeft? 
 
 * C H Y L A X. 
 
 I confefs it freely, 
 I never faw her Fellow, nor ever lhall: 
 For all our Grecian Dames as I have try'd. 
 And furel have try'd a Hundred — if I fay Two,' 
 I fpeak within my compafs: Allthefe Beauties, 
 And all the Conftancy of all thefe Faces, 
 Maids, Widows, Wives, of what Degree or Calling, 
 So they be Greeks and fat; for there's my Cunning: 
 1 would undertake, and not fweat for'r, Tromlusp 
 Were they to try again, fay twice as many. 
 Under a Thoufand Found ta lay them flat : 
 
Valentinian. 215 
 
 But this Wench flaggers me. 
 
 L Y C I N I U S. 
 Do you fee thefe Jewels ? 
 You would think thefe pretty Baits nowj Vll affure you 
 Here's half the Wealth of ^Jia. 
 
 B A L B U S. 
 
 Thefe are nothing 
 To the full Honours I propounded to hen 
 I bid her think and be, and prefently 
 Whatever her Ambition, what the Counfel 
 Of others would add to her, what her Dreams 
 Could more enlarge, what any Precedent 
 Of any Woman rifing up to Glory ; 
 And Handing certain there, and in the highef!:, 
 Could give her more: Nay, to be Emprefs— « 
 P R O C U L U S. 
 
 And cold at all thefe Offers ? 
 
 B A L B U S. 
 
 •'Colzas Cryflal, 
 Never to be thaw'd. 
 
 C H Y L A X. 
 I try'd her further: 
 And fo far, that I think fhe is no Woman j 
 At leaft as Women go now. 
 
 L Y C 1 N I U S. 
 Why, what did you ? 
 
 C H Y L A X. 
 I offered that, that had fhe been but Miflrefs 
 Of as much Spleen as Doves have, I had reach'd her, 
 A fafe Revenge of all that ever hate her, 
 The crying down for ever of all Beauties, 
 That may be thought come near her; 
 
 PRO- 
 
2i6 Valentinian. 
 
 PROCULUS. 
 That was pretty. 
 
 C H Y L A X. 
 I never knew that way faili yet I telJ you,' 
 I ofFer'd her a Gift beyond all yours. 
 That, that had made a Saint flart, well confider'dj 
 The Law to be her Creature j fhe to make it. 
 Her Mouth to giye it : Every thing a) ve 
 From her Afped to draw their Good or Evil, 
 Fix'd in 'em fpight of Fortune, a new Nature 
 She (hould be caird, and Mother of all Ages ; 
 Time (hould be hers, what Ihe did, flattering Virtues 
 Should blefs to all Pofterities, her Air 
 jWhould give us Life, her Earth and Water feed us, 
 ^^nd laft, to none but to the Emperor 
 
 (And then but when (he pleas'd to have it fo) 
 She Ihould be held a Mortal. 
 
 L Y G I N I U S. 
 And fhe heard you ? 
 
 C H Y L A X. 
 Yes, as a fick Man hears a Noife, or he 
 That ftands condemned, his Judgment, 
 Well if there can be Virtue, if that Name 
 Be any thing but Name, and empty Title, 
 If it be fo as Fools are us*d to feign it, 
 A Power that can preferve us after Death,' 
 And make the Names of Men out-reckon Ages,' 
 This Woman has a God of Virtue in her. 
 
 B A L B U S. 
 I would the Emperor were that God. 
 
 C H Y L A X. 
 
 She |bas in her. 
 
V A LE NTIN I A N. 2 If 
 
 All the Contempt of Glory, and vain feeming 
 
 Of all the Stoicksy all the Truth of Chriftians, 
 
 And all their Conftancy j Modefty was made 
 I When flie was firft intended; when (he blullics 
 
 It is the holieft thing to look upon j 
 I The pur eft Temple of her Sex, that ever 
 
 iMade Nature a blefs'd Founder, 
 If (he were any way inclining 
 To Eafe or pleafure, or affedted glory. 
 Proud to be feen or worlhipp'd, 'twere a venture: 
 But, on my Soul, flie is charter than cold Camphire, 
 B A ,L B U S, 
 I think fo too : For all the ways of Woman 
 Like a full Sail flie bears againft : I ask'd her, 
 After my many Offers, walking with her, 
 And her many down Denials, How 
 If the Ennperor, grown mad with Love, IhouIJ force her ? 
 She pointed to a Lucrece that hung by, 
 
 And with an angry look that from her Eyes 
 
 Shot Veftal Fire againft me, (lie departed, 
 PROCULUS. 
 This is the firft Woman I was ever *pos'd in. 
 Yet I have brought young loving things toget^fr 
 This two and thirty Year. 
 
 C H Y L A X. 
 I find by this fair Lady 
 The Calling of a Bawd to be a ftrangc, 
 A wife and fubtle Calling ; and for none 
 
 I But ftaid, difcreet and underftanding People: 
 And as the Tutor to Great Alexander 
 Would fay, A young man lliould not dare to read 
 His Moral Books 'till after Five and Twenty, 
 L So 
 
Il8 V A L E N T I 'lsi'\A N. 
 
 So muft that He or She that will be Bawdy, 
 
 (f mean difcreetly Bawdy, and be trufted) 
 
 If they will rife and gain experience, 
 
 Well (ieept in Years and Difcipline, begin it — 
 
 I take it \is no Boy's Play; 
 
 B A L B U S. 
 What's to be thought of? 
 
 PROCULUS. 
 The Emperor muft know it. 
 
 L Y C I N I U S. 
 If the Women fhould chance for fail too — — 
 
 C H Y L A X. 
 As 'tis Ten to One. 
 
 PROCULUS. 
 ''^ Why, what remains but new Nets for the parpofe 
 Th* Emperor. ^ 
 
 Enter VALENTINIAN. * 
 
 Valentinian, 
 what! Have you brought her? 
 
 C H Y L A X. 
 Brought her, Sir! alas, 
 What would you do with fuch a Cake of Ice, 
 Whom all the Love i*th' Empire cannot thaw. 
 A dull crofs thing, infenfible of Glory, 
 Deaf to all Promifes, dead to Defirc, 
 A tedious Stickler for her Husband's Rights, 
 Who, like a Beggar's Cur, hath brought her up 
 To fawn on him, and bark at all befides. 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 Lewd and ill-manner'd Fool, were't not for fear 
 To do thee good by mending of thy Manners, 
 
Valentinian. 
 
 21 
 
 ;iy have thee whipt ! Is this th' Account you bring 
 ;To eafe the Torments of my reftlefs mind ? 
 
 B A L 3 U S kneeling. 
 
 Cafar! In vain your ValT^ls have endeavour'd 
 By Promifes, Perfuafions, Reafons, Wealth, 
 AH that can make the fir riCft Virtue bendt 
 To alter her. Our Arguments, like Darts 
 Shot in the Bofom of rheboundlefs Air, 
 Are loft, and do not leave the leaft Impreffions; 
 Forgive us, if we faiFd to overcome 
 Wrtue that could refift the Emperor. 
 
 V A L E N T I N AN. 
 
 You impotent Provokers of my Luft, 
 Who can incite, and have no Power to help^ 
 How dare you be alive, and I unfatisfy'd. 
 Who to your Beings have no other Title 
 t^or leaft Hopes to preferve 'em, but my Smiles? 
 Who play like poifonous l ifedls all theJDay, 
 [n the warm Shine of me your vital Sun; 
 \nd when Night comes muft perifti . ' ' ' ■■ ■■ 
 iVretches ! v^hofe vicious Lives, when I withdraw 
 The abfolute Proted:ion of my Favour, 
 iVill drag you into all the Miferies 
 That your own Terrors, univerfal Hate, 
 \nd Law, with Jails and Whips can bring upon you^ 
 \s you have fail'd to fatify my Wifties, 
 ^crdition is the leaft you can expedl-, 
 Nho durft to undertake and not perform ! 
 Saves! Was it fit I fhould be difappointcd? 
 fct live « 
 
 •ontinue infamous a little longer j 
 
 f^tt have deferv'd to end. But for this once 
 
 h z ] 
 
V A L E N r I N I A N. 
 
 ril not tread out your nafty fauffs of Life j 
 But had your poifonous Flatteries prevail'd 
 Upon her Chaftity I Co admire, 
 A Virtue that adds Fury to my Flames ! 
 Dogs had devour'd ere this your Carcafes 5 
 Is that an Objed fit for my Dcfircsy 
 Which lies within the reach of your Pcrfuafions? 
 Had you by your Infcdlious Induftry 
 ShewM my Lucina frail to that degree. 
 You had been damn*d for undeceivitig me. 
 But to pofTefs her chafte and uncorrupted, 
 There lies the Joy and Glory of ray Love! 
 A PafTion too refin'd for your dull Souls, 
 And fuch a Bleffiog as I fcorn to owe 
 The gaining of to any but my felf : 
 Hade ftraight to Uaximus, and let him know 
 He muft come inftantly and fpeak with me; 
 The reft of you wait here — Fil play to-night. 
 You faucy Fool! fend privately away {To 
 For Lycias hither by the Garden- Gate, 
 That fweet-facM Eunuch that fung 
 In MAxlmmh Grove the other Day, 
 And in my Clofet keep him 'till I come; [E 
 C H Y L A X. 
 
 I fliall, Sir. 
 •lis a foft Rogue, this tycm ; 
 And rightly underftood. 
 He's worth a thoufand Womcns Nicencfles ! 
 The Love of Women moves even with their Lufl, 
 Who therefore ftill are fond, but feldom juft : 
 Their Love is Ufury, while they pretend 
 To g^n the Pleafure double which they lend. 
 
Valentinian. 
 
 21 r 
 
 But a dear Boy's difinterefled Flame 
 
 Gives Pleafure, and for mecr Love gathers Pain; 
 
 In him alone Fondnefs finccre does prove. 
 
 And the kind, render, naked Boy is Love. [Ea:iV. 
 
 SCENE. IL A Garden, 
 £»/^rLUGINA, ARDELIA PHORBA. 
 
 A R D E L I Ai 
 
 You flill infift upon that Idol Honour, 
 Can it renew your Youth ^ Can it add Wealth ? 
 Or take off Wrinkles? Can it draw Mens Eyes, 
 To gaze upon you in your Age? Can Honour, 
 That truly is a Saint to none but Soldiers, 
 And look'd into, bears no Reward but Danger, 
 Leave you the moft refpe<5ted Woman living? 
 Or can the common KilTes of a Husband 
 (Which to a fprighly Lady is a Labour J 
 Make you aim oft immortal ? You are cozen'd^ 
 The Honour of a Woman is her Praifes, 
 The way to get thefc, to be feen and fought to. 
 And not to bory fuch a happy Swcetnefs^ 
 (Under a fmoaking Roof. 
 
 L U C I N A. 
 
 ril hear no more. 
 
 PHORBA. 
 That white and red, and all that blooming Beauty, 
 Kept from the Eyes that make it fo, is nothing: 
 Then you are truly fair, when Men proclaim ic: 
 The ?hoemx that was never feen is doubted , 
 But when the Virtue's known, the Honour's doubled; 
 Virtue is either lame, or not at all, 
 J L 3 And 
 
^^^ Valentinia n. 
 
 And Love a Sacrilege, and not a Saint, 
 When it bars up the Way to Mens Petitions. 
 
 ARDELIA. 
 Nay, you fiiall love your Husband too 5 w« j 
 Come not to make a Monfter of you. ] 
 LUCINA. 
 
 Arc you Women? 
 
 ARDELIA. 
 
 You'll find us foj and Women you (hall thank tool [ 
 Ifyou have but Grace to make your Ufc, f 
 LUCINA. 
 
 Fie on you. 
 
 PHORBA; I 
 Alas! poor bafliful Lady! By my Soul, * ^ 
 
 Had you no other Virtue but your Blufhes,' | 
 And I a Man, I Ihould run mad for thofc! j 
 How prettily they fet her off! how fweetly ! ; J 
 
 ARDELIA. ■ 
 Come, Goddcfs, come ! you move too near the EartB^ | 
 It muft not be, a better Orb flays for yen, ; 
 LUCINA. 
 
 Pray leave me. 
 
 PHORBA, 
 That were a Sin, fweet Madam, and a way 
 To make us guilty of your Melancholy^ 
 You muft not be alone : In Converfatioo, 
 Doubts are rcfolv'd, and what fticks near the Confciencc i t 
 Made eafy and allowable. 
 
 LUCINA. 
 
 Ye are Devils. 
 
 ARDELIA. 
 That you may one day bk& for your Damnation. 
 
 LU 
 
i V A L E N T I N I A N. 21^ 
 
 I 
 
 I LUC IN A. 
 
 ! I charge you, in the name of Chaftity, 
 U Tempt me no more : Kow ugly you feem to me ! 
 
 There is no wonder Men defame our Sex, 
 jfj And lay the Vices of all Ages on us, 
 I When fuch as you fliall bear the name of Women: 
 
 If you had Eyes to fee your felvcs, or Senfe 
 
 Above the bafe Rewards ye earn with Shame! 
 
 If ever in your Lives ye heard of Goodnefs, 
 
 Tho' many Regions off, — as Men hear Thunder : 
 
 If ever you had fathers, and they Souls, 
 
 Or ever Mothers, and not fuch as you are! 
 
 If ever any thing were conftant in you 
 
 IBefidcs your Sins ! 
 
 llf any of your Anceftors, 
 
 Dy'd worth a noble Deed — that would be cherifh'dj 
 iSoul- frighted with this black Infection, 
 lYou would run from one another s Repentance, 
 lAnd from your guilty Eyes drop out thofe Sins 
 That made ye blind and Beafts. 
 
 P H O R B A. 
 You fpeak well, Madam ! 
 A fign of fruitful Education, 
 llf your Religious Zeal had Wifdom with if. 
 
 A R DELI A. 
 This Lady was crdain'd to hk£s the Empire, 
 And we may all give thanks for her. 
 
 PHORB A. 
 
 I believe you, 
 
 A R D E L I A. 
 
 If any thing redeem the Emperor, 
 From his wild flying Courfes, this is (he! 
 
 L 4 She 
 
^^4• A L E N T I N I A N. 
 
 She can inftruft him — if you mark (he's wife too. 
 
 P H O R B A. 
 Exceeding wife, which is a Wonder in her j 
 And fo religious, that I well believe,* 
 Tho' llie would fin fhe cannot. 
 
 A R D E L I A. 
 
 And befides 
 
 She has the Empire's Caufe in Hand, not Love's t 
 There lies the main Confideration, 
 For which (he is chiefly born, 
 
 P H O R B A. 
 
 She finds that Point 
 Stronger than we can tell her, and beh'eve it, 
 i look by her means for a Reformation, 
 And fuch a one, and fuch a rare way carry 'd« 
 A R DELI A. 
 
 I never thought the Emperor had Wifdom,' 
 Pity, or fair Affedion to his Country, 
 'Till he profcfs^d this Love. Gods give 'em Childrctt 
 Such as her Virtues merit, and his Zeal; 
 I look to fee a Numa from this Lady, 
 Or greater than O^av'ms, 
 
 p H o R B a; 
 
 Do you mark too, 
 Which is a noble Virtue— ^ how fhe blufhes. 
 And what flowing Modefty runs through her 
 When we but name the Emperor. 
 
 ARDELIA. 
 
 Mark it ! 
 
 Yes, and admire it too ; For (he confidcrs 
 Tho' fhe be fair as Heav'n, and virtuous 
 Aiholy Truth; yet to the Emperor, 
 
 She 
 
Valentinian. 225 
 
 she is a kind of Nothing— '-but her Service; 
 Which fhe is bound to offer, and Ihc'll do it j 
 And when her Country's Caufe commands Affedlion, 
 She knows Obedience is the Key of Virtues; 
 Then fly the Blulhesout like Cupid's Arrows: 
 And though the Tie of Marriage to her Lord, 
 Would fain cry, Stay Lucim—^ yet the Cauft 
 And general Wifdom of the Prince's Love 
 Makes her find furer Ends, and happier. 
 And if the firfl were chafte, thcfe arc twice doubled.' 
 PHORBA. 
 
 Her Tartnefs to us too, 
 
 A R D E L I A. 
 
 That's a wife one, 
 
 PHORBA. 
 I like it, it ihews a rifing Wifdora, 
 That chides all common Fools, who dare enquire 
 What Princes would have private, 
 
 A R D E L I A. 
 What a Lady lliall we be blefs'd to fcrve? 
 
 LUCI N A. 
 Go — get you from me. 
 Ye are your Purfes Agents, not the PrinceV, 
 Is this the virtuous Love you train'd me out to? 
 Am I a Woman fit to imp your Vices? 
 But that I had a Mother, and a Womsn 
 Whofe ever-living Fame turns all it touches 
 Into the Good it felf was, I fiiould now 
 Even doubt my felf; I have been fearch'd fo near 
 The very Soul of Honour, V/hy fliould you Two, 
 That happily have been as chafle as I am! 
 Fairer I think by much (for yet your Faces, 
 
 L f Liks 
 
VALEN"TfNfAH> 
 
 Like ancient well-built Piles, fhew worthy Ruins) 
 
 After that Angel-Age, turn Mortal Devils ! 
 
 For Shame, for Womanhood, for what you have becnj 
 
 (For rotten Cedars have born goodly Branches) 
 
 If you have hope of any Heav'n but Court, 
 
 Which- like a Dream, you'll find hereafter vaniQi: 
 
 Or at the beft but fubjef^ to Repentance! 
 
 Study no more to be ill fpoken of, 
 
 Let Women live themfelves, if they muft failf 
 
 Their own Deftrudbion find 'em. 
 
 A R D E L I A. 
 You are fo excellent in all. 
 That 1 mufl tell you with Admiration! 
 So true a Joy you have, fo'fweet a Fear ? 
 And when you come to Anger — 'tis fo noble^ 
 That for my own parr, I could dill offend. 
 To hear you angry: Women that want that, 
 And your way guided, (elfe I count it nothing) 
 Are either Fools or fearful. 
 
 P H O R B A. 
 She were no Miftrefs for the World's great Lord, 
 Could (lie not frown a ravifli'd ICifs from Anger, 
 And fi'ch an Anger as this Lady (hews us, 
 Stuck wich fuch pleafing Dangers (Gcds I ask ye) 
 ^ 3^hich of you all couW hold from ? 
 
 L U C I N A, 
 
 I perceive you, 
 Your own dark Sins dwell with you, and that Price 
 You fell the Chaftity of modefl Wivts at, 
 Run to DiftaO-s with you< — I defpife you. 
 And all the Nets you have pitched to catch my Virtue^ 
 Like Spider's webs, I fweep away before me 
 4 
 
Valentinian. 
 
 227 
 
 Go! tell th'Emperor, you have met a Woman, 
 fThat neither his own Perfon, which is God-like, 
 . The World he rules, nor what that World can .puf chafe,' 
 Nor all the Glories fubje^l to a C^pir! 
 The Honours that he offers for my Honour, 
 The Hopes, the Gifts, and evcrlarting Flatteries, 
 Nor any thing that's his, and apt to tempt; 
 No! not to be the Mother of the Empire, 
 And Queen of all the holy Fires he worlhips. 
 Can make a Whore of me. 
 
 A R D £ L I A. 
 You miftake us, Madam. 
 
 luclna: 
 
 Yet tell him thij, h'as much weakened me. 
 That I have heard his Slaves, an j you his Matrons^ 
 Fit Nurfcs for his Sins! which Gods forgive me, 
 But ever to be leaning to his Folly, 
 Or to be brought to love his Vice-— afllire him, 
 And from her Mouth, whofe Life fhall make ic certain,^ 
 I never canj I have a noble Husband, 
 Pray tell him that too : Yet a nobis Name, 
 A noble Family, and laft a Confcience. 
 Thus much by way of anfwerj for your felves, 
 You have liv'd the Shame of Women — die.the better. 
 
 Lucina. 
 
 P H O R B A. 
 What's now to do ? 
 
 A R D E L I A. 
 Even as ftie faid, to die, 
 For there's no living here and Women thus, 
 I am fure for us tvyto. 
 
 P H O R B A. 
 Nothing ftick upon her ? A Kf 
 
ai8 
 
 Valentinian. 
 
 A R D E L I A. 
 We have loft a Mafs of Money} well, Dame. Virtuf^. 
 Y«t you may halt, if good Luck fervc! 
 
 P H O R B A. 
 
 Worms take her. 
 
 A R D E L I A. 
 
 So Godly 
 
 This is ill Breeding, Thorba, 
 
 P H O R B A. 
 
 If the Women 
 Should have a longing now to fee the Monftei?^. 
 And ihe convert *em all! 
 
 A R D EL I A, 
 
 That may be, Vhorba! 
 But if it be Til have the young Men hang'd. 
 — • Come— Iet'5 go think — fliemuft not Tcape us thus* 
 
 ACT III. S C E N E I. 
 
 ^he Scene op ens ^ and difcovers the Emperor at Dlca^ 
 
 MAXIMUM, LYCINIUS, PROCULUS, ml 
 CHYLAX.- 
 
 VaLENTINI AN; 
 
 NAY! fet my Hand out: 'Tis not juft 
 I fhould neglect my Luck when 'cis fo prolpVousi 
 C H Y L A X. 
 If I have any thing to fet you, Sir, but Clothes 
 And good Conditions, let me perifts 
 you have all my Mony. PR'(>:- 
 
Valentinian. Zl^ 
 
 PROCU LUS. 
 
 And mine. 
 
 LYCINIUS. 
 
 f And mine too, 
 
 ; M A X I M U ^ 
 
 You may truft us fure 'till to-morrow,' 
 i Gr, if you pleafe, I'll fend home for Money prcfcntly;. 
 V A L E N T I N I A N: 
 'Tis already Morning, and flaying will be tedious, 
 f! My Luck will vanifli ere your Money comes. 
 
 C H Y L A X. 
 Shall we redeem 'em if we .fct our Horfes ? 
 VA LENT INI AN. 
 
 Yes fairly* 
 
 C H Y L A X. 
 That at my ^////^.— 
 V ALENTINI AN; 
 
 At it *Tis mine. 
 
 G H-Y LAX. 
 Then farewel, Fig-treesi for I can ne'er redeem 'em* 
 VALENTIN I AN. 
 
 Who fets? Set any thing. 
 
 LYCINIUS. 
 
 At my Horfe. 
 
 V A LENT I NX AN. 
 The Dapple Spaniard f 
 
 LYCINIUS. 
 
 He. 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 
 He's mine. 
 
 LYCINIUS* 
 
 Heis fo» 
 
 MAXI^: 
 
%io Valentinian. 
 
 M A X I M U S, 
 
 Ha! 
 
 L Y c I N I u s: 
 
 Nothing, my Lord! But Pox on my damn*d Fortune: 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 Come, Max'mHs\ you wtre not wont to flinch, 
 
 M A X I M U S. 
 By Heav'n, Srr, I have not a Penny. 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 Then that Ring. 
 
 M A X I M U S. 
 G good Sir, this was not given to Jofe. 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 
 Some Love-Token Set it, I fay! 
 
 M A X I M U S. 
 
 I beg you, Sir. 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 How filly and how fond you are grown of Toys ! 
 
 M A X I M-U S. 
 Shall I redeem it ? 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 When you pleafe j to-nierrow, 
 Or next day as you will: I do not care. ; 
 
 Only for Luck fake 
 
 M A X I M U S. 
 There, Sir, will you throw ? 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 Why then, have at it fairly; the laft Stake ! 
 *Tis mine. 
 
 M A X I M U S. 
 Y*areever fortunate; to-morrow 
 ril bring you — ~ what you pleafe to think it worth.' 
 
 VA- 
 
V A L E N T 1 N I A 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 Then your Ardim Horfcj but for this Night 
 rU wear it as my Vidlory. 
 
 I^ter B A L B U S. 
 
 B A L B U S, 
 
 From the Camp 
 Mc'ms in hafte has fent thefe Letters; Sir j 
 It feems the Cohorts mutiny for Pay. 
 
 V A«L E N T I N I A N. 
 Maximm'-This is ill News. Next Week they are to march; 
 You muft away immediately 5 no ftay, 
 .No, not fo much as to take leave at home„ 
 This careful hifte may probably appeafe 'em 5 
 Send word, what are their Numbers 5 
 And Money (hall be fent to pay *em all, 
 Befides fomething by way of Donative. 
 
 M A X I M U S. 
 ril not delay a Moment, Sir. 
 The Gods preferve you in this mind for ever* 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 ril fee 'em march my felf. 
 
 M A X I MUS. 
 Gods ever keep you ■ [E^/VMax. 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 To what end now d'ye think this Ring (hall fervc ? 
 For you are the dull'ft and the verieft Rogues—— 
 Fellows that know only by rote, as Birds 
 Whiftle and fing. 
 
 C H Y L A X. 
 Why, Sir, 'tis for the Lady. 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 The Li^dy, Blockhead ! which end of the Lady ? 
 Her Nofel " " C H Y- 
 
252 Valentinian. 
 
 C H YL AX. 
 
 Faith, Sir, that I know not. 
 
 V A L E N T I N I A 1^- 
 
 Then pray for him that does ■ 
 Fetch in the Eunuch j [Ex* Cbyl.. 
 
 You! See th' Apartment made very fine 
 That lies upon the Garden, Masks and Mufick, 
 With the beft fpeed you can. And all your Arts: 
 Serve to the higheft, for my Mafter-piece 
 Is now on foot, 
 
 P R O C U L U S. 
 Sir, we ftiall have a care. 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 I'll fleep an Hour or two; and let the Women 
 Put on a graver fhew of Welcome ! 
 Your Wives! they are fuch Haggard Bawds, 
 A Thought too eager. [Enter Cbyl. md Lycias^ 
 
 ^ C HYL AX. 
 
 Here's Lycias, Sir. 
 
 L YCI AS. 
 
 Long Life to mighty Cafar. 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 Fortune to thee, for I muft ufe thee, Lycias^ 
 
 L Y C I A S. 
 I am the humble Slave of Cafir's Will, 
 By my Ambition bound to his Commands^ 
 As by my Duty. 
 
 VALENTINIAN^. 
 
 Follow me. 
 
 L YCI AS. 
 
 With Joy,.-. [Exeunf. 
 
 SCENE 
 
Valentinian. 233 
 
 SCENE II. Grove and Foreji. 
 
 Enter L U C I N A. 
 Dear folitary Groves where Peace does dwell, 
 Sweet Harbours of pure Love and Innocence! 
 How willingly could I for ever flay 
 Beneath the Shade of your embracing Greens. 
 Lift*ning to Harmony of warbling Birds, 
 Tun'd with the gentle Murmurs of the Streams^ 
 Upon whofe Banks in various Livery, - 
 The fragrant Offspring of the early if ear, 
 Their Heads like graceful Swans bent proudly down,* 
 Sees their own Beauties in the Cryftal Flood? 
 Of thefe I could myflerious Chaplets weave, 
 Exprefling fome kind innocent DeHgn, 
 To (hew my Maxtmus at his Return, 
 And fondly chiding make his Heart confefs. 
 How far my bufy Idlenefs excels 
 The idle Bufinefs he purfues all day. 
 At the contentious Court or clamorous Camp» 
 Robbing my Eyes of what they love to fee. 
 My Ears of his dear Words they wifli to hear» 
 My longing Arms of th' Embrace they covet; 
 Forgive me Heav'n ! if when I thefe enjoy^ 
 So perfe(Sl: is the Happinefs I find. 
 That my Soul fatisfy'd feels no Ambition, 
 To change thefe humble Roofs and fit above. 
 
 Enter MARCELLINA. 
 
 Marcellina. 
 Madam, my Lord, juft now alighted here* 
 Was, by an Order from th' Emperor, 
 Cali'd back to Court 1 This 
 
234 Va L E N T INI A N. 
 
 This he commanded me to let you know, 
 And that he would make hade in his Return*? 
 
 The Emperor! 
 Unwonted Horror fei'zes me all o*er, 
 When I but hear him nam'd: fure 'tis not Hatcj^ 
 For tho' his impious Love with Scorn I heard. 
 And fled with Terror from his threatning Force, 
 Duty commands me humbly to forgive, 
 And blcfs the Lord to whom my Lord does bow f 
 Nay more, methinks, he is the gracefulleft Man, 
 His Words fo fram'd to tempt, himfelf to pleafe,' 
 That 'tis my Wonder how the Pow'rs above,. 
 Thofe wife and careful Guardians of the Good, 
 Have trufted fuch a force of tempting Charms 
 To Enemies declared of Innocence! 
 
 Tis then fome ftrange Prophetick Fear I feci. 
 That feems to warn me of approaching Ills. 
 Go, Marcellinax fetch your Lute, and iing that Song 
 My Lord calls his: Til try to wear away 
 The melancholy Thoughts his Abfence breeds ! 
 Come gentle Slumbers, in your flatt'riog Arms 
 Til bury thefe Difquiets of my Mind, 
 'Till Maximus returns — for when he's here. 
 My Heart is rais'd above the reach of Fear. 
 
 L U C I N A. 
 
 SONG, 
 
 [Marcellina fingsl 
 By Mr.P^. 
 
 ShM 
 
V A L E N T I N I A N* 235 
 
 shall a Slave, whom Racks conjlrairft 
 Be forbidden to complain ? ' 
 Let her [corn me, let her fly me. 
 Let her Looks her Life deny me. 
 Ne'er can my Heart change for Relief, 
 Or my Tongue ceafe to tell my Grief 
 Mmh to love^ and much to fray, 
 Is to Heaven the only Way, 
 
 marcellina: 
 
 She llceps. 
 
 {The Song ended, "EmeHm Cmi^^ andMktcAMk^ 
 before the Dance, 
 
 SCENE III. Daf^ce of Satyrs. 
 
 Iw/er CLAUDIA and MARCELLINA iP 
 LUCINA. 
 
 Claudia^ 
 Prithee, what ails my Lady, that of late 
 She never cares for Company ? 
 
 MARCELLINA- 
 
 I know not, 
 Unlefs it be that Company caufes Cuckolds; 
 
 CLAUDIA. 
 Ridiculous! That were a childifli Fear 5 
 *Tis Opportunity does caufe *em rather, 
 ' When two made one are glad to be alone. 
 
 MARCELLINA. 
 
 But Claudia why this fitting up all Nighti 
 
 In Groves by purling Streams? This argues Heat, 
 Great Heat and Vapours, which are main Corrupters, 
 Mark when you will, your Ladies that have Vapours, 
 
 Thef 
 
^^6 Valentinian. 
 
 They are not Flinchers, that infuking Spleen, 
 Is the Artillery of powerful Luflj 
 Difcharg'd upon weak Honour, which (lands outi 
 Two Fits of Headach at the moft» then yields, 
 CLAUDIA. 
 
 Thou art the fr ailed Creature, Marcellina ! 
 And think'ft all Woman's Honour like thine own! 
 So thin a Cobweb, that each blaft of Paffion 
 Can blow away : But for my own part, Girl> 
 I think I may be well ftil'd Honour's Martyr,, 
 iWith iTrmeA Condancy 1 have endur'd 
 The raging Heats of paflionate Defircs! 
 VJhlk flaming Love and boiling Nature both,' 
 Were pouv'd upon my Soul with equal Torture; 
 larm'd with Refolution flood it out^ 
 And kept my Honour fafe. 
 
 MARCELLINA. 
 
 Thy Glory's great ! 
 But, Claudia^ Thanks to Hcav'n that I am made 
 The weakeft of all Women } fram'd fo frail, 
 That Honour ne'er thought fit to choofe me out 
 His Champion again ft pleafure ; My poor Heart, 
 For divers Years, ftili tofs'd from Flame to Flamc> 
 Is now burnt up to Tinder, every Spark, 
 Dropt from kind Eyes, fets it a-fire afrefiij 
 Prefs'd by a gentle Hand I melt away : 
 One Sigh s a Storm that blows me all along; 
 Pity a Wretch who has no Charm at all, 
 Againft the impetuous Tide of flowing Pleafure, 
 Who wants both Force and Courage to maintain 
 The glorious War made upon Flcfti and Blood,, 
 But is a Sacrifice to every Wifh, 
 
Valentinian. 237 
 
 And has no Power left to refift a Joy. 
 
 CLAUDIA. 
 
 Poor Girl! how ftrange a Riddle Virtue is! 
 They never mifs it who poiTc(s it not j 
 And they who have it, ever fi ad a want. 
 With what Tranquillity and Peace thou liv'ft! 
 For flript of Shame, thou haft no Caufe to feari 
 While I, the Slave of Virtue, am afraid 
 Of every thing I feej and think the World 
 A dreadful Wildernefs of Savage Beaftsj 
 Each Man I meet I fancy will devour me; 
 And fway'd by Rules not natural but affcdled, 
 I hate Mankind for fear of being lov'd. 
 
 M A R C E L L I N A. 
 
 *Tis nothing lefs than Wirchcraft can conflraio, 
 Still to perfift in Errors we perceive ! 
 Prithee reform ; what Nature prompts us to. 
 And Reafon feconds, why fhould we avoid ? 
 This Honour is the vericft Mountebank, 
 It fits our Fancies with affedled Tricks, 
 And makes us freakifh; what a Cheat muft that be, 
 Which robs our Lives of all their fofter Hours ! 
 Beauty our only Trcafure it lays wafte. 
 Hurries us over our negleded Youth, 
 'To the detcfted State of Age and Uglinefs, 
 Tearing our deareft Hearts Defirc from us; 
 Then in Reward of what it took away. 
 Our Joys, our Hopes, our Wi(hcs and Delightsi' 
 It bountifully pays us all with Pride! 
 Poor Shifts! ft ill to be proud, and never pleas'd, 
 Yet this is all your Honour can do for you. 
 
 CL AU- 
 
a j S y A L E N T I N I A 
 
 C L A U D I A. 
 
 Concluded like thy kit, for fure thou art 
 The moft corrupt corrupting Thing alive 5 
 Yet glory not too much in cheating Wit ; 
 Tis but falfe V/ifdom j and its Property 
 Has ever been to-take the Part of Vice, 
 Which tho' the Fancy with vain Shews it plcafe, 
 Yec wants a Power to fatisfy the Mind. [Lucina wakes'^ 
 
 But fee my Lady wakes, and comes this way. 
 Blefs me! how pale, and how confus'd ftie looks! 
 LUCINA. 
 
 In what fantaftick new World have I been ? 
 What Horrors pad? what threatning Vifions feen ? 
 Wrapt as 1 lay in my amazing Trance, 
 The Hoft of Heav'n an4 Hell did round me dance: 
 Debates arofe betwixt the Powr's above, 
 And thofe below: Mcthoughts they talk'd of Love, 
 And nam'd me often ; but it could not be, 
 Of any Love that had to do with me, ( 
 For all the while they talk'd and argu'd thus, 
 I never heard one Word of Maximus, 
 DifcourteousNy .. phsi whoown thcfemurm'ring Floods^ 
 And you unkind Divinities o'.h' Woods! 
 Wtien to your Banks and Bowers I came diftrefs*d. 
 Half dead thro* Abfence, feeking Peace and Reft, 
 Why would y u not protcd, by thefe. your Streams, 
 A fleepii g Wretch from fuch wild difmal Dreams ! ^ 
 Mii-lhapcn Monfters rt und in Meafure.s went. 
 Horrid in Form, with Gcftures infolent: 
 Grinning thro* Goanfh skards with half-cl jsM Eyes,' 
 They look'd me in the Face i frighted, to rife 
 
Valentinian. 239 
 
 In vain I did attempt; methought no Ground 
 iWas, to fupport my finking Footdcps, found. 
 In clammy Fogs like one half choak'd I lay. 
 Crying for help, my Voice was fnatch'd away* 
 
 And when I would have fled, 
 i My Limbs benum'd or dead. 
 
 Could not my Will with Terror wing'd obey.' >j 
 Upon my abfent Lord for help I cry'd ; 
 But in that Momtnt when I muft have dy'd. 
 With Anguifli of my Fears confuung Pains, 
 Relenting Sleep loob'd his Tyrannick Chains. 
 
 CLAUDIA. 
 Madam, alas! fuch Accidents asthcfe, 
 Are not of value to diflurb your Peace. 
 The cold damp Dews of Night have mixtand wrought','^ 
 With the dark Melancholy of your Thought; > 
 And thro* your Fancy thefe Illufions brought ; 3 
 !'[ ftill have mark'd your Fondnefs will afford 
 No Hour of Joy, in th' Abfence of my Lord. 
 
 Enter L Y C I A S with a Ring. 
 
 \ L U C I N A. 
 
 i Abfent, all Night—- and never fend me word ! 
 LYCIAS. 
 Madam, while fleeping by thofe Banks you lay. 
 One frcm my Lord commanded me away* 
 In all obedient hafte I went to Court, 
 Where bufy Crowds confusedly did refort; 
 News from the Camp it feems was then arrived. 
 Of Tumults rais'd, and Civil Wars contriv'd ; 
 The Emperor frighted from his Bed, does call 
 Grave Senators to Council ia the Hall 
 
 Throngt 
 
24^ Valentinian* " 
 
 Throngs of ill-favour'd Faces fill'd with Scars 
 Wait for Employments, praying hard for Wars. 
 At Council Door attend with fair Pretence, 
 In Knavifh Decency and Reverence, 
 Bankers, who with officious diligence 
 Lend Money to fupply the prefenc Need, 
 At treble Ufe, that greater may fucceed. 
 So publick Wants will private Plenty breed. 
 Wbifp'riog in evVy Corner you might fee. 
 
 L U C I N A. 
 But what's all this to Maximus and me? 
 Where is my Lord ? what Mcffage has he fent ? 
 Is he in health? What'fatal Accident 
 Does all this while his wifh'd Return prevent ? 
 
 L Y C I A S. 
 When e'er the Gods that happy Hour decree. 
 May he appear fafe, and with Vidory 5 
 Of many Heroes, who flood candidate 
 To be the Arbiters 'cwixt Rcme and Fate 5 
 To quell Rebellon, and proted the Throne, 
 A choice was made of Mdximus alone 5 
 The People, Soldiers, Senate, Emperor, 
 For Maximus with one Confent concur. 
 Their new-born Hopes now hurry him away, 
 Nor will their Fears admit one moment's flay: 
 Trembling through Terror left he come too late 
 They huddle his Difpatch, while at the Gate 
 The Emperor's Chariots to condud him wait. 
 
 LU C I N A. 
 Thefe fatal Honours my dire Dream foretold! 
 Why fhould the Kind be ruin'd by the Bold? 
 He ne'er refleds upon my Deftiny, 
 So carelefs of himfelf, undoing me. 
 
Valentinian. 
 
 All, Claudia! in my Vifions fo unskill'd. 
 
 He'll to the Army go, and there be kilIU 
 
 Forgetful of my Lovej hell not afford 
 
 The eafy Favour of a parting Word; 
 
 Of all my Wiflies he's alone the Scope, 
 
 And he's the only end of all my Hope, 
 ,sMy fill of Joy, and what is yet above 
 : Joys, Hopes and Wilhes He is all my Love: 
 
 Myflerious Honour, tell me what thou art! 
 
 That takes up different Forms in ev'ry Heart; 
 
 And dofl to divers Ends and Interefts move: 
 1 Conqueffc is his my Honour is my Love. 
 
 Both thefe do Paths fo oppofitely choofe. 
 
 By following one, you muft the other- lofe. 
 
 So two ftraight Lines from the fame Point begun; 
 
 Can never meet, tho' without end they run 
 
 Alas, I rave! 
 
 [L Y C I A S. 
 Look on thy Glory, Love, and fmile to fee 
 Two faithful Hearts at Strife for Vidory ! 
 Who blazing in thy facred Fires contend, 
 While both their equal Flames to Heav'n afcend. 
 The God that* dwells in Eyes light on my Tongue; 
 Lcfl in my Mcffage I his PafTion wrong; 
 You'll better guefs the Anguifh of his Heart, 
 From what you feel, than what I can impart; 
 But, Madam, know the Moment I was come. 
 His watchful Eyeprerceiv'd me in the Room; 
 When with a quick precipitated hafte 
 From Cdfar's Bofom where he flood embracM, 
 Piercing the bufy Crowd to me he p^jt 
 
 M 
 
242. Valentinian. 
 
 Tears in his Eyes-^ his Orders in his Hand, 
 He fcarce had breath to give this Ihort Command, 
 With thy befl fpeed to my Lucina By, 
 If I mu ft parr, unfcen by her, I diej 
 Decrees inevitable from above, 
 And Fate which takes too little care of Love, 
 Force me away : Tell her, 'tis my Requeft, 
 By thofe kind Fires fhe kindled in my BrcaH", 
 Oar future Hopes, and all that we hold dear. 
 She inftantly would come and fee me here : 
 That parting Griefs to her I may reveal 
 And on her Lips propitious Omens feaJ, 
 Affairs that prefs in this fliort fpace of time. 
 Afford no other Place without a Crime j 
 Ancf that thou may 'ft not fail of wifb*d-for Ends, 
 In a Succek whereon my Life depends, 
 Give her this Ring. [Looks 09 the Rir^ 
 
 LUCINA. 
 How ftrange foever thefe Commands appear. 
 
 Love awes my Reafcn, and controls my Fear. 
 
 But how couldft thou employ thy lavifti Tongu« 
 
 So idly, to be telling this fo long; 
 
 When ev ry Moment thou haft fpcnt in vain, 
 
 Was half the Life that did to me remain. 
 
 Flatter me, Hope, and on my Wiftics fmile. 
 
 And make me happy yet a little while. 
 
 If through my Fears I can fuch Sorrow (how, 
 
 As to convince I perifti if he go: 
 
 Pity perhsps his gen'rous Heart may move. 
 
 To facrificc his Glory to his Lgve, 
 
 J'il not defpair ! 
 
Valentinian. g4J 
 
 who knows how eloquent thefe Eyes may prove, 
 Begging in Floods of Tears and FJamcs of Love. 
 
 lExit Luclna; 
 
 L Y C I A S. 
 
 Thanks to the Devil, my Friend, now alPs our own, ^ 
 How eafily this mighty Work was done! 
 Well ! Rvh or laft all Women mufl: be won—— 3 
 It is their Fate, and cannot be withflood. 
 The Wife do ftill comply with Flcfh and Blood j 
 " Or if through peevifh Honour, Nature fail, 
 They do but lofe their Thanks j Art will prevail. 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 
 Inter ^ C I U S pHrfumg P O N T I U S, M AX I M U S 
 
 following, 
 
 R M A X I M u s.; 
 
 ^■Temper your felf, JEcm. 
 |f PONTIUS. 
 
 Hold, my Lord — - 1 am a Soldier and a Komm,] 
 M A Xjl M US. 
 
 Pray Sir ! 
 
 ^ C I U S. 
 
 Thou art a lying Villain and a. Traitor, 
 Give me my feif, or by the God?, my Friend, 
 You'll make me dang'rous: How dar'il thou pluck 
 The Soldiers to Sedition, and I living? 
 And fow Seeds of rank Rebellion even then. 
 When lam drawing out to Adtion ? 
 
 PONTIUS. 
 
 Hear me, 
 
 M A X I M U S.J 
 Are you a Man ?^ 
 
 M 2 :^_c I u s; 
 
a44 Valentinian. 
 
 JECIUS. 
 1 am true, Mctxmus I 
 And if the Villain live we are difhonour'd^ 
 M A X I M U S. 
 But hear him what he can fay ! 
 
 C I U S. 
 
 That's the way 
 To pardon him i I am fo eafy natur'd. 
 That if he fpeak but humbly, I forgive him; 
 
 PONTIUS. 
 I do befeech you, worthy General j 
 
 iE C I U S. 
 H'has found the way already. Give me roomi 
 And if he 'fcape me th^n, h' has Mercy. 
 
 PONTIUS. 
 I do not eall you Worthy, that I fear you : 
 I never car'd for Death j if you will kill me, 
 Confider firft for what; not what you can do: 
 *Tis true, I know you are my General i 
 And by that great Prerogative may kill 
 iE CI U S. 
 
 He argues with me! 
 By Heav'n, a made->up finifh'd Rebel. 
 
 M A X I M U S. 
 Pray confider what certain ground you have^ 
 yE CI U S. 
 
 What Grounds? 
 Did I not take him preaching to the Soldier si 
 How la2,ily they liv'd , and what Di'fhonour 
 It was to ferve a Prince fo full of Softnefs ! 
 Thefe were his very Words, Sir. 
 
 M A X I M U S. 
 
 Thefs ! Mcmst 
 
Valentin IAN. 24^ 
 
 Tho* they were xMy fpoke, which was an Error, 
 A great one, Pontius ! yet from him that hungers 
 For War, and brave Employment, might be pardon'd. 
 The Heart, and harboured Thoughts of makes Traitor:?,' 
 Nor ^^\tQl^y Speeches ■ ■ 
 
 Why fhould you protedi: him ? 
 
 Go to — it icarce- fliews honed » ■ ■>■ » ^ ^ . ^ 
 
 M A X I M U S. 
 
 Taint me not j 
 For that fhews worfe, JEcius: All your Friendiliipi 
 And that pretended Love you lay upon me, 
 (Hold back my Honefty) is like a Favour, 
 You do your Slave to-day — to-morrow hang him^ 
 Was I your Bofcm Friend for this ? 
 m JECI U S. 
 
 V Forgive me ! 
 
 So zealous is my Du^y for my Vrmc^^ 
 
 That oft it makes me to f( rgct my fclf; 
 
 And tho' I ftrive to be without my Pafiion^ 
 
 I am no God, Sir: For you, whofc Infedlioa 
 
 Has fpread it fclf like Poifon thro' the Army, 
 
 And cafl: a killing Fog on fair Allegiance; 
 
 Firft thank this noble Gentleman ; you had dyM elfe^ 
 
 Next, from your Place and Honour of a Soldier 
 
 1 here feciude you, 
 
 PONTIUS. 
 
 May I fpcak yet ? 
 
 M A X I M U S. 
 
 Hear him. 
 
 MCIVS, 
 And while JEcm holds a Reputation; 
 
 M 1;. At 
 
^6 V A L E N TIN IAN. 
 
 At leaft Command ^ You bear no Arms for Rome^ Sir. 
 PONTIUS. 
 Againft fcer I fhall never: The condemned Man 
 Has yet the Privilege to fpeak, my Lord, 
 L^w were not equal elfe. 
 
 MAXIMUS. 
 Pray hear him, ^cms. 
 For happily the Fault he has committed. 
 The/ I believe it mighty 5 yet confider*d. 
 If Mercy may be thought upon, will prov« 
 Rather a hafty Sin than heinous. 
 
 ^ C 1 U S. 
 
 Spesk., 
 
 ^ PONTIUS. 
 'Tis true,#ny Lord, you took me tir'd with Peac»i 
 My Words as rough and ragged 9s my Fortune, 
 Telling the Soldiers what a Man we ferve. 
 Led from us by the FlouriOies of Fcncersj 
 I blam'd him too for Sofcnefs. 
 
 JE C I U S. 
 
 To the reft, Sir, 
 
 PONTIUS, 
 'TIs true I told 'cm too, 
 We lay at home to fhew our Country 
 "We durfl go naked, durft want Meat and Money? 
 And when the Slaves drink Wine, we durft be thirfty, 
 I told 'em too, the Trees and Roots 
 Were our beft Pay-mafters. 
 'Tis likely too, I counfell'd 'em to turn 
 Their warlike Pikes to Plowfliares, their fure Targets, 
 ^ And Swords hatcht with the Blood of many Nations, 
 To Spades and Pxuning-knives} their warlike 
 Eagles, into Daws and Starlings. MCIUS' 
 
V A L E N t I N I A N. 
 
 247 
 
 MClUS. 
 
 What think you ? 
 Were thefe Words to be fpoken by a Captaiflj 
 One that (hould give Example? 
 
 M A X I M U S, 
 
 .^Twas too much. 
 
 PONTIUS. 
 
 My Lord, I did not woo 'em from the Empirer 
 Nor bid *em turn their daring Steel 'gainfl: Cdfar-y 
 The Gods for ever hate me, if that Motion 
 Wer^part of me: Give me but Employment, 
 And way to live, and where you find me viciousj 
 Bred up to Mutiny, my Sword fhall tell you. 
 And if you pleafe that Place I held maintain ir, 
 'Gainfi: the moft daring Foes of Rome : I'm honeft, 
 A Lover of my Country, one that holds 
 His Life no longer his, than kept for C^f^r : 
 Weigh not — (I thus low on my Knees bcfeech ycn\) 
 What my rude Tongue difcover'd, 'twas my Want, 
 No other part of ?on!ius. You have feen me, 
 And you, my Lord, do fomething for my Country, 
 And both the Wounds I gave and took. 
 Not like a backward Traitor. 
 
 iE C I U S. 
 
 All your Language 
 Makes buc againft you, Tcnms I You are caff. 
 And by my Honour, and ray Love to C^ey^r, 
 By me fhall never be redored in Camp 5 
 I will not have a Tongue, tho' to himfelf, 
 Dare talk bat near Sedition : As I govern. 
 All (hall obey, and when they want, their Duty 
 And ready Service fhall redrefs their Needs, 
 
 . Not 
 
248 Valentinian. 
 
 Not prating what they would be, 
 
 PONTIUS, 
 
 Thus I leave you > 
 Yet ihall my PrayVs, sltho' my wretched Fortune 
 Muft follow you no more, be ftill about you. 
 Gods give you where you fight the Vidory. 
 You cannot caft my Wifhes. 
 
 JE C I V S. 
 
 Come, my Lord 5 
 Now to the Field again. 
 
 M A X I M U S. 
 Alas, poor VonUHs, [Exemh 
 
 A C T IV. S C E N E L 
 
 Enter CnYL^X atone Door, L Y C I N I U S 
 B A L B U S 4/ amthsr. 
 
 L Y C I N I u 
 
 HOW now! 
 CHYLAX. 
 
 She's come, 
 
 B A L B U S. 
 Then Til to the Emperor. [Eat/V Balbufl 
 
 CHYLAX. 
 
 Is the Mufick plac'd well? 
 
 L Y c I N I u s; 
 
 Excellent. 
 
 CHYLAX. 
 Zycinms, you and Trocnlus receive 'etn 
 In the ereat Chamber^ at her Entrance* 
 
 LYCI- 
 
V A L E N T r N I A Nt 249 
 LYCINIUS. 
 
 Let us alone. 
 
 C H Y L A X. 
 
 And do you hear, Lycinitis, 
 Pray let the Women ply her farther off, 
 And with much more Difcretion. One Word morei 
 Are all the Maskers ready ? 
 
 L Y C I N I U S, 
 
 Take no care, Man. [ExlK 
 I C H Y L A X. 
 
 I I am all over in a fweat with pimping; 
 pris a laborious moiling Trade this ■ ■■ » 
 
 Enter V A L E N T I N I A N, B A L B U S, 
 P R O C U L U S. 
 
 V A L E N T I N 1 A 
 
 l is Ihe come! 
 
 C H Y L A X, 
 She is, Sir! but 'cwere beft 
 That you were lafl: feen to her, 
 
 valentinian; 
 
 * So I mean. 
 
 Keep your Court empty, Vmnlus* 
 
 P R O C U L U S, 
 
 'Tis done, Sir. 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 Be not too fudden to her. 
 
 C H Y L A X. 
 
 Good fweet Sir, 
 Retire and man your felf: Let m alone. 
 We are no Children this way: One thing, Sir! 
 *Th ncceffary, that her She-Companions 
 
 M 5- B c5 
 
250 Valentinian, 
 
 Be cut off in the Lobby by the Women, 
 They'll break the Bufinefs elfe, 
 
 , V A L E N T I N I A N: 
 'Tis true : They fhali. 
 
 C H Y L A X. 
 Remember your Place, Proculus, 
 
 P R O C U L U S. 
 I warrant you ^Exe. Valen. Balb. and Vroc] 
 
 mer hUClNA, CLAUDIA, MARCELLINA 
 and LYCIAS. 
 
 C H Y L A X. 
 
 She enters! Who waits there? 
 .The Emperor calls for his Chariots, he will take the air. 
 L U C I N A. 
 
 I am glad 1 came in fuch a happy Hour 
 When he'll be abfent : This removes all Fears^ 
 But Lyciasy lead me to my Lord. 
 Heav'n grant he be not gone. 
 
 L Y C I A S. 
 
 Taith, Madam, that's uncertain ! = 
 I'll run and fee. But if you mifs my Lord, 
 And find a better to fupply his room, 
 A Change fo happy will not difcontent you — — lExh^ 
 L U C I N A. 
 
 What means that unwonted Infolence of this Slave? 
 Now 1 begin to fear again. Oh — Honour, 
 If ever thou hadft Temple in weak Woman, 
 And Sacrifice of Modefty offer'd to thee. 
 Hold me faft now, and Til be fafe for ever. 
 
 C H Y L A X. 
 
 The Fair Lucina ! Nay, then I find 
 Our Hander'd Court has not iinn'd up fo high 
 
 To 
 
V A L E N r I N I A 2fl 
 
 To fright all the good Angels from its Care, 
 Since they have fent fo great a Blcffmg hither. 
 
 Madam, I beg th' Advantage of my Fortune,' 
 
 Who as I am the firft have met you here, 
 May humbly hope to be made proud and happy 
 jWith the Honour of your firft Command and Servicei- 
 L U C I N A. 
 Sir, I am fo far from knowing how to merit, 
 Your Service, that your Compliment's too much, 
 ! And I return it you with all my heart. 
 I You'll want it, Sir, for thofe who know you better- 
 CHYLAX. 
 Madam, I have the Honour to be own'd 
 By Maximus, for his moft humble Servant, 
 \Which gives me confidence. 
 
 MARCELLINA, 
 N0W3 Claudia, for a Wager, 
 What thing is this that cringes to my Lady? 
 
 CLAUDIA. 
 Why, fomc grave Statcfman, 
 By his looks a Courtier. 
 
 MARCELLINA^ 
 Claudiay a Bawd : By all my hopes a Bawd! 
 What ufe can reverend Gravity be of here. 
 To any but a trufly Bawd ? 
 Statefmen are mark'd for Fops by it; befides,' 
 Nothing but Sin and Lazinefs could make him 
 So very fat, and look fo flefhly on't, 
 L U C I N A. 
 But is my Lord not gone yet, do you fay, Sir I 
 
 CHYLAX. 
 He is not. Madam, and mufl: take this kindly, 
 
 . Excecif^ 
 
V A LE N T I N I A Sf* 
 
 Exceeding kindly of you, wondrous kindly, 
 Xou come fo far to vifit him, I'll guide yo«. 
 
 L U C I N A. 
 
 mither? 
 
 C H Y L A X. 
 ,Why to my Lord. 
 
 LUC IN A. 
 
 Is it impoffible 
 To find him in this Place without a Guide } 
 For I would willingly not trouble you, 
 C H Y L A X. 
 
 My only Trouble, Madam, is my fear 
 I'm too unworthy of fo great an Honour: 
 But here you're in the publick Gallery, 
 iWhere th' Emperor muft pafs, unlefs you'd fee him. 
 L U CI N A. 
 
 Blefs me, Sir, —No — pray lead me any whithen 
 My Lord cannot be long before he finds me, \^Exeunt\ 
 
 Inter LYCimXJS, PROCULUS, md BAhi 
 BUS. Mufak. 
 
 L Y C I N I U S» 
 
 She's coming up the Stairs; now the Mufick, 
 And as that foftens — her Love will grow warm^: 
 *Till flie melt down. Then Cafar lays his Scamp. 
 Burn thefe Perfumes there. 
 
 PROCULUS, 
 
 Peace, no Nolfe v/ithout. 
 
Valentinian. 
 
 A SONG. 
 
 NYMPH. 
 
 Injurious Charmer of my vanqusjh'd Hearf, 
 Canft thou feel Love, and yet no Thy knom i 
 Since of my felffrom thee I cmnot part9 
 Invent fome gentle ipffay to let me go. 
 
 For T»hat with Joy thou dU^ obtainl 
 
 And I rcith more did give j 
 In time will make thee falfe and vain^ 
 And me unfit tQ live. 
 
 shepherd: 
 
 Trail Angel, that wou'dji leave a Heart forlorny 
 With vain Vretence Faljhood therein might lie^ 
 Seek not to cafi wild Shadows oUr your Scorn, 
 XoH cannot fooner change than I can die. 
 To tedious Life Vll never fall. 
 
 Thrown from thy dear lov'd Breajl^ 
 He merits not to live at all. 
 Who cares to live unbleJlJ^ 
 
 CHORUS. 
 Then let our flaming Hearts he joir^di 
 
 While in that facred Fire, 
 "Ere thou pove falfe, or I unkind^ 
 Together both expire. 
 
 Enter CHYLAX, LUCINA; CLAUDIA>' 
 MARCELLINA* 
 
 LUCINA. 
 
 Where is this Wretch, this Villain Lycias ? 
 Pray Heav'n my Lord be here j fof now I fear it, 
 
Valentiniak. 
 
 I am certainly betray'd. This curfed Ring 
 Is either counterfeit or ftoln 
 
 CLAUD I A. 
 
 Your Fear 
 Does but difarm your Refolution, 
 "Which may defend you in the worft Extremes: 
 Or if that fail, are there not Gods and Angels? 
 
 LUC IN A. 
 
 None in this Place, I fear, but evil ones. 
 Heav'n pity me! 
 
 C H Y L A X. 
 But tell me, deareft Madam, 
 How do you like the Song ? 
 
 * L U C I N A; 
 Sir, I am no Judge 
 Of Mufick, and the Words, I thank my Goisi 
 I did not underfland. 
 
 C H Y L A X. 
 
 The Emperor 
 Has the beft Talent at expounding 'em ; 
 [You'll ne'er forget a Leffon of his teaching^ 
 LUC I N A. 
 
 Are you the worthy Friend of Maxsmus, * 
 Would lead me to him ? He fliall thank you, Sir; 
 As you dcfire. 
 
 CHYLAX* 
 Madam, he (hall not need, 
 I have a Matter will reward my Service,' 
 "When you have made him happy with your Love^ 
 por which he hourly languiflies —Be kind— [fVhiffers& 
 LUCINA, 
 Jhe Gods fliall kill me firft. 
 
 CHY- 
 
Valentin IAN. o^sf 
 
 C H Y L A X. 
 Think better otft. 
 'Tis fweeter dying in the Emperor's Arms. 
 
 mur PHORBA and ARDELIA* 
 
 But here are Ladies come to fee you, Madam, 
 They'll entertain you better. I but tire you j 
 ITherefore Til leave you for a while, and bring 
 
 Your lov'd Lord to you T^xitt 
 
 1^ LUCINA, 
 m Then Til thank you, 
 I am betray'd for certain. 
 
 KP H O R B A. 
 You are a welcome Woman. 
 A R D E L I a: 
 Blefs me, Heav'n! 
 How did you find your way to Court? 
 
 L U C I N A. 
 I know not 5 would I had never trod it; 
 
 PHORBA. 
 
 Prithee tell me. 
 Good pretty Lady, and dear Sweetheart, love us] 
 Por we love thee extremely. Is not this Place 
 A Paradife to live in? 
 
 LU C IN A. ; 
 
 Yes, to you, 
 \Vho know no Paradife but guilty Plcafure. 
 
 A R D E L I A. 
 Heard you the Mufick yet ? 
 
 L U C I N A. 
 'Twas none to me» 
 
 PHOR: 
 
ZS6 V A L E N T I N I A N. 
 
 P H O R B A. 
 You muft not be thus froward. Well, this Gown 
 Is one o* th' prettieft, by my Troth, Ardel'm, 
 I ever faw yetj 'twas not made to frown in, Madam.' 
 ,You put this Gown on when you came, 
 ARDELIA, 
 How d'ye ? • 
 Alas, poor Wretch, how co'ld it is! 
 
 L U CI N AJ 
 
 Content you. 
 I am as well as may be, and as temperate,' 
 So you will let me be fo — Where's my Lord I 
 For that's the Bufmcfs I came for hither. 
 
 P HO R B A.j 
 ^Ve'll lead you to him, he's i' th' Gallery. 
 
 A RD E L I A. 
 ^We'll fliew you all the Court too. 
 
 L U C I N A. 
 
 Shew me him, 
 And you have fhewM me all I come to look ovu 
 P H O R B A. 
 
 Come on> we*ll be your Guides; and as you go. 
 We have fome pretty Tales to tell you, Madam, 
 Shall make you merry too. You come not hither 
 To be fad, Lucim, 
 
 L U C I N A. 
 
 Would I might not—— [JExemt, 
 
 Enter C H Y LA X md B A LB U S in hi^fle. 
 
 C H Y L A X. 
 
 Now fee all ready, BMnsi run. 
 
 B AL- 
 
V A L E N T I N I A N. 
 
 B A L B U 
 
 f I fly, Bojr, — Bxitl 
 C H Y L A X. 
 The Women by this time are warming of her, 
 ff file holds out them, the Emperor 
 Takes her to task — he has her,— Heark, I hear 'emj 
 
 Enter V A L E N T I N I A N, drawing LU C I N A; 
 
 Valentinian. 
 Would you have run away fo flily. Madam ? 
 MUCIN A.., 
 
 I befeech you, Sir, 
 ironfider what I am, and whofe. 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 
 I do fo. 
 
 ?ov what you are, I am fiH*d with fuch ania^ie* 
 
 )0 far tranfported with Defire and Love, 
 
 Vly flippery Soul flows to you while I fpeak: 
 
 \nd whole you are I care not, for now you arc minej 
 
 ^ho love you, and will dote on you more 
 
 Than you do on your Virtue. 
 
 L u c I N a; 
 
 I Sacred Cafar! 
 
 VALENTINIAN^ 
 You fliall not kneel to me j rife. 
 
 LUC IN A. 
 
 Look upon me, 
 And if you be fo cruel to abufe me* 
 Irhink how the Gods will take it. Does this Face 
 \Bldi your Soul ? Til hide it from you ever j 
 iJay more, I will become fo leprous, 
 'hat you Ihall curfe me from you. My dear Lord 
 
25^8 V A L E N T I N I A N. 
 
 Has ever fcrv'd you truly fought your Battles, 
 
 As if he daily long'd to die for Cdfar^^ 
 "Was never Trairor, Sir, nor never tainted, 
 In all the Adions of his Life. 
 
 VALE NT! NI AN. 
 
 How high does this fantaftick Virtue fwcH? 
 She thinks it Infamy to pleafe too wclL \^Ajide. 
 1 know it — - [To her, 
 
 ^ LUC IN A. 
 
 His Merits and his Fame have grown together. 
 Together Hourifh'd like two fpreading Cedars, 
 Over the Roman Diadem. O let not 
 (As you have a Heart that's human in you ) 
 The having of an honeft Wife decline hira ^ 
 Let not my Virtue be a Wedge to break him 5 
 Much Icfs ray Shame his undeferv'd Dlflionour. 
 I do not think you are fo bad a Man \ 
 I know report belyes you ; you are C^e/^r, 
 Which is the Father of the Empire*s Glory; 
 You are too near the Nature of the Gods, 
 To wrong the weakeft of all Creatures, Woman. 
 V A L E N T I N I A N. 
 
 I dare not do it here. \_^fi(le.'] Rife, fair Lucim. 
 When you believe me worthy, make me happy, 
 Chylax'y wait on her to her Lord within. 
 
 Wipe your fair Eyes—- [£a?. Chyl. Lucina 
 Ah Love ! ah curfed Boy ! 
 V/here art thou that torments me thus unfecn, 
 And rageft with thy Fires within my Breaft, 
 With idle purpofe to inflame her Heart, 
 Which is as inacreffible and cold, 
 As the proud Tops of thofe afpiring Hills, 
 
 Whofe 
 
Vale ntinian. 
 
 , Whofe Heads are wrapt in everlafting Snow, 
 Tho' the hot Sun roll o'er *em ev'ry Day ? 
 And as his Beams which only fhine above, 
 Scorch and confume in Regions round below, 
 Soft Love, which throws fuch Brightncfs thro' her Eycsj 
 Leaves her Heart cold, and burns me at her Feet 5 
 My Tyrant, but her flattering Slave thou art, 
 A Glory round her lovely Face, a Fire within my Heart. 
 Who waits without ? Lycmius ? 
 
 * 
 
 Enter L Y C I N I U S. 
 
 L Y C I N I US, 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 VALENTINIANi 
 Where are the Maskers that (hould dance to-night? 
 L Y C I N I U S. 
 In the old Hall, Sir, going now to pra^tife. 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 About it ftraight. 'Twill ferve to draw away 
 Thofe lift'ning Fools who trace it in the Galkry^ 
 And if by chance odd Noifes fliouid be heard, 
 As Womens Shrieks, or foj fay, 'tis a Play 
 Is pradifing within. 
 
 L Y C I N I U 
 The Rape of Lmece, or fome fuch merry Prank. 
 It lhall be done, Sir. [£^#^. 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 Tis nobler, like a Lion, to invade 
 Where Appetite direds, and feize my Prey, 
 Than to wait tamely, like a begging Dog, 
 *rill dull Confent throws out the Scraps of Love. 
 I fcorn thofe Gods who feck to crofs my Wifhes, 
 
 And 
 
V A L E N T I N I A 
 
 And will in fpight of 'em be happy: Force, 
 
 Of all the Power, is the moft generous ; 
 
 For what that gives it freely does beftow. 
 
 Without the Aftcr-Bribe of Gratitude. 
 
 rJJ plunge into a Sea of my Dcfires, 
 
 And quench my Fever, tho'i drown my Fame, 
 
 And tear up Pleafures by the Roots: No matter 
 
 i'^^'^ ^ J "^^^^ ^^^^ ^g^^") whst fliall enfue, 
 
 Ltc Gods and Fate look to itj 'tis their Builnefs. f£A;/> 
 
 SCENE III. O^em and Sfcovers Fhe or Six 
 , Dancwg'Mafters paSitfing. 
 
 1 D A N C E R. 
 [ That is the damn'dft (huffling Step, Pox on't. 
 
 2 D A N C E R. 
 I fhall never bit it. 
 
 Thou haft naturally 
 All the neat Morions of a merry Tailor, 
 Ten thoufand Riggles with thy Toes inward, 
 Cut clear and flrongj let thy Limbs play about thce^ 
 Keep Time, and hold thy Back upright and firm : 
 It may prefer thee to a Waiting-woman. 
 
 I D A N C E R, 
 Or to her Lady, which is worfe, \Im Amce. 
 
 Inter L Y CI N I U S. 
 
 L Y C I N I U S, 
 
 Blefs me! the loud Shrieks and horrid Outcries 
 Of the poor Lady! Ravifhing d'ye call. it? 
 She roars as if Tne were upon the Rack: 
 'Tis ftrange there fhould be fuch a difference 
 Betwixt half ravifliing, which mod Women love. 
 
Valentinian. %6i 
 
 ' And thorough Force, which takes away all Blame; 
 And (hould be therefore welcome to the Virtuous, 
 Thefe tumbling Rogues, I fear, have over-heard 'cmj 
 But their Ears with their Brains are in their Heels, 
 Good-morrow, Gentlemen} 
 "What, is all perfcd: ? I have taken care 
 Your Habits (hall be rich and glorious, 
 5 D A N C E 
 That will fet off. Pray fit down and fee; 
 How the laft Entry I have made, will pleafe you; 
 
 ISemd Dmcel 
 
 L Y C I N I U S. 
 
 'Tis very fine indeed. 
 
 2 DANCER, 
 I hope fo, Sir ^Exe. Dancersl 
 
 Enter CHYLAX, PROCULUS and LYCIAS. 
 
 Proculus. 
 *ris done, Lymius. 
 
 L Y CI N I U S. . 
 
 How ? 
 
 PROCULUS. 
 
 I h\\i!h to tell it. 
 If there be any Juftice we are Villains, 
 And mufl be fo rewarded. 
 
 LYCIAS. 
 
 Since 'tis done, 
 I take, it is not time now to repent it, 
 Let's make the bed of our Trade. 
 
 C H Y L A X. 
 
 Now Vengeance take it : 
 Why Oiould ndt he have fettled on a Beauty,' 
 
 V/hofe 
 
26% 
 
 Valentini an. 
 
 Whofe Modefty (\uck in a piece of TifTue j 
 Or one a Ring might rule? Or fuch a one 
 That had a Husband itching to be honourable. 
 And Ground to get it? If he mufl: hive Women^ 
 And no allay v;ithout them. Why not thofe 
 That know the Myf.ery, and are bed: able 
 To play a game with Judgment? Such as fhe Is^, 
 Grant they be won with Icng Siege, endlefs Travel j 
 And brought to Opportunities with Millions, 
 Yet when they come to Motion, their cold Virtue 
 Keeps 'em like Beds of Snow. 
 
 L Y C I N I U S. 
 
 A good Whore 
 Had fav'd all this, and happily as wholefome. 
 And the thing once done, as well thought of too. 
 But this fame Chadity, forfooth. 
 
 C H Y L A X. 
 
 A Pox on't. 
 Why (hould not Women be as free as we are? 
 They are but vi^iil not own it, and far freer : 
 And the more bold you bear your felf, more welcome j 
 And there is nothing you dare fay, but Truth, 
 But they dare hear. 
 
 PROCULUS. 
 
 No doubt of it away. 
 
 Let them, who can repent, go home and pray. [Exemti 
 
 SCENE opens ^ difcovers Valentinian'/ Chamber; 
 iLucina newly unbound by 'htm^ 
 
 V A I; i% T I N I A N. 
 Your only Virtuelllbw is Patience, 
 Be wife, and fave yotir Honour j it you talk~- 
 
 LUCI- 
 
Valentinian. 263 
 
 LU C I N A. 
 
 As long as there is Life in this Body, 
 And Breath to give me Words, FU cry for Judice., 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 
 Juflice win never hear you j I am Juftice. 
 L U C I N A. 
 
 Wilt thou not kill nae, Monfter, RaviQier,' 
 Thou bitter Bane o' th* Empire, look upon me, 
 And if thy guilty Eyes dare fee the Ruins 
 Thy wild Luft hath laid level with DiOionour, 
 The facrilegious razing of that Temple, 
 The Tempter to thy black Sins would have blufli*d at. 
 Behold, and curfe thy felf. The Gods will find thee, 
 That's all my Refuge now, for they are righteous | 
 Vengeance and Horror circle thee. The Empire, 
 In which thou liv'fl: a ftrong continued Surfeit, 
 Like Poiron will difgorge thee 5 good Men raze thee 
 From ever being read again ; 
 
 Ghafte Wives and fearful Maids make Vows againft thee; 
 Thy worft Slaves, when they hear of this, fhall hate thee, 
 And thofe thou haft corrupted, firft fall from thee. 
 And if thou let'ft me live, the Soldier, 
 Tir*d with thy Tyrannies, break thro* Obedience, 
 And (hake his ftrong Steel at thee. 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 This prevails not, 
 Nor any Agony you utter. Madam • 
 If I have done a Sin, curfe her that drew me; ' 
 Curfe the firft Caufe, the Witchstgft that abus'd me j 
 Curfe your fair Eyes, 2nd curfe that heav'nly Beauty, 
 And curfe your being good too. 
 
 LUCI- 
 
x64 ' ValentiniaNv M 
 
 LUC IN A. 
 
 Glorious Thief ! 
 What Refticution canft thou make to fave me? 
 
 V ALENTINI A-Ni I 
 rU ever love — and ever honour youf?^^^ | 
 
 L U C I N A. i 
 Thou can'ft not; . i 
 
 For that which was my Honour, thou haft miirder'd^ \ 
 And can there be a Love in Violence ? 
 
 V A L E N T I N I A N, 
 You fhail be only mine. 
 
 ^^UGINA. 
 
 Yet I like better 
 The Villany than Flattery j that's thy ov^n; 
 The other bafely counterfeit. Fly from me, 
 Or for thy Safety's fake and Wifdom kill me 5 
 For I am worfc than thcu art: Thou may'flpray, 
 
 And fo recover Grace I am loft for ever ; 
 
 And if thou let'ft me live, thou'rt loft thy felf too. 
 V A L E N T I N I A 
 
 I fear no Lofs but Love— — 1 ftand above it 
 L U CI N A 
 
 Gods! What a wretched thing has this Man made mci 
 For I am now no Wife for Maximus'j 
 No Company for Women that are Virtuous j 
 No Family I now can claim, or Country, 
 Nor Name but Cie/^r*s^ Whore : Oh, facred C^far i 
 (For that fhould be your Title) was your Empire," 
 Your Rods and Axes fiftat are Types of Juftice, 
 And from the Gods themfelvcs — to ravifli Women? 
 The C-urfes that I owe to Enemies, even thofe the Sa 
 tines fent, 
 
Valentinian. 
 
 16^ 
 
 W1icnRo;w«/«;(asthou haft mc) raviftiM their noble Maids, 
 Made more and heavier light on thee. 
 
 VALENTINIAN, 
 This helps not. 
 
 LUCINA. 
 
 TilNins of Tarciuin be remember'd in thee. 
 And where there has a chafte Wife been abus'd. 
 Let it be thine, the Shame thine, thine the Slaughter,' 
 And laft for ever thine the fear'd Example, 
 Where (hall poor Virtue live, now I am fallen? 
 What can your Honours now and Empire make mc^ 
 But a more glorious Whore? 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 
 A better Woman, 
 If you be blind and fcorn it, who can help it ? 
 Come, leave thefe Lamentations; you do nothing 
 But make a noife — I am the fame Man ftiil. 
 Were it to do again : Therefore be wifer j by al 
 This holy Light I would attempt it. 
 You and made to ravifli, 
 
 There were no Pleafure in you elfe. 
 
 L U C I N A. : 
 
 Oh Villain* 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 ' So bred for Man's Amazement, that ray Reafon> 
 And every Help to do me right, has left me: 
 The God of Love himfclf had betin before mc. 
 Had he but Eyes to fee youj tell me juftly 
 How ihould I choofe but err — then if you wiiJ 
 Be mine, and only mine, for (you arc fo precious) 
 I envy any other Ihould enjoy ycu, 
 Almoft look on you, and your daring Husband 
 
 N ShaU 
 
Z66 V A L E N T I N I A N. 
 
 Shall know he hag kept an OffVing from th' Emperor, 
 Too holy for the Altars-— Be the greatell; 
 More than my felf I'll make you; if you will not. 
 Sit down with t-his and Silence j for which Wifdonii 
 You (hall have ufe of me 5 if you divulge it, 
 Know, I am far above the Faults I doj 
 And thofe I do, I am able to forgive j 
 And where your Credit in the telling of it 
 Way be with Glofs enough fufpedied, 
 JMine is as my own Command (hall make it. PrlnccSg 
 Tho* they be foraetimes fubjc6l to loofe Whifpers, 
 Yet wear they two-cdg'd Swords for open Cenfures : 
 Your Husband cannot help you, nor the Soldiers ; 
 ,Your Husband is my Creature, they my Weapons, 
 And only, where I bid '€m» flrike — I feed *em. 
 !Nor can the Gcds be angry at this Adion, 
 Who, as they made me greateft, meant me happieft, 
 Which I had never been without this Picafure. 
 Confider, and farewcl. You'll find your Women 
 ^Waiting without. [Ex, Valeminian. . 
 
 LUC IN A. 
 Deftrudion find thee. 
 
 Now which way (hall I go my honeft Houfe 
 
 WiH (hake to (hclter me — my Husband fly me. 
 My Family, 
 
 Becaufe they're honed, and defirc to be fo. 
 Is this the End cf Goodhefs ? This the Price 
 Of all my early Prayers to protedi me ? 
 
 Why then I fee there is no God but Power; 
 
 Nor Virtue now alive that cares for us, 
 But what is either lame or fcnfual ; 
 How had I been thus wretched elfe ? 
 
Valentinian. 
 
 ^nter MAXIMUS and iEGIUS. 
 JE ci u ?• 
 
 Let Tttui 
 
 Command the Company that Tontius loft. 
 
 MAXIM U S. 
 How now, fweet Heart ! 
 What make you here, and thus? 
 
 C I U S, 
 
 Luma weeping ! 
 This is fomc ftrangc Offence, 
 
 MAXIMUS. 
 Look up and tell me. 
 
 Why art thou thus ? my Uiog! Oh Frienc?, 
 i have found it, you are at Court then ? 
 
 LUCINA. 
 This, and that vile Wretch Lycias^ 
 Brought mc hither. 
 
 MAXIMUS. 
 Rife and go home, I have my Fear$> ^cifin 
 Oh my heft Friend! I am ruin'd. Go, Lucim, 
 Already in thy Tears I've read thy Wrongs. 
 Already found a CAfar! Go, thou Lily, 
 Thou fweetly drooping Flower} be gone, I fay. 
 And if thou dar'il — out-live this Wrong. 
 
 LUCINA. 
 
 I dare nor- 
 
 C I U S. 
 
 Is that the Ring you loft? 
 
 MAXIMUS. 
 That, that, MciuSy 
 That curfed Ring, my felf 
 And all my Fortunes have undone, 
 N % 
 
Valentinian. 
 
 Thus pleas'd the Emperor, my noble Matter, 
 For all my Services and Dangers for him, 
 To make me my own Pander! Was this Juftice? 
 Oh my JEcius I Have I liv*d to bear this ? 
 
 L U C I N A. 
 
 Farewel for ever, Sir. 
 
 M A X I M U S. 
 
 That's a fad Saying; 
 But fuch a one becomes you well, Lucina, 
 And yet, methinks, we fhould not part fo flightly; 
 Our Loves have been of longer growth, more rooted 
 Than the fharp Blaft of one Farewel can fcattcr. 
 Kifs me 1 find no C^far here. Thcfc Lips 
 
 Tafte not of Ravifhcr, in my Opinion. 
 Was it not fo ? 
 
 LUCINi^, 
 
 0 yes. 
 
 M A X I M U S. 
 T dare believe you. 
 I know him, and thy Truth, too well to doubt k. 
 Oh my moft dear Luc'tnn ! Oh my Comfort ! 
 Thou Bleffing of my Youth ! Life of my Life ! 
 V ^ C I U S. 
 
 1 have feen enough to ftaggcr my Obedience. 
 Hold me, ye equal Gods! this is too iinful. 
 
 M A X I M U S. 
 Why wert thou chofen out to make a Whore of. 
 Thou only among Millions of thy Sex? 
 Unfeignedly Virtuous*! fall, fall Cryftal Fountains, 
 And ever feed your Streams, you rifing Sorrows^ 
 ^Till ycu have wept your Miftrefs into Marble. 
 Now go for ever from me, 
 
 L U- 
 
V A L.E N T I N I A N. 
 
 26^ 
 
 L U C LN A. 
 
 A long Farewcl, Sir ! 
 And as 1 have been faithful, Gods, think on me. 
 
 TE C I U S. 
 
 Madam, farewel, fince you rclolve to die. 
 Which well coafider'd. 
 
 If you can ceafe a while from thefe (Irange Thoughts, 
 I wifti were rather alter 'd. 
 
 L U C I N A. 
 
 No. 
 
 C I U S. 
 
 Miftake not. 
 I would not (lain your Virtue for the Empire, 
 Nor any way decline you to Diflionour; 
 It is not my Profeflion, but a Villain's : 
 I find andvfeel your Lofs as deep as you do, 
 And ftill am the fame Mcius, fli l as honcft} 
 The fame Life I have fliil for Maximust 
 The fame Sword wear for you where Juftice bids me. 
 And 'tis no dull one. Therefore mifconccive me not. 
 Only Vd have you live a little longer, 
 L U CI N A. 
 
 Alas, Sir ! Why, 
 Am I not wretched enough already ? 
 
 iE C I U S. 
 
 To dFaw from that wild Man a fweet Repentance? 
 And Goodnefs in his Days to come. 
 
 M A X I M U S. 
 
 They are fo, 
 And will be ever coming, my Mem. 
 
 iE C I U S. 
 
 For who knows, but the fight of you, prefcnting 
 
 N 3 His 
 
^7^ Valentinian. 
 
 Hi's fwoln Sins at the full, and your wrong'd Virtue* 
 May, like a fearful Vifion, fright his Follies, ■ 
 And once more bend him right again, which Bkffing^ 
 If your dark Wrongs would give you leave to read. 
 Is more than Death, and tbe Reward more glorious j 
 Death only eafcs you j This the whole Empire, 
 Befidcs, compelled and forc*d by Violence 
 To what was done, the Deed was none of youry. 
 For fhould th' Eternal Gods defire to perifh, 
 Becaufe we daily violate their Truth, 
 Which is the Chaftity of Heav'n ? No, Madam — 
 L U C I N A. 
 The Tongues of Angels cannot alter me. 
 For, could the World again reftore my Honour, 
 As fair and abfolute as c*er I bred it. 
 That World I fhould not truft again j the Emperos 
 Gan by my Life get nothing, but my Story, 
 ^hich whilft I breathe muft be his Infamy : ;| 
 And where you counfel me to live, that Cdfar 
 May fee Ka Errors and repent; Til tell you, 
 His Penitcrjce is but incrcafe of Pleafurej 
 His Pray'rs are never faid but to deceive us; 
 And when he weeps (as you think, for his Vices) 
 'Tis but as killing Drops from baleful Yew-trees, 
 That rot his harmlefs Neighbours: If he can grieve, 
 As one that yet defircs his free Converfion, 
 I'll leave him Robes to mourn in — my fad Afhes, 
 C i U S. 
 
 The Farewel then of happy Souls be with thee* 
 And to thy Memory be ever fung, 
 The Praifes of a juft and conftant Woman : 
 This fad Day, whilft I live, a Soldier's Tears 
 ill offier on thy Monument, M AXI- 
 
V A L E N T I N I A N. S/I 
 
 M A X I M U S. 
 
 All that is chafte upon thy Tomb fliall flourifh^ 
 All living Epitaphs be thine: Time's Story, 
 And what is left behind to piece our Lives, 
 Shall be no more abus'd with Tales and Trifles.^ 
 MCI VS. 
 But full of thee ftand to Eternity. 
 Once more farewel Go< find Elyfmm, 
 
 There where deferving Souls are crown'd with Bleffingy. 
 M A X I M U S. 
 There where no vicious Tyrants come: Truth, Honour, 
 Are Keepers of that bleft Placcj go thither. 
 
 [JE,xit Lucina* 
 
 iEClUS. 
 Gods give thee Juftice. 
 His Thoughts begin to work, I fear him yet 5 
 He ever was a worthy Roman» but 
 1 know not what to think on't. He has fuffer'd 
 Beyond a Man, if he ftand this. 
 
 MAXIM US. 
 
 JEciuSy 
 
 Am I alive, or has a dead Sleep feiz'd me? 
 It was my Wife th* Emperor abus'd thus, 
 And I rauft fay — I am glad I had her for him/ 
 Muft I nor, ^cius ? 
 
 CI u s, 
 
 I am flricken 
 With fuch a ftiff Amazement, that no Ahfwer 
 Can readily come from me, nor no Comfort. 
 Will you go home, or go to my Houfe? 
 ^ M A X I M U 5. 
 
 Neither. I have no Home, and you arc mad, Mciuu 
 
 N4 T6 
 
^72 V A L EN TIN I A N. 
 
 To keep me Company — I am a Fellow, 
 
 My own Sword would forHke, not ty'd to me. 
 
 By Hcav'n, I dare do nothing. 
 
 ^CIUS. 
 
 you do better. 
 
 M A X I M U S. 
 
 I am made a branded Slave, JEcitis, 
 Yet I muft blefe the Maker. 
 Death on my Soul ! Shall I endure this tamely 5 
 Mufl: Maximus be mention'd for his Wrong ? 
 I am a Child too 5 what do I do railing? 
 I cannot mend my felf. 'Twas C^/ar did it,. 
 And what am I to him? 
 
 'Tis well remembered 5 
 However you are tainted, be no Traitor. 
 
 Maximus. 
 O that thou wert not living, and my Friend! 
 
 ^ C I U S. 
 ril bear a wary Eye upon your Af^ions : 
 I fear you, Maximtis, nor can I blame you, 
 If you break out 5 for, by the Gods your Wrong 
 Defervcs a general Ruin. Do you love me? 
 
 MAXIMUS. 
 That's all I have to live on. 
 
 C I U S. 
 
 Then go with me. 
 You (hall not to your own Houfe. 
 
 MAXIMUS. 
 
 Nor to any. 
 
 My Griefs are greater far than Walls can compafs j. 
 And yet I wonder how it happens with me. 
 
Valentinian. 273 
 
 I am not dang'rous, and in my Confcience, 
 Should I now fee the Emperor i' th* heat onV, 
 I fliould fcarce blame him for't; an Awe runs thro' me, 
 I feel it fenfibly, that binds me to it, 
 *Tis at my Heart now, there it fits and rules, 
 And methinks 'tis a Pleafure to obey it, 
 MC lUS. 
 This is a Mask to cozen me, I know you, 
 And how far you dare do. No Roman farther, 
 Nor with more fearlefs Valour, and 1*11 watch you. 
 . M AXI M US. 
 Is a Wife's Lofs 
 More than the fading of a few frefli Colours ? 
 
 M CI V S. 
 No more, Maxlwus, to one that truly lives. 
 
 M A X I M U S. 
 Why then I care not, I can live wel] enough, 
 MciH5\ for look you, Friend, for Virtue and tfaofc Trifles, 
 They may be bought, they fay. 
 
 iE C I U S. 
 
 He's craz'd a little. 
 His Grief has made him talk things from his Nature, 
 Will you go any ways ? 
 
 M A X I M U S. 
 
 I'll tell thee. Friend, 
 If my Wife for all this (hould be a Whore now, 
 'Twould vex me: 
 
 For I am not angry yet. The Emperor 
 Is young and handfom, and the Woman Flefh, 
 And may not thefe two couple without fcratching? 
 ^ C I U S. 
 
 Alas, my Maximus I 
 
 N f MAX^, 
 
V A l. E N T IN E A N. 
 
 M A X I M U S. 
 /las not me, I am not wretched, for 
 There's no Man mifcrable, but he 
 That makes himfclf fo. 
 
 iE C I U S. 
 
 Will you walk yet ? 
 
 MA XI M US. 
 Come, come; {^e dares not die, Friend, 
 That's the Truth on't. 
 
 She knows the enticing Sweets and Delicacies- 
 Gf a young Prince's Pleafure, and, I shank her^ 
 She has made way for Maximus to rife. 
 ^WilPt not become me bravely? 
 
 MQl\3$. 
 
 Beared Friend, 
 Thefe wild Words fliew your violated Mind^. 
 UrgM with the Jafl: Extremity of Grief j. 
 Which fince I cannot like a Man redrcfs. 
 With Tears I muft lament it like a Child 
 For when 'tis C^far does the Injury, 
 Sorrow is all the Remedy I know, 
 MAXIMUS. 
 
 *Tis then a certain Truth that I am wrong^f , 
 Wrong'd in that barbarous manner I imagined. 
 Alas! I was in hopes I had been mad, 
 And that thefe Horrors which invade my Heart, 
 Were but diftrafted melancholy Whimfies: 
 But they are real Truths (it feems) and I 
 The laft of Men, and vileft of all Beings.. 
 Bear me, cold Earth, who am too weak to move 
 Beneath my Load of Shame and Mifery ! 
 Wrong'd by my lawful Prince, robb'd of my Love, 
 
 Branded 
 
Vale ntinian. 
 
 ^75 
 
 Branded with everlafting Infamy. 
 Take pity, Fate, and give me leave to die : 
 Gods I would you be ador'd for being good. 
 Or only fear'd for proving mifchievous ? 
 How would you have yoi^r Mercy underftood? 
 Who could create a Wretch like Maximus, 
 Ordain'd, tho' guiltlefs, to be infamous? 
 Supreme firft Caufcs ! you, whence all things flow? 
 Whofe Infinitenefs does each Little fill, 
 You who decree each feeming Chance below, 
 (So great in Powerj were you as good in Will, 
 How could you ever have produced fuch 111 ? 
 Had your eternal Minds been bent to Good ? 
 Could human Happinefsjhave prov'd fo lame, 
 Rapine, Revenge, Injuftice, Third of Blood, 
 Grief, Anguiih, Horror, Want, Defpair and Sham^, 
 Had never found a Being nor a Name. 
 *Tis therefore Icfs Impiety to fay. 
 Evil with you has Coeternity, 
 Than blindly taking it the other way, 
 That merciful, and of Ele6lioa free. 
 You did create the Mifchiefs you forefee. 
 Wretch that I am, on Heav'n to exclaim. 
 When this poor Tributary Worm below, 
 More than my felf in nothing but in Name, 
 Who durft invade me with this fatal Blow, 
 I dare not crufh io the Revenge I owe. 
 Not all his Power (hall the wild Monfter fivej 
 Him and my Shame I'll tread into one Grave, 
 iE C i U S. 
 Does he but feem fo ? 
 Or is he mad indeed? Now to reprove him 
 
 / ' Wer^ 
 
%yS Valentinian. 
 
 Were Counfel loft; but fomething muft be done, 
 With fpced and care, which may prevent that Fate,, 
 Which threatens this unhappy Emperor. 
 
 M A X I M U S. 
 O Gods! my Heart, would it would fairly break j. 
 Methinks I am fomewhat wilder than 1 was. 
 And yet I thank the Gods, I know my Dury^. 
 
 Enter C L A U D I A. 
 
 Claudia, 
 
 Forgive me my fad Tidings, Sir — She's dead; 
 M A X 1 M U S. 
 
 Why fo it (hould be [He rifes.] How ? 
 
 CLAUDIA. 
 
 When firft (he entered 
 Into the Houfc, after a world of Weepings- 
 And blufliing like the Sun-fet — — 
 Dare I, faid (he, defile my Husband's Houfc, 
 Wherein his fpotlcfs Family has flourifti'd? 
 At this ftie fell — choak'd with a thoufand Sighs : 
 And now the pleas'd expiring Saint, 
 Her dying Looks, where new«born Beauty (bines, 
 Opprefs'd with Bluflies, modeftly declines. 
 While Death approach'd with a majeftick Grace, 
 Proud to look lovely once in fuch a Face : 
 Her Arms fpread to receive her welcome Gueft, 
 With a glad Sigh (he drew into her Brcaft : 
 Her Eyes then langujftiing towards Heav'n (he caftj 
 To thank the Pow'rs that Death was come at laft. 
 And at the Approach of the cold filent God, 
 Ten thoufand hidden Glories ruft'd abroad. 
 
 4 
 
 MAXI-: 
 
V A L E N T 1 N I A N. 2^77 
 
 M AX I M U S. 
 No more of this — Be gone. Now, my JEcms^ 
 If thou wilt do me Pleafure, weep a littlej 
 I am fo parch'd I cannot — Your Example 
 Has taught my Tears to flow — Now lead away, Friend^. 
 And as we walk together — Let us pray, 
 I may not fall from Truth. 
 
 iE C I U a 
 That's nobly f^oken. 
 
 M A X I M U S. 
 Was I not wild, JEcius r 
 
 iE C I U S. 
 
 You were troubled. 
 
 M A X I M U S. 
 
 I felt no Sorrows then, but now my Grief, 
 Like fettering Wounds grown cold, begins to fmart, 
 The raging Anguifh gnaws and tears my Heart. 
 Lead on and weep> but do not name the Woman. [Exe, 
 
 ACTV. SCENE L 
 
 iE C I U S [olus. Letter. 
 iE c I u 
 
 LOOK down, ye equal Gods, and guide my Hcar^^ 
 Or it will throw upon my Hands an kOn 
 Which After-ages (hall record with Horror: 
 As well may 1 kill my offended Friendi 
 As think to punifh my offending Prince. 
 The Laws of Friendfhip we ourfelves create^ 
 
X /S V A L E N T I N I A N » 
 
 And *tis but fimple Villany to break *em j. 
 
 But Faith to Princes broke, is Sacrilege, 
 
 An Injury to the Gods, and that loft Wretch,' 
 
 Whofe Breaft is poifon'd with fo vile a Purpofe, 
 
 Tears Thunder down from Heav*n on his own Head 
 
 And leaves a Curfe to his Pofterity : 
 
 Judge him your felves, ye mighty Gods, who know 
 
 Why you permit fomctimes that Honour bleed, 
 
 That Faith be broke, and Innocence opprcfs'd. 
 
 My Duty's my Religion, and howe'er 
 
 The great Account may rife 'twixt him and you. 
 
 Through all his Crimes, I fee your Image on him, 
 
 And tnuft protect it no way then but this. 
 
 To draw far off the injured Maximm^ 
 
 And keep him there faft Prifoner to my Friendfliip? 
 
 Revenge (hall thus be flattered or deftroy'd. 
 
 And my bad Mafter, whom I bluih to fervc. 
 
 Shall by my means at kaft be fafe. This Letter 
 
 Informs him I am gone to ^.gyft-y 
 
 There I (hall live fccure and innocent; 
 
 His Sins ihall ne'er overtake me, nor his Fears. 
 
 -Enm PROCULUS. 
 
 Here comes one for my Purpofe, Procultis, 
 Well met, I have a Courtefy to ask of you. 
 PROCULUS. 
 Of me, my Lord ! Is there a Houfe on Fire ? 
 Or is there fome knotty Point now in debate, 
 Betwixt your Lordlbip and the Scavengers? 
 For you have fuch a popular and publick Spirit, 
 As in dull Times of Peace will not difdain 
 The meaneft Opportunity to fcrve your Country. 
 ^ " ■ ' ;ECI 
 
V A L E N T IN I A N, 27(>, 
 C I U S. 
 
 You wirty Fools arc apt to get your Heads broke:. 
 This is no Seafon for buffooning, Sirrah; 
 Though heretofore I tamely have endur'd 
 Before th' Emperor your ridiculous Mirth, 
 Think not you have a Title to be faucyj 
 When Monkics grow mifchievous they are whipt, 
 Ghain'd up and whipt* There has been Mifchicf done^^. 
 And you (I hear) a wretched Inflrument: 
 Look to't, whene'er I draw this Sword to puiiiflij 
 You, and your grinning Crew will tremble, Slaves, . 
 Nor fhall the ruin'd World afford a Corner 
 To fhclter you, nor that poor Prince's Bofom, 
 Ym have envcnom'd and polluted fo; 
 As if the Gods were willing it (hould be 
 A Dungeon, for fuch Toads to crawl and croak in* 
 P R O C U L U S. 
 
 All this in earr.e/l to your humblelf Creature? 
 Nay then, my Lord, I muft no more pretend, 
 With my poor Talent to divert your Ears; 
 Since my well-meaning Mirth is grown oifenfive, 
 Tho* Heav'n can tell, 
 
 There's not fo low an A6t of Servile Duty, 
 I would not with more Pride throw my felf 0% 
 For great Mdus*s fake, than gain a Province, 
 Gr fliare with Valenmian in his Empire. 
 
 C I U S. 
 
 Thou art fo fawning and fo mean a Villain^ 
 That I difdain to hate, tho' I defpife thee : 
 When e'er thou art not fearful, thou art faucy? 
 Be fo again) my Pardon gives thee leave, 
 And to defcrve it, carry this my Letter 
 
2^0 Valentinian. 
 
 To the Emperor: TtU him Vm gone for JE^ypt, 
 And with me, Maximus-y \wis fcarce fic two 
 Should take our leaves of him: Pray ufe your Intereft, 
 He may forgive us. *TwilI concern you much 5 
 For when we are gone, to be bafc vicious Villains 
 
 Will prove lefs dangerous [Exit. \ 
 
 PROCULUS. 
 What the,Devil poflefles 
 This rufty Back and Bread without a Head-piece? 
 Villains and vicious ! Maximus and JE^ypt ! 
 This may be Trcafon, or Til make it fo : 
 The Emperor's apt enough to Fears and Jealoufies, 
 Since his late Rape. I muft blow up the Fire, 
 And aggravate this doting Hero's Notions, 
 *Till they fuch Terrors in the Fiince have bred. 
 May coft the Fool his worft part, that's his Head. [Exk. 
 
 SCENE IL 
 
 Enter VALENTINIAN, LYCINI US, 
 C H Y L A X, and B A L B U S. 
 
 Valentinian. 
 
 Dead? 
 
 B A L B US. 
 
 *Tis too certain. 
 
 V ALENTI NI AN. 
 
 How? 
 
 LYCINI u s: 
 Grief and Difgrace, as People fay. 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 No more, I have too much on*t, 
 ^00 much by you. You Whetters of my Follies f k 
 
 Ye f 
 
Valentinian. 281 
 
 Ye Angel- formers of my Sins; but Devils; 
 V/hcre is your Cunning now? you would work Wonders* 
 There was rib Chaftity above your Practice ; 
 You'd undertake to make her love her Wrongs, 
 And dote upon her Rape. Mark what I tell yon 
 I Iffliebedead! 
 
 I CH YL AX. 
 
 I ' Alas, Sir! ^} 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 Hang you Rafcals. 
 Ye Blafters of my Youth, if fhe be- gons, 
 "Twere better ye had been your Fathers Camels, 
 ! Groan'd under Weights of Wool and Water ■ 
 I Am I not C^far ? 
 
 j L Y CI N I U S. 
 
 Mighty, and our Maker ■ 
 I VALENTINIAN. 
 
 Than thus have given my Pleafurcs to Deftrudiion —» 
 j: Look (he be living, Slaves 
 
 C H Y L A X. 
 We are no Gods, Sir, 
 i Jf fhe be dead, to make her live again. 
 ! VALENTINIAN. 
 She cannot die, fhe muft not die: Are thofe 
 I plant my Love upon but common Livers ? 
 Their Hours told out to them: Can they be Afhfs? 
 Why do you flitter a Belief in me, 
 That I am all that is? The World my Creature; 
 The Trees bring forth their Fruit, when I fay Summcrj 
 The Wind that knows no Limits, but its Wildnefs, 
 At my Command moves. not a Leaf: The Sea, 
 With his proud Mountain Waters envying Hcav'n». 
 
 When, 
 
Vai^entinian* 
 
 When I fay Still, runs into Cryftal Mirrors. 
 
 Can I do this, and fte die ? Why, ye Bubbles, 
 
 That with my laft Breath break, no raor^ remember^, 
 
 Y€ Moths that fly about my Flames and perifli; 
 
 Why do you make me a God that can do nothing f 
 
 Is (he not dead ? 
 
 G H Y L A X. 
 All Women are not dead with her. 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 A common Whore ferves you, and far above you^ 
 The Pleafures of a Body lam'd with Lewdncfs, 
 A meer perpetual Motion makes you happy. 
 Am I a Man to traffick with Dileafes ? 
 You think, becaufe ye have bred me up to Pleafures;^ 
 And almoft run me over all the rare ones, 
 Your Wives will ferve the turn : I care not for *em. 
 Your Wives are Fencers Whores^ and (hall be Footmens* 
 Tho' fometimcs my fantaftick Luft or Scorn, 
 Has made you Cuckolds for Variety ; 
 1 would not have ye hope or dream, ye poor ones. 
 Always fo great a BlelTing from me. Go, 
 Get your own Infamy hereafter, Rafcals; ye enjoy 
 Each one an Heir, the Royal Seed of C*/ir, 
 And I may curfe ye for ir. 
 Thou, Lycinius, 
 
 Haft fuch a Meffalim, fuch a Lais, 
 
 The Backs of Bulls cannot content, nor Stallions^ 
 
 The Sweat of fifty Men a-night docs nothing. 
 
 L Y C 1 NI U S. 
 I hope, Sir, you know better things of her* 
 VALENTINIAN* 
 
 'Tis Oraclet: 
 
 The 
 
Valentinian. 2^1 
 
 The City can bear Witnefs, thinc's a Fool, Chyhx^ 
 Yet (he can tell her Twenty, and all Lovers, 
 All have Iain with her too 5 and all as flie is, 
 Rotten, and ready for an Hofpital. 
 Yours is a holy Whore, Friend BMhs^ 
 B A L B U S. 
 
 Well, Sir. 
 
 VALENTIN I AN. 
 One that can pray away the Sins fhe fuffer^,' 
 But not the Punilhment; fhe has had ten Baftards,' 
 Five of 'em now are Lidlrors, yet fhe prays. 
 She has been the Song of Rome, and common Pafquil, 
 Since I durft fee a Wench, fhe was Camp-Miftrcfs, 
 And mufter'd all the Cohorts, paid *em too. 
 They have it yet to (hew, and yet (he prays* 
 €he is now to enter old Men turn'd Children, 
 That have forgot their Rudiments j and am I 
 Left for t?jeie wither'd Vices? And was there but onc^ 
 But one of alJ the^ World, that could content me, 
 And fnatch*d away in (hewing? If your Wives 
 Be not yet Witches, or your felves, now be fo. 
 And fave your Lives? raife me the deareft Beauty, 
 As when I forc'd her full of Chaftity, 
 Or by the Gods ' 
 
 L Y C I N I U S. 
 
 Moft facred C&far 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 
 Slaves. 
 
 Enur PROCU LUS. 
 Proculus. 
 Hail, CAfar! Tidings of Concern and Danger^ 
 My Mcflage does contain in furious manner; 
 
x84 V A L E N T I N I A 
 
 With Oaths and Tbreatnings, (lern Mem 
 Enjoin'd me on the Peril of my Life, 
 To give this Letter into CAfar*s Hands ; 
 Arm*d at all Points, prepared ro m^rch he ftands» 
 With Crowds of mutinous Officers about him 5 
 Among thefe, full of Anguifh and Defpair, 
 Like pale Ty/iphong along Hell Brinks, 
 
 Plotting Revenge and Ruin Maxtmus 
 
 With ominous Afped, walks in filent Horror, 
 
 Irj threatning Murmurs and harfh Uoken Speeches: 
 
 They talk of Mgypt and their Provinces, 
 
 Of Cohorts ready with their Lives to fcrve Vm, 
 
 And then with bitter Curfes they nam'd you. 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 Go tell thy Fears to thy Companions, Slave T 
 For 'cis a Language Prirxes underhand nor. 
 Be gone, and leave me to my felf. [£Ar, all bnt Emp^ 
 The Names of JEcms and of M^ximus 
 Run thro' mc like a Fever, fhake and burn me 5 
 But to my Slaves I muft not (hew my Poorncfs. 
 They know me vicious, (hould they find me bafc. 
 How would the Villains fcorn me, and infult? 
 
 He reads the Letter.. 
 
 SIR, 
 
 Would fome God infpire me with another way 
 To ferveyoH, I would not thus flj from )Oii without 
 Leave 5 but Maximus his Wrongs have touched too 
 Many^ and fhould his Prefence here encourage V«?, 
 Dangers to you might follow}, in -^gy pt he will be 
 More forgot^ and you more fafe by his Abfence. 
 
 ^ VALEN- 
 
Valentinian. 285' 
 valentinian. 
 
 A Plot, by Heav'n! a Plot laid for my Life, 
 This is too fubdc for my dull Friend, ^cius, 
 Btav'^n give you, Sir, a better Servant to gmrd ^oh^ 
 A fiiithfuller you voill never find than Mcius 
 *Since he refents his Friend's Wrongs, hc'Jl revenge 'em: 
 I know the Soldiers love him more than Heav'n, 
 Me they hate more than Peace j what this may breed. 
 If dull Security and Confidence 
 Let him grow up, a Fool may find, and laugh at, 
 Who waits there? Froculus, 
 
 Enter PROCULtJS, 
 
 Well, haft thou obferv'd 
 The growing Pow'r and Pride of ^cius f 
 He writes fo me with Term? of Infolcncc, 
 And (hortly will rebel if not prevented ; 
 But in my bafe lewd Herd of vicious Slaves, 
 There's not a Man that dares ftand up to ftrike 
 At my Command, and kill this rifing Traitor^ 
 PROCULUS- 
 The Gods forbid C^far fliould thus be fcrv'd: 
 Th« Earth will fwallow him, did you command it! 
 But I have ftudied a fafe fure way 
 How he lliall die, and your Will ne'er fufpc^led. 
 A Soldier waits without, whom he has wrong'J, 
 Cafhier'd, dilgrac'd, and turn'd to beg or ftarve. 
 This Fellow, for Revenge, would kill the Devil j 
 ^ Encouragement of Pardon and Reward, 
 ^Vhich iti your l^ame Til give him inftantly, 
 Will make him fly more fwiftly on the Murther, 
 Than longing Lovers to their firft Appointment. 
 
 VALEN. 
 
z26 V A L E N T I N I A N. 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 Thou art the wifeft, watchful, wary Villain, 
 And (halt partake the Secrets of my Soul, 
 And ever feel my Favour and my Bounty, 
 Tell the poor Soldier, he (hall be a General, 
 ^cius once dead. 
 
 PROCULUS. 
 
 Ay, there y'have found the Point, Sir, 
 If he can be fo brutifh to believe it. 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 
 Oh never fear! urge it with Confidence, 
 What will not flatter'd angry Fools believe? 
 Minutes are precious, lofe not one. 
 
 PHOCULUS. 
 
 I fly, Sir {^Exk. 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 
 What an infedled Confcicncc do I live with, 
 And what a Beaft am I grown? when Luft has gain*d 
 An uncontroli'd Dominion in Man's Heart, 
 Then Fears fuccecd with Horror and Amazement, 
 Which rack the Wretch, and tyrannize by Turns. 
 
 But hold Shall I grow then fo poor as to repent? 
 
 Tho' JEcius, Mankind, and the Gods forfakc me, 
 ril never alter and forfake my felf. 
 Can I forget the laft Difcourfe he held ? 
 As if he had intent to make me odious 
 To my own Face, and by a way of Terror, 
 What Vices I was grounded in, and almoft 
 Proclaim'd the Soldiers Hate againft me. 
 Is not the Name and Dignity o( Cdfar facred? 
 Were this ^cius more than Man, fufficienc 
 To ihake off ail his Honefty ? He is dangerous, 
 
y A L E N T I N I A N. 
 
 Tho* he be good j and tho' a Friend, a fear'd one, 
 
 And fuch I muft not fleep j as for Maximns, 
 
 ril find a time when JEcins is difpatch*d. 
 
 I do bdieve this VtochIhs, and I thank him ; 
 
 Twas time to look about 3 if I muft perifh, 
 
 Yet (hall my Fears go foremoft, that's determined, lExito 
 
 SCENE III. 
 
 Bnter PROCULUS and PONTIUS. 
 
 Proculus. 
 fiefides this, if you do it, you enjoy 
 The noble Name of Patrician ^ more than that tool 
 The Friend of C^far y'are ftil'd. There's nothing 
 Within the Hopes of Rome, or prefent being. 
 But you may fafely fay is yours. 
 
 PONTIUS. 
 
 Pray ftay, 5ir. 
 What has JEcius done to be deftroy'd? 
 At leaft I would have a Colour. 
 
 PROCULUS. 
 
 You have more. 
 Nay, all that can be given; he is a Traitor. 
 One, any Man would ftrike that were a Subjeft, 
 PONTIUS. 
 
 Is he fo foul? 
 
 PROCULUS. 
 Yes, a moft fearful Traitor. 
 
 PONTIUS. 
 A fearful Plague upon thee, for thou ly^fl*. [Jfidt* 
 I ever thought the Soldiers would undo him, 
 With their coo much AfFeftion. 
 ^ PRO 
 
Va L E N T I NI AN. 
 
 PROCULUS. 
 
 You have it. 
 They have brought him to Ambition. 
 
 PONTIUS. 
 
 Then he is gone, 
 
 PROCULUS. 
 The Emperor, out of a foolifli Pity, 
 Would fave him yet. 
 
 PONTIUS. 
 
 Is he fo mad ? 
 
 PROCULUS. 
 He's madder, would go to the Army to him. 
 PONTIUS. 
 
 Would he fo? 
 
 PROCULUS. 
 Yes, Tontiufi but we confider. 
 
 PONTIUS. 
 
 Wifely. 
 
 PROCULUS. 
 How elfe Man, that the State lies in it. 
 
 PONTIUS. 
 
 And your Lives. 
 
 PROCULUS. 
 And every Man*5. 
 
 PONTIUS. 
 
 He did me 
 All the Difgrace he could. 
 
 PROCULUS. 
 
 And fcurvily. 
 
 PONTIUS, 
 Out of a Mifchief meerly. Did you mark it? 
 
 PROCULUS. 
 Yes, well enough. 
 
V A L E N T I N I A Nv 1% 
 
 Now you have Means to quit it j 
 The Deed done, take his Place. 
 
 P O N T I U Si 
 Pray let me think on't, 'tis ten to one I do it2 
 
 PROCULUS. 
 Do, and be happy 
 
 p o N T I u s: 
 
 _ This Emperor is made of nought but Mifchief, 
 Sure Murther was his Mother. None to Jop 
 But the main Link he had ? Upon my Confcience 
 The Man is truly honeft, and that kills him^ 
 For to live here, and ftudy to be true, 
 Is all one as to be Traitor. Why fliould he diet 
 Have they not Slaves and Rafcals for their OfFeringy^ 
 In full abundance? Bawds, more than Beaftsfor Slaughter ? 
 Have they not finging Whores enough, and Knaves befides ? 
 And Millions of fuch Martyrs to fink Charon^ 
 But the befl: Sons of Rome muft fall too? I will fliew him, 
 (Since he muft die) a way to do it truly. 
 And tho' he bears me hard, yet fhall he know, 
 I*m born to make him blefs me for a Blow. [EaiA?* 
 
 S C E N E IV. 
 :Enter PRIDIUS, ARETUS md MClVS: 
 
 A R E T U S. 
 
 The Treafon is too certain j fly, my Lord. 
 I heard that Villain Vroculns inftrudt 
 The defperatc Pontius to difpatch you her^ 
 Here in the Anti-chamber., 
 
 P H I D I U S. 
 Curs'd Wretches/ . 
 "^et you may efcape to the Camp, we'll hazard with y^' 
 O ' ARS- 
 
SL^O V A L E N r I N I A 
 
 A R E T U S. 
 Lofe not your Life fo bafely, Sir you are arm*d, 
 !And many when they fee your Sword, and know wbyi 
 Muft follow your ^^dventure.^ 
 
 iE C I U S. 
 
 Get you from me, 
 fs not the Doom of C^far on this Body ? 
 Do I not bear my lafl: Hour here now fent me? 
 Am I not old JEcius ever dying ? 
 You think this Tendernefs and Love you bring mci 
 fTis Treafon, and the Strength of Difobediencej 
 And if ye tempt me further ye (hall feel it. 
 I feek the Camp for Safety, when my Death 
 Ten times more glorious than my Life, and lafting^ 
 Bids me be happy 1 Let Fools fear to die. 
 Or he that weds a Woman for his Honour, 
 Dreaming no other Life to come but Kifles. 
 JBdfis is not now to learn to fufferj 
 If ye dare Ihew a jud AfTedion, kill me: 
 I ftay but thofe that muft. Why do you weep? 
 Am ! fo wretched as to deftrve Mens Pities ? 
 <jOi give your Tears to thofe that lofe their Worths^ 
 Bewail their Miferies : For me wear Garlands, 
 Drink Wine, and much. Sing Paans to my Praife, 
 I am to triumph, Friends, and more than C^far, 
 Wot C^fir fears to die, I love to die, 
 PH ID lUS. 
 
 O my dear Lord ! 
 
 ^ C 1 u s. 
 
 No mores go, go, 1 fay, 
 Shew me not Signs of Sorrow, I deferve none. 
 £)^2e any Man lament I fhould die nobly ? 
 
V A Xr E N T 1 N I A N. « 
 
 'When I am dead, fpeak honourably of me ; 
 That is, prefervc my Memory from dying; 
 There, if you needs muft weep your ruin'd Matter," 
 A Tear or two will feem well j this I charge yoa> 
 (Becaufe ye fay ye yet love old Mctus) 
 See my poor Body burnt, and fomc to fing 
 About my Pile whac I have done and fuffer'd, 
 ! If Ciifw kill*d not that too: At your Banquets^ 
 ;When I am gone, if any chance to number 
 
 (The Times that have been fad and dangerous^ 
 Say how I fell, and 'cis fufEcient, 
 I No more I fay 5 he that laments ray End, 
 By all the Gads, diflionours me$ be gone, 
 And fuddenly, and wifely from my Dangers,' 
 My Death is catching elfe. ^ 
 
 PHIDIUS. 
 We fear not dying. 
 
 ^ iE C I U S. 
 
 Tet fear a wilfd Death, the juft Gods hate itt 
 I need no Company to that, that Children 
 ©are do alone, and Slaves are proud to purchafe^; 
 ' Live 'till your Honefties, as mine has done. 
 Make this corrupted Age fick of your Virtues, 
 Then die a Sacrifice, and then you'll know; 
 iThe noble ufe of dying well, and Rcmam. 
 
 ARETUS. 
 And muft we leave you, Sir ? 
 
 ^ C I u s. 
 
 We muft all die, 
 All leave our fclves 5 it matters not where, whee,' 
 Nor how, fo we die well. And can that Man that does f® 
 Need Lamentation for himf ChUdrcn weep, 
 
Valentinian. 
 
 Cecaufe they have offended, or for Fearj 
 Women for want of WiJl, and Anger 5 is there 
 In noble Man, that truly feels both Poifes, 
 Of Life and Death, fo much of this Weaknefs, 
 To drown a glorious Death in Child and Woman? 
 >I am alTbam'd to you, yet you move me. 
 And were it not, my Manhood would accufe me, 
 For covetous to live, I (hould weep with you, 
 P H I D I U S. 
 O we fhall never fee you more ! 
 
 C I U S. 
 
 'Tis true. Nor I the Miferies that Rome fhall fuffer. 
 Which is a Benefit Life cannot reckon j 
 But what I have been, which is jufl and faithful; 
 One that grew old for Rome, when Rome forgot him. 
 And for he was an honefl: Man*durfl die. 
 Te (hall have daily wlrh you, could that die too. 
 And I return no Traffick of my Travels, 
 No Annals of old Mciusy but he liv'd. 
 My Friends, ye had caufe to weep, and bitterly 5 
 The common Overthrows of tender Women, 
 And Children new born; Crying were too little, 
 'To (hew me then mofi: wretched ; if Tears muft be, 
 3 fhould in Juflice weep 'em, and for you; 
 You are to live, and yet behold thofe Slaughters, 
 The dry and withered Bones of Death would bleed at. 
 $ut fooner than I have time to think what muft be, 
 I fear you'll find what fhall be. If you love me, 
 JLet that Word ferve for all. Be gone, and Jeave me; 
 I have lome lirtle Pra6tice with my Soul, 
 And then the Qiarpcfl Sword is welcomcft ~ Go, 
 f*3:ay be gone. Ye have obejM me living, 
 
 36 
 
V A L E N T I N I N. 
 
 Be not for fhame now ftubbora — So — I thank yc 
 
 And fare you well A better Fortune guide ye. 
 
 P H I D I U S. 
 What (hall we do to fave our beft lov'd Matter? [4flde» 
 
 A R E T U S. - 
 Til to Afrm'mSi who with half a Legion 
 Lies in the old Suhurri^, all will rrfe for the htv^tMcm*^ 
 FHIDIUS. 
 
 ril to Maximus, 
 And lead him hither to prevent this Murther, 
 Gr help in the Revenge, which Til make fare of. 
 
 [Exit Phidius^w^ Aretus^ 
 MCI VS. 
 
 I hear 'em come 5 who ftrikes firft ? I ftay for you, 
 E^/^r BALBUS, CHYLAX, and LYCINIUS, 
 
 Yet will I die a Soldier, my Sword drawn, 
 But againft none. Why do you fear? come forward* 
 B A L B U Si 
 You were a Soldier, Chylax. 
 
 CHYLAX. 
 Ye5, 1 mufter'd, but never faw the Enemy. ^ 
 
 L Y C I N I U S. 
 He's arm'd. By Heav*n I dare not do it. 
 
 MCI US, 
 Why do you tremble? 
 l am to die. Come ye not fromC^y^rtothatend ?Sp;ak,^ 
 B A L B U S. 
 We do, and wc mufl: kill youj 'cis Cdfir^s Will. ] 
 
 CHYLAX. 
 I charge you put your Sword up, 
 That we may do it handfomly. 
 
 03 MClvs: 
 
V A L E N T I N I A N. 
 
 C I u s. 
 
 Ha, ha, ha! 
 
 My Sword up! Handfomly! Where were you bred 
 You are the mcrrieft Murtherers, my Mailers, 
 I ever met withal. Come forward, Fools. 
 Why do ycu flare ? Upon my Honour, Bawds,' 
 I v/ill not flrike you. 
 
 L Y C I N I U S. 
 ni not be the firfl:. 
 
 B A L B U S. 
 
 Nor I. 
 
 CHYLAX. 
 
 You had beft die quietly. The Emperor 
 Sees how you bear your felf. 
 
 iECIUS. 
 I would die, Rafcals, 
 If you would kill me quietly. 
 
 B ALBUS: 
 
 Plague on Troculus, 
 Be promised to bring a Captain hither;. 
 • That has been us'd to kill. 
 
 iECIUS. 
 
 rn call the Guard, 
 Unlefs you kill me quickly, and proclaim 
 What beallly, bafe, cowardly Companions 
 The Emperor has trufted with his Safety; 
 Kay, ril give out you fell on my Side, Villainsj. 
 Strike home, you bawdy Slaves, 
 
 CHYLAX. 
 
 He will kill us 5 I mark'd his Hand; he waits 
 But time to reach us: Now do you offer. 
 
VALENTINIitNt 20 
 
 JE C IV S. 
 If you do mangle me. 
 And kill me not at two Blows, or at thrce^ 
 Or not fo ftagger me, my Seafes fail me, i 
 Lock to your felvcs, 
 
 C H Y L A.X. 
 
 I told ye. 
 
 iE C i U S. 
 
 Strike me manly. 
 And take a thoufand Strokes. 
 
 Enter P O N T I U S* . 
 
 B A L B U S. 
 Here's Tontm. [Lycinius rum amy^ 
 
 PONTIUS. 
 
 Not kill him yet! 
 I5 this the Love you bear the Emperor ? 
 Nay, then I fee you are Traitors all j have at ye. 
 C H Y L A X. 
 
 Oh, I am hurt. 
 
 B A L B U S. 
 And I am kill'd — — [Ha?. Chylax md Balbus; 
 
 PONTIUS. 
 Die Bawds^ as you have livM and flourifh'd, 
 
 ^ C I U s. 
 Wretched Fellow, what haft thou done ? 
 
 PONTIUS. 
 Kiird them that durft not kill, and you are ncxti 
 C I U S. 
 
 Art thou not Vontlm ? 
 
 PONTIUS. 
 I am the fame you caft, ^c'msy 
 And in the Face of all the Camp difcracU 
 
 O 4 -^CIUSJ 
 
1^6 V A L E N T I N I A N. 
 
 C I U S. 
 
 Then fo much nobler, as thou art a Soldier; 
 Shall my Death be. Is it Revenge provokes thee? 
 Or art thou hir*d to kill me? 
 
 PONTIUS. 
 
 Both. 
 
 iE € I U S. 
 
 Then do ie, 
 
 PON TI US; 
 
 Is that all? 
 
 iE'ClUS. 
 
 Yes. 
 
 PONTIUS. 
 Would you not live ? 
 
 iE C I U S. 
 Why fhould I? to thank thee for my Life? 
 
 PONTIUS. 
 
 Yes, if I fparc it. 
 
 C I U S. 
 
 Be not deseiv'd, I was not made to thank 
 For any Courtefy but killing me, 
 A Fellow of thy Fortune. Do thy Duty, 
 PONTIUS. 
 Do you not fear me ? ^ 
 JECIUS. 
 
 No. 
 
 PONTIUS. 
 Nor love me for it ? 
 
 iE C I U S. 
 That's as thou doft thy Bufinefs. 
 
 PONTIUS. 
 When you arc dead your Place is mine, jEclus,. 
 
 * iKCIUS 
 
Valentinian. 
 
 C I u s. 
 
 Now I fear thee. 
 And not alone thee, Pontius, but the Empire. 
 
 PONTIUS. 
 
 Why, I can govern, Sir, 
 
 iECIUS. 
 
 I wou'd thou coud'ft, and firft thy felf: ) 
 Thou can*il: fight well and bravely, thou canft 
 Endure all Dangers, Heats, Colds, Hangers 5 
 Heav*ns angry Flames are not fuddener, 
 Than I have feen thee execute, nor more mortalj 
 The winged Feet of flying Enemies 
 I have ftood and fee the mow away like Ruihes. 
 And fliil kill the Killer j were thy Mind 
 But half fo fweet in Peace as rough in Dangers, 
 1 dy'd to leave a happy Heir behind me. 
 Come ftrike, and be a General ■ 
 P O N T I U S. 
 
 ^ Prepare then, 
 
 And, for I fee your Honour cannot leflen, 
 And 'twere a Shame for me to ftrike a ManJ 
 Fight your fhdrt Span out. 
 
 iE C I U S^ 
 No, thou know'ft I muft not 5 
 I dare not give thee (uch Advantage of me 
 As Difobedicnce. 
 
 PONTIUS. 
 Dare you not defend you 
 Againft your Enemy ? 
 
 iE C I U S,^ 
 Not fent from C<zfar, 
 I have no Power to make fuch Enemieij 
 
 Or. 
 
298^ ¥ A^Ii E N T I N I A N, 
 
 For, as I am condemned, my naked Sword 
 Stands but a Hatchment by me 5 only held 
 To fhew I was a Soldier. Had not Cdfar 
 Chain'd all Defence in this Doom, Let^him die,' 
 Old as I am, and quench 'd with Scars and Sorrow?/ 
 Yet would I make this wither'd Arm do Wonders, 
 And open in an Enemy fuch Wounds, 
 Mercy would weep to look on. 
 
 PONTIUS. 
 . Then have at you. 
 And look upon me, and be fure you fear not^ 
 Remember who you are, and why you live. 
 And what I have been to you: Cry not Hold, 
 Kor think it bafe Injuftice I fhould kill thee. ^ 
 
 I am prepared for all. 
 
 PONTIUS. 
 
 For now JEciuSi 
 Thou flialt behold and find I was no Traitor* 
 Aad as I do it, blefs me — — Die as I do 
 
 [Pontius kills himfslf. 
 
 M ClU S. 
 
 Thou haft decciv'd me, Fomm, and I thank thee. 
 By all my Hopes in Heav'n thou'rt a Romm* 
 PONTIUS. 
 
 To (hew you what you ought to do this is not 5 
 But, noble Sir, you have been jealous of me, 
 And held me in the Rank of dangerous Pcrfons, 
 And I muft dying fay it was but Juftice, 
 You cad me from my Credit 5 yet believe me, 
 For there is nothing now but Truth to fa\jc me. 
 And your Forgivencfs, tho' you hold me heinous 
 
 4 ~ And 
 
I A L E N T I N I A N* "^99 
 
 And of a troubled Spirit, that like Fire 
 Turns all to Flames it meets with: You miftook me. 
 If I were Foe to any thing, 'twas Eafe, 
 Want of the Soldier^ Due — The Enemy! 
 The Nakednefs we found at Home, and Scorn, 
 Children of Peace and Pleafures, no Regard, 
 Nor Comfort for our Sc?.rs, nor how we got 'em j 
 To rufty Time that eats our Bodies up. 
 And ev'n began to prey upon our Hours, 
 To Wants at home, and more than Wants, Abufcsj 
 To them that when the Enemy invaded. 
 Made us the Saints, but now the Sores of Rome-y • 
 To filken Flattery, and Pride plain'd over, 
 Forgetting with what Wind their Fathers faii'd. 
 And under whofe Protedion their foft Pleafures 
 Grow full and Numberlefs. To this I am a Foe* 
 Not to the State, or any Point of Duty j 
 And let me fpeak but what a Soldier may j 
 Truly I ought to be fo, yet I err*d, 
 Bccaufe a far more nobler Sufferer 
 Shew'd me the way to Patience, and I loft it ; 
 This is the End I die for : To live bafely, 
 jf And not the Follower of Iwm that bred me. 
 In f«ll Account and Virtue, Pontius dares not; 
 Much lefs to out-live all that is good, and flatter.' 
 iE C I U S. 
 I want a Name to give thy Virtue, Soldier, 
 For only Good is far below thee, Tontiusy 
 The Gods (hall find thee one : Thou haft fafhion'd Death 
 In fuch an excellent and beauteous manner, 
 I wonder Men can livelCanfl thou fpeak one word more ? 
 For thy Words are fuch a Harmony, a»Soul 
 Wou*d choofc to fly to Heav'n in, P O NJ 
 
300 V A L E N T I N I A N; 
 
 PONTIUS. 
 
 A Farewel, good noble General, your Hand : 
 Forgive me, and think whatever was difpleafing to youi. 
 Was none of mine j you cannot livc.» 
 
 ^ C I u s ". 
 
 I will not J yet one Word more. 
 
 PONTIUSi 
 
 Die nobly; RomehxGwcU 
 And Vaknt'mim fall, . 
 In Joy youVe given me a quiet Deatfr, 
 1 would flrike more Wounds if I had more Breath, [ptehw 
 iE C I U S, 
 
 Is there an Hour of Goodnefs beyond this ? 
 Or any Man that would out-live fuch Dying?; 
 Would C^/^r double all my Honours on me. 
 And ftick me o'er with Favours like a Miftrefsi : 
 Yet would I grow to this Man ; I have lov'd. 
 But never doted on a Face 'till now; Oh Death! 
 Thou art more than Beauty, and thy Pleafures 
 Beyond Pofterity: Come, Friends, and kill me. 
 CdfdTf be kind, and fend a thoufand Swords, 
 The more, the greater is my Fall. Why ftay you? • 
 Come, and I'll kifs your Weapons; Fear me not. 
 By all the Gods, I'll Honour ye for killing. ^ 
 Appear, ,or thro' the Court and World V\\ fearch ye, 
 ril follow ye, and ere I die proclaim ye, 
 The Weeds of Italy, the Drofs of Nature. 
 .Whereare ye, Villains, Traitors, Slaves ii ^ -i . i » [tsclt. 
 
 S C E N E 
 
V A L E N T I N I A IC, 3^©! 
 
 S G E N E V. 
 
 y A L E N T I N I A N and the Bunnch dtfmtr^d 
 on a Couch. 
 
 V A X. E N T I N I A N. 
 
 Oh let me prefs thefe balmy Lips all Day, 
 And bathe my Love-fcorch'd Soul in thy moifl Kifies* 
 Now by my Joys thou art all fweet and foft. 
 And thoii (halt be the Altar of ray Love 5 
 Upon thy Beauties hourly .will I offer. 
 And pour out Pleafure and blefs'd Sacrifice, 
 To the dear Memory of my Lucim^ 
 No God nor Godde£s ever was ador'd with fuch Religion^, 
 As my Love (hall be 5 for in thefe charming Raptures 
 Of my Soul, dafpt in thy Arms Til wafle my felf awaysl , 
 And rob the ruin'd World of their great Lord j 
 While to the Honour olLucina's Name, 
 I leav>e Mankind to mourn the Lofs for everj , 
 
 A S Q N 
 
 L 
 
 JT^Ir^nefs hath refiftkfs Charmsi 
 All befides can weakly move 5 
 J'terc^fi Anger it difarmsy 
 And clips the Wings of flying Love, ^ 
 IL 
 
 Beauty does tha Heart invade, 
 
 Kindnefs only can ferfuadsy 
 
 It gilds the LoverU fervile Chain, 
 
 A&d m^kes the Slavic grow fleas'd and vainl 
 
302 V AV E<N T IN IAN. 
 
 Efiter C I U S with Tm Swords. 
 
 Valentinian. 
 Ha! what defperate Mad-man weary of his Belng^ 
 Prefunaes to prefs upon ray happy Moments ? 
 Mem? And arm'd whence comes this impious Boldnefs 
 Did not my Wil), the World's mod facred Law, 
 Doom thee to die ? 
 And dar'ft thou in Rebellion be alive? 
 Is Death more fruitful grown than Difobedience ? 
 
 C I U S. 
 
 Not for a hated Life condemned by you. 
 Which in your Service has been flill expos'd 
 To Pain and Labours, Famiife, Slaughter, Fire,' 
 And all the dreadful Toils of horrid War, 
 Am I thus lowly laid before your Feet : 
 For what mean Wretch, who has his Duty done, 
 Would care to live, when you declare him worthlefsf 
 If I mufl: fall, which your fevere Disfavour 
 Hath made the eaiier and the nobler Choice; 
 Yield me not up a wretched Sacrifice, 
 To the poor Spleen of a bafe Favourite. ^ 
 Let not vile Inftruments deftroy the Man, 
 Whom once you lov'dj but let your Hand beftow 
 That welcome Death your Anger has decreed. 
 
 [Lays his Sword at hh leet] 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 
 Go, feek the common Executioner, 
 Old Man, thro' Vanity and Years grown mad : 
 Or to reprieve thee from the Hangman's Stroke^ 
 Go, ufc thy military Intercft, 
 
Vale n xi n i a n. 
 
 To beg a milder Death among the Guards, 
 And tempt my kindled Wrath no more with Folly, 
 M C I U S. 
 lll-counfell*d, thanklefs Prince, you did indeed 
 Beflow that Office on a Soldier; 
 
 But in the Army could you hope to fiad, ^ 
 
 With all your Bribes, a Murderer of Mcius ? 
 
 Whom they fo long have followed, known and own'di 
 
 Their God in War? and thy good Genius ever ! 
 
 Speechlefs and cold without, upon the Ground, 
 
 The Soldier lies, whofe generous Death will teach 
 
 Pofterity true Gratitude and Honourj 
 
 And prefs as heavily upon thy Soul, 
 
 Lofl Vdentmimy as by the barb'rous Rape, 
 
 For which fince Heav'n alone muft puniOi thee^ 
 
 Til do Heav'ns Juftice on thy bafe Aflifter, 
 
 [J^uns at Lyciasj' 
 
 LYCIAS, 
 
 Save me, my Lord. 
 
 V ALENTINIAN. 
 Hold, honefl MciuSi hold, 
 
 I was too rafh. Oh fpare the gentle Boy ! 
 And rii forgive thee all. 
 
 L YCI A S. 
 Furies and Death. \pm, 
 
 V A LENT INI AN. 
 
 He bleeds ! Mourn ye Inhabitants of Heav'n ! 
 For fure my lovely Boy was one of you ! 
 But he is dead, and now ye may rejoice. 
 For ye have (loin him from me, fpiteful Powers } 
 Empire and Life, I ever have defpis'd, 
 The Vanity of Pride, of Hope and Fear, 
 
3^)4 V A LENT I N r A N, 
 
 In Love alone my Soul found real Joys! 
 And flill ye tyrannize and crofs my Love. 
 Oh that I had a Sword [Mdas throws him a Sr^ord. 
 
 To drive this raving Fool headlong to Hell. iFight, 
 JE CIV S. 
 Take your Eyefire, and try if lawlefs Luft 
 Can ftand againft Truth, Honefty, and Jufticc : 
 I have my Wifti. Gods give you true Repentance^ 
 And blefs you ftill. Beware of Maximus. 
 
 [They fight. iEcius rum on the Emperor's Smrd^ 
 falls and dtes^ 
 
 V A LEN TIN IAN. 
 Farewel, dull Hx)nefty, which tho' defpis'd, 
 Canft make thy Owner run on certain Ruin. 
 Old ^cius! Where is now thy Name in War? 
 Thy Intereft with To many conquered Nations? 
 The Soldier's Reverence, and the People's Love? 
 Thy mighty Fame and Popularity ? 
 With which thou kept'fl me ftill in certain Fear, 
 Depending on thee for uncertain Safety ; 
 Ah ! what a lamentable Wretch is he. 
 Who, urg'd by Fear or Sloth, yields up his Tov^r^ . 
 To hope Protedion from his Favourite ? 
 Wallowing in Eafe and Vice, feels no Contempt, 
 But wears the empty Name of Prince with Scarnj , 
 And lives a poor led Pageant to his Slave ? 
 Such have I been to thee, honefl: JEcius I 
 Thy Pow'r kept me in Awe, thy Pride in Pai'n> 
 Tfll now l liv'dj JjutJince thoa'rt dead, ril reign. . 
 
V A L E N T I N I A N. ^0$ 
 
 •Enter P H I D I U S w/V& M A X I M U S. 
 
 P H I D I U S. 
 
 Behold, my Lord, the cruel Emperor, 
 By whofc tyrannick Doom the noble Mem 
 Was judg'd to die. 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 He was fo, faucy Slave ! 
 Struck by this Hand, here groveling at my Feet 
 The Traitor lies ! as thou fhalt do, bold Villain ! 
 Go to the Furies, carry my Defiance, {K\IU him] 
 
 And tell 'cm, C^far fears not Earth nor HclL 
 P H I D I U S. 
 Stay, JEciuSy and Til wait thy mightier Ghoftr 
 Oh MaximuSi thro' the long Vault of Death, 
 I hear thy Wife cry out, Revenge me! 
 Revenge me on the Ravifher! no more ! 
 Aretus comes to aid thee ! Oh ! farewe). \pksl 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 Ha ! what not fpeak yet f thou whofe Wrongs are 
 greateft ; 
 
 Or do the Horrors that we have been doing 
 Amaze thy feeble Soul ? If thou art a Roman, 
 Anfwer the Emperor: C^far bids thee fpeak! 
 
 M A X I M U S. 
 A Rowan ^ Ha ! and C^&pir bids thee fpeak ! 
 Pronounce thy Wrongs, and tell *em o'er in Groans j 
 But oh ! the Story is ineffable! 
 C^ffirs Commands back'd with the Eloquence 
 Of all the infpiring Gods, cannot declare it. 
 Oh Emperor, thou Pidure of a Glory! 
 Thou mangled Figure of a ruin*d Grcatnefs! 
 
 Spcal&J 
 
^o6^ Valentinia n. 
 
 Speak, fay 'ft thou? Speak the Wrongs of Maximus^ 
 
 l^^s, I will fpeak. Imperial Murderer! 
 
 Ravifher I Oh thou Royal Villany ! 
 
 In Purple dipt to give a glofs to Mifchief. 
 
 Yet ere thy Death enriches my Revenge, 
 
 And fwclls the Book of Fate, you ftatelier Madman,' 
 
 P]ac*d by the Gods upon a Precipice, 
 
 To make thy Fall more dreadful. Why haft thou flaia 
 
 Thy Friend, thy only Stay for finking Greatnefs ? 
 
 What Frenzy, what blind Fury did poflefs thee. 
 
 To cut off thy right Hand, and fling it from thee? 
 
 For fuch was JEcius, 
 
 VALENTIN IAN. 
 
 Yes, and fuch art thou 5 
 Joint Traitors to my Empire and my Glory. 
 Put up thy Sword ; be gone for ever 5 leave me* 
 Tho' Traitor, yet becaufe I once did wrong thee^ 
 Live like a vagrant Slave. I banilh thee. 
 
 M A X 1 M U S. 
 
 Hold me, you Gods 5 and judge your Paffions rightlyj. 
 Left I ftiould kill him : Kill this luxurious Worm, 
 Ere yet a Thought of Danger has awak'd him. 
 End him even in the Midft of Night-Debauches,' 
 Mounted upon a Tripos, drinking Healths 
 With fhallow Rafcals, Pimps, Buffoons and Bawds, 
 Who with vile Laughter take him in their Arms, 
 And bear the drunken C^fir to his Bed j 
 Where, to the Scandal of all Majefty, 
 At every Grafp he belches Provinces, 
 KilTes off Fame, at the Empire's Ruia 
 Enjpys his coftly Whore, . 
 
 VALEN* 
 
Valentin I aii. 
 
 V A L E N T I N I A N. 
 
 Peace, Traitor, or thou dy'd, 
 Tho' pale Lucim (hould dire6l thy Sword, 
 I would affault thee if thou ofF:r more, 
 M A X I M U S. 
 
 More ? by the imn orral Gods I will awake theej. 
 I'll roufe thee, Cafar^ if ftrcng Reafon can. 
 If thou hadft ever Senfe of Roman Honour^ 
 Of the In"iperial Genius ever warm'd thee. 
 Why haft thou us'd me thus for all my Service, 
 My Toils, my Frights, my Wounds in horrid War? 
 Why didft thou tear the only Garland frotS me. 
 That could make proud my Conquefts? O ye Gods! 
 If there be no fuch thing as Right or WroRg,Jj 
 But Force alone muft (wallow all Pofleflion, 
 Then to what purpofe in fo long Defcents 
 Were Roman Laws obferv'd, or Heav'n obey'd^ 
 If ftill the Great for Eafe or Vice formed. 
 Why did our firft Kings toil ? V/hy was the PlOugK 
 Advanced to be the Pillar of the State ? 
 Why was the luftful Tarqum with his Houfe 
 Expeli'd, but for the Rape of bleeding Lucrece. 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 
 I cannot bear thy Words. Vext Wrecth, no morel 
 He (hocks me. Prithee, Maxtmus^ no more, 
 Reafon no more i thou troubled me with Reafon. 
 M A X I M U S. 
 
 What fervile Rafcal, what moft abje£l Slave, 
 That lick'd the Duft where-e*er his Mailer trod. 
 Bounded not from the Earth upon his Feet, 
 Arid (hook his Chain, that heard of Brutus' Vengeance? 
 Who that t'er heard the Caufe, applauded not 
 
3o8 Valentin I A n. 
 
 That Romm Spirit, for h is great Revenge ? 
 Yet mine is more, and touches me far nearer: 
 Zucrece was not his Wife as fhe was mine, 
 For ever ravilh'd, ever loft Luc'ma. 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 
 Ah name her not : That Name, thy Face and RcafonJ 
 Are the Three Things on Earth I would avoids 
 Let me forget her, I'll forgive thee all, 
 And give thee half the Empire to be gone. 
 
 M A X I M U S. 
 
 Thus fteel'd with fuch a Gaufe, what Soul but mine 
 Had not upon the Inftant ended thee ? 
 Sworn in that Moment " , , , CAfar no more j 
 And fo I had. But I will tell thee, Tyrant, 
 To make thee hate thy Guilt, and curfe thy Fiear^i 
 JEmSi whom thou haft ffain, prevented me; 
 JEcius, who on this bloody Spot lies murder'd 
 By barbarous C^far, watch'd my vow'd Revenge^ 
 And from my Sword preferv'd ungrateful Cdfar* 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 
 How then durft thou, reviewing this great Example] 
 With impious Arms afTault the Emperor? 
 
 MAXIMUS. 
 Becaufe I have more Wit than Honefty, 
 More of thy felf, more Villany than Virtue, ^ 
 More Paffion, more Revenge, and more Ambition^ 
 Than foolilh Honour, and fantaftick Glory. . 
 What, fliare your Empire ? Suffer you to live? 
 After the impious Wrongs I have rcceiv'di 
 Goud^ft thou thus lull me> thou raight'fl: laugh indeed. 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 
 1 am fatisfy'd that thou didft ever hate me. 
 
 Thy 
 
V A L E N T I N I A N. 309 
 
 Thy Wife's Rape therefore was an A<ft of Juftice, 
 And fo far thou haft eas'd my tender Confciencc* 
 Therefore to hope a Friend fhip from thee now. 
 Were vain to me, as is the World's continuance. 
 Where folid Pains fucceed our fenfclefs Joys, 
 And fliort-liv*d Pleafures fleet like paffing Dreams, 
 ^ciusi I mourn thy Fate as much as man can do 
 In my Condition, that am going, and therefore 
 Should be bufy with my felfj yet to thy Memory I wifl 
 allow 
 
 Some grains of Time, and drop fome forrowing Tears^ j 
 Oh, JEcsHs! Oh! 
 
 M A X I M U S. 
 
 Why this is right, my Lordj 
 And if thefe Drops are Orient, you will fet 
 True Cafar^ glorious in your going down, 
 Tho' all the Journey of your ESfe was cloudy; 
 Allow at leaft a Poffibility, 
 
 Where Thought is loft, and think there may be God$; , 
 An unknown Country, after you are dead. 
 As well as there was one ere you were born. 
 VALE NT IN I AN. 
 IVe thought enough, and with that Thought refolvc 
 To mount Imperial from the burning Pile. 
 I grieve for JEcius ! yes, I mourn him, Gods! 
 As if I had met my Father in the dark. 
 And ftriving for the way had murder'd him. 
 Oh, fuch a faithful Friend ! that when he knew 
 I hated him, and had contrived his Death, 
 Yet then he ran his Heart upon his Sword, 
 And gave a fatal Proof of dying Love, 
 
 MAXI^ 
 
3 V A L E N T I N I A 
 
 M A X I M U S. 
 
 'Tis now fit time, I've wrought you to my purpofc^ 
 Elfe at ray Entrance with a brutal Blow, 
 l*d kWd you like a Viftim for the Altar, 
 Not warn'd you thus, and arm'd you for your Hour,' 
 And if whene'er Fate call'd a C^far home, , 
 The judging Gods look'd down to mark his dying, 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 
 Oh fubtle Traitor ! how he dallies with me? 
 Think not, thou fancy Counfellor, my Slave, 
 Tho' at this Moment I fhould feel thy Foot 
 Upon my Neck, and Sword within my Bowebi 
 That I would ask a Life from thee. No, Villain, 
 When once the Emperor is at thy Command, 
 Power, Life and Glory muft take leave for ever: 
 Therefore prepare the utmofi: of thy Malice 5 
 But to torment thee more, and fliew how little 
 All thy Revenge can do appears to Cafar., 
 Wottld the Gods raife Lucina from the Grave, 
 And fetter thee but while I might enjoy her. 
 Before thy Face Td ravifli her again. 
 
 M A X I M U S. 
 
 Hark, hark! jiretus and the Legions come; 
 V ALENTINIANL 
 
 Come all, Aretusy and the Rebel Legions 5 
 lAt Mcius too part, from the Goal of Death, 
 And run the flying Race of Life again ; 
 I'd be the foremofl: ftill, and fnatch frcfli Glory 
 To my laft Gafp, from the contending World j 
 Garlands and Crowns too fhall attend my Dying,' 
 Statues and Temples, Altars lhall be rais'd 
 
V A L E N T I N I A N. 
 
 To my great Name, while your more vile Infcriptioas 
 Time rots, and mould'ring Clay is all your Portion, 
 
 mer A R E T U S atjd Soldiers. They kill the Emper&r;^ 
 
 M A X I M u s. 
 Lead me to Death or Empire, which you pleafc. 
 For both are equal to a ruin'd Man: 
 But, Fcllow-Soldiers, if you are my Friends, 
 Bring me to Death, that I may there find Peace, 
 Since Empire is too poor to make amends 
 for half the Lofles I have undergone. 
 A true Friend, and a tender faithful Wife, 
 The twoLbkft Miracles of Human Life. 
 Go now and feek new Worlds to add to this;( 
 Search Heaven for Blcffings to enrich the Gift; 
 Bring Power and Pleafure on the Wings of Fam^' 
 And heap this Treafure upon Maximust 
 You'll make a great Man not a happy one 5 
 Sorrows fo juft as mine muft never end, 
 ^or my Love ravifti'd, and my murder'd Friend. 
 
 E P 
 
E P I L O G U 
 
 Written by a Perfoii of Quality. 
 IS well the Scene is laid remote from hence. 
 
 'Tmuld bring in queftion elfe our Author's Senje 
 Two menjlrous things , frodHc*dfor this our Age, 
 And no -where to be fern but on the Stage. 
 A Woman Ravifh'd, and a great Man Wife, 
 Js[ay Honeji too, without the leaji Difguife. 
 Another CharaBer deferves great Blame, 
 A Cuckold daring to revenge his Shame* 
 Surly, ill-natured Roman, wanting Wit, 
 Angry when all true Engliftimcn fubmit ; 
 Witnefs the Horns of the well-headed Tit, 
 Tell me, ye 'Fair Ones, pay new tell me, why 
 Tor fuch a "Fault as this to bid me dre» 
 should Husbands thus command, and Wives obeyl 
 ^Twouldfp&il our Audience for the next new Flay, 
 Too many wanting, who are here to-day. 
 For I fuppofe if e'er that happened to ye, 
 ^Twas Force prevailed, ye [aid, he would undo ye. 
 Struggling, crfd ont, hut all alas in vain. 
 Like me ye underwent the killing Vain. 
 Tiid you not pity me, lament each Groan, 
 When left with the wild Emperor alone ? 
 I know in Thought ye kindly bore a part^ 
 Sach had her Valentinian in her Heart. 
 
 F I N I a 
 
7. 
 
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1H£ limy {,imhi 
 
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