Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE KING'S HEALTH, by THOMAS D'URFEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE KING'S HEALTH, by                    
First Line: Joy to great caesar
Last Line: For none e'er can love, or be wise and rebel.
Subject(s): Charles Ii, King Of England (1630-1685); Patriotism


The First Strain.

Joy to Great Casar,
Long Life, Love and Pleasure;
'Tis a Health that Divine is,
Fill the Bowl high as mine is:
Let none fear a Feaver,
But take it off thus Boys;
Let the King Live for ever,
'Tis no matter for us Boys.

The Second Strain.

Try all the Loyal,
Defy all,
Give denyall;
Sure none thinks his Glass too big here,
Nor any Prig here,
Or Sneaking Whig here,
Of Cripple Tony's Crew,
That now looks blue,
His Heart akes too,
The Tap won't do,
His Zeal so true,
And Projects new,
Ill Fate does now pursue.

The Third Strain.

Let TORIES Guard the King,
Let Whigs in Halters swing;
Let Pilk and Shute be sham'd,
Let Bugg'ring Player be Nick'd,
Let Cheating Player be Nick'd,
The turn-coat Scribe be Kick'd;
Let Rebel City Dons,
Ne'er beget their Sons:
Let ev'ry Wiggish Peer,
That Rapes a Lady fair,
And leaves his only Dear,
The Sheets to gnaw and tear,
Be punish'd out of hand,
And forc'd to pawn his Land
T'attone the grand Affair.

The Fourth Strain.

Great CHARLES, like Jehovah,
Spares those would Un-King Him;
And warms with his Graces,
The Vipers that sting Him:
Till Crown'd with just Anger,
The Rebel he Seizes;
Thus Heaven can Thunder,
When ever it pleases.

Jigg.

Then to the Duke fill, fill up the Glass,
The Son of our Martyr, belov'd of the King;
Envy'd and Lov'd,
Yet blest from above,
Secur'd by an Angel safe under his Wing.

The Sixth Strain.

Faction and Folly,
And State Melancholy,
With Tony in Whigland for ever shall dwell;
Let Wit, Wine, and Beauty,
Then teach us our Duty,
For none e'er can Love, or be Wise and Rebel.





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