The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) Volume II.Cibber, Theophilus
History
The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) Volume II.
Cibber, Theophilus
Poets, English -- Biography -- Early works to 1800; Poets, Irish -- Biography -- Early works to 1800
Rochester had certainly a true talent for satire, and he spared
neither friends nor foes, but let it loose on all without
discrimination. Majesty itself was not secure from it; he more than
once lampooned the King, whose weakness and attachment to some of his
mistresses, he endeavoured to cure by several means, that is, either
by winning them from him, in spite of the indulgence and liberality
they felt from a royal gallant, or by severely lampooning them and him
on various occasions; which the King, who was a man of wit and
pleasure, as well as his lordship, took for the natural sallies of his
genius, and meant rather as the amusements of his fancy, than as the
efforts of malice; yet, either by a too frequent repetition, or a too
close and poignant virulence, the King banished him [from] the court
for a satire made directly on him; this satire consists of 28 stanzas,
and is entitled The Restoration, or the History of the Insipids; and
as it contains the keenest reflexions against the political conduct,
and private character of that Prince, and having produced the
banishment of this noble lord, we shall here give it a place, by which
his lordship's genius for this kind of writing will appear.
The RESTORATION, or The History of INSIPIDS, a LAMPOON.
I.
Chaste, pious, prudent, Charles the second,
The miracle of thy restoration,
May like to that of quails be reckon'd,
Rain'd on the Israelitish nation;
The wish'd for blessing from Heaven sent,
Became their curse and punishment.
II.
The virtues in thee, Charles, inherent,
Altho' thy count'nance be an odd piece,
Prove thee as true a God's Vicegerent,
As e'er was Harry with his cod-piece:
For chastity, and pious deeds,
His grandsire Harry Charles exceeds.
III.
Our Romish bondage-breaker Harry,
Espoused half a dozen wives.
Charles only one resolv'd to marry,
And other mens he never ----;
Yet has he sons and daughters more
Than e'er had Harry by threescore.
IV.
Never was such a faith's defender;
He like a politic Prince, and pious,
Gives liberty to conscience tender,
And does to no religion tie us;
Jews, Christians, Turks, Papists, he'll please us
With Moses, Mahomet, or Jesus.
V.
In all affairs of church or state
He very zealous is, and able,
Devout at pray'rs, and sits up late
At the cabal and council-table.
His very dog, at council-board,
Sits grave and wise as any lord.
VI.
Let Charles's policy no man flout,
The wisest Kings have all some folly;
Nor let his piety any doubt;
Charles, like a Sov'reign, wise and holy,
Makes young men judges of the bench,
And bishops, those that love a wench.
VII.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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