Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE VOWS, by ANDREW MARVELL



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THE VOWS, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: When the plate was at pawn and the fob at an ebb
Last Line: And quack in their language still, vive le roy.
Subject(s): Charles Ii, King Of England (1630-1685); Hate


When the plate was at prawn and the fob at an ebb
And the Spider might weave in our stomack its web
Our Stomach as empty as braine
The Charles without Acre
Made these vows to his Maker
If ere he saw Englang againe.

I will have a Religion then all of mine own
Where Papist from Protestant shall not be known,
But if it grow troublesome I will have none.

I will have a fine Parliament alwayes to freind
That shall furnish me Treasure as fast as I spend,
But when they will not they shall be at an end.

I will have as fine Bishops as were e'er made with hands
With consciences flexible to my commands,
But if they displease me I will have all their lands.

I will have my fine Chancellor bear all the sway
Yet if men should clamour I'll pack him away
And yet call him home again soon as I may.

I will have a fine Navy to conquer the seas
And the Dutch shall give caution for the Provinces,
But if they should beat me I will do what they please.

I will have a new London instead of the old,
With wide streets and uniforme of mine own mold,
But if they build it too fast, I will soon make them hold.

I will have a fine Son (in making though marr'd)
If not ore a Kingdome to reigne or'e my guard
And Successor, if not to me, to Gerrard.

I will have a fine Court, with ne're an old face
And alwayes who beards me shall have the next grace,
And I either will vacate or buy him a place.

I will have a Privy Councill to sit alwayes still,
I will have a fine Junto to do what I will,
I will have two fine Secretaryes pisse through one quill.

I will have a Privy-purse without a controll,
I will wink all the while my Revenue is stole,
And if any question'd I'll answer the whole.

But whatever is cost I will have a fine whore
As bold as Alce Pierce and faire as Jane Shore,
And when I am weary of her I'll have more.

Of my Pimp, I will make my Ministre premier,
My bawd shall Ambassadors send far and near,
And my Wench shall dispose of the Conge d'eslire.

If this please not I'll reigne upon any condition,
Miss and I will both learn to live on exhibition,
And I'll first put the Church then my Crown in Commission.

I will have a fine Tunick, a shash and a Vest
Though not rule like the Turk yet I will be so drest
And who knows but the mode may soon bring in the rest?

I will have a fine pond and a pretty Decoy
Where the Ducks and the Drakes may their freedoms enjoy
And quack in their language still, Vive le Roy.





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