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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

OLD TONY; A SONG by THOMAS D'URFEY

First Line: LET OLIVER NOW BE FORGOTTEN
Last Line: OR ELSE MAIST THOU DIE, LIKE A DOG IN A STRING.
Subject(s): COOPER, ANTHONY (1621-1683); SHAFTESBURY, 1ST EARL OF;
Let @3Oliver@1 now be forgotten,
His Policy's quite out of Doors;
Let @3Bradshaw@1 and @3Hewson@1 lie rotten,
Like Sons of @3Fanatical@1 Whores:
For @3Tony@1's grown a Patrician,
By Voting Damn'd Sedition,
For many Years
Fam'd Politician,
The Mouth of all @3Presbyter@1-Peers@1.

Old @3Tony@1 a Turn-coat at @3Worc'ster@1,
Yet swore he'd maintain the King's Right;
But @3Tony@1 did swagger and bluster,
Yet never drew Sword on his side;
For @3Tony@1's like an old Stallion,
He has still the Pox of Rebellion,
And never was found,
Like the @3Camelion@1,
Still changing his Shape and his Ground.

Old @3Rowley@1's return'd (Heav'ns bless Him)
From Exile and danger set free:
Old @3Tony@1 made haste to address Him;
And swore none more Loyal than he:
The King who knew him a Traytor,
And saw him Squint like a Satyr;
Yet, thro' his Grace,
Pardon'd the matter,
And gave him since the @3Purse@1 and the @3Mace@1.

And now little Chancellor @3Tony@1
With Honour had feather'd his Wing,
He carefully pick'd up the Money,
But never a Groat for the King:
But @3Tony@1's luck was confounded,
The Duke soon smoak'd him a @3Round-head@1,
From Head to Heel
@3Tony@1 was sounded,
And great @3York@1 put a Spoke in his Weel.

And now little @3Tony@1 in Passion,
Like Boy that had nettl'd his Breech,
Maliciously took an occasion
To make a most delicate Speech;
He told the King like a Croney,
If e'er he hop'd to have Money,
He must be rul'd:
Oh fine @3Tony@1!
Was ever Potent Monarch so school'd?

The King issues out Proclamation
By Learned and Loyal Advice;
But @3Tony@1 possesses the Nation
The Councel will never be wise:
For @3Tony@1 is madder and madder,
And @3Monmouth@1's blown like a Bladder,
And L----@3ce@1 too,
Who grows gladder,
That they the great @3York@1 were like to subdue.

But Destiny shortly will cross it,
For @3Tony@1's grown Gouty and Sick;
In Spight of his Spiggot and Fawset,
The States-man must go to old @3Nick@1:
For @3Tony@1 rails at the @3Papist@1,
Yet he himself is an @3Atheist@1,
Tho' so precise,
Foolish and Apish,
Like holy @3Quack@1, or @3Priest@1 in disguise.

But now let this Rump of the Law see,
A Maxim as Learned in part,
Whoe'er with his Prince is too sawcy,
'Tis fear'd he's a Traytor in's Heart:
Then @3Tony@1 cease to be witty
By buzzing Treason i' th' City,
And love the King;
So ends my Ditty:
Or else maist thou die, like a Dog in a string.



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