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AMBOYNA: PROLOGUE by JOHN DRYDEN

Poet Analysis

First Line: AS NEEDY GALLANTS, IN THE SCRIVENER'S HANDS
Last Line: AS MUCH IMPROPER AS WOULD HONESTY.
Subject(s): CRUELTY; GREAT BRITAIN - DUTCH WAR (1672-1678); MERCHANTS; PLAYS & PLAYWRIGHTS ; RELIGION; DRAMATISTS; THEOLOGY;
As needy Gallants in the Scriv'ners hands
Court the rich Knave that gripes their Mortgag'd Lands,
The first fat Buck of all the Season's sent,
And Keeper takes no Fee in Complement;
The doteage of some @3Englishmen@1 is such,
To fawn on those who ruine them, the @3Dutch@1.
They shall have all rather than make a War
With those who of the same Religion are.
The @3Streights@1, the @3Guiney@1 Trade, the Herrings too,
Nay, to keep friendship, they shall pickle you.
Some are resolv'd not to find out the Cheat,
But Cuckold-like, love him who does the Feat:
What injuries soe'r upon us fall,
Yet still the same Religion answers all:
Religion wheedled you to Civil War,
Drew @3English@1 Blood, and @3Dutchmens@1 now wou'd spare.
Be gull'd no longer; for you'l find it true,
They have no more Religion, faith -- then you;
Interest's the God they worship in their State;
And you, I take it, have not much of that.
Well, Monarchys may own Religions name,
But States are Atheists in their very frame.
They share a sin, and such proportions fall
That, like a stink, 'tis nothing to 'em all.
How they love @3England,@1 you shall see this day:
No Map shows @3Holland@1 truer then our Play:
Their Pictures and Inscriptions well weknow;
We may be bold one Medal sure to show.
View then their Falshoods, Rapine, Cruelty;
And think what once they were they still would be:
But hope not either Language, Plot, or Art;
'Twas writ in haste, but with an @3English@1 Heart:
And lest hope Wit; in @3Dutchmen@1 that would be
As much improper as would Honesty.



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