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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

UPON SIR ROBERT VYNER'S SETTING UP THE KINGS-STATUE by ANDREW MARVELL

Poet Analysis

First Line: AS CITYES THAT TO THE FIERCE CONQUEROR YIELD
Last Line: YET WE'D BETTER BY FAR HAVE HIM THAN HIS BROTHER.
Subject(s): CHARLES II, KING OF ENGLAND (1630-1685); STATUES;
@3i@1

As Cityes that to the Fierce Conqueror yield
Do at their own charges their Cittadells build,
So @3Sir Robert@1 advanc'd the @3Kings@1 statue, in token
Of Bankers defeated, and @3Lumbardstreet@1 broken.

@3ii@1

Some thought it a knightly, and generous deed,
Obliging the City with a King and a Steed,
When with honour he might from his word have gone back:
He that vowes for a Calme is absolv'd by a wrack.

@3iii@1

But now it appeares from the first to the last
To be all a revenge and Malice forecast,
Upon the @3Kings@1 birth day to set up a thing
That showes him a Monster more like than a King.

@3iv@1

When each one that passes findes fault with the Horse,
Yet all do affirme the @3King@1 is much worse,
And some by the likeness @3Sir Robert@1 suspect
That he did for the @3Kings@1 his owne Statue erect.

@3v@1

To see him so disfigur'd the herbe-women chide,
Who upon their pannyers more decently ride,
And so loose is his seat that all men agree
Even @3Sir William Peak@1 sits much firmer than he.

@3vi@1

But a Market, they say, does suite the @3King@1 well,
Who the @3Parliament@1 buys and Revenue does sell,
And others, to make the similitude hold,
Say @3his Majesty@1 himself is bought too and sold.

@3vii@1

This Statue is surely more scandalous farr
Than all the @3Dutch@1 pictures that caused the War,
And what the @3Exchequer@1 for that took on trust
May be henceforth confiscate for Reason more just.

@3viii@1

But @3Sir Robert@1, to take the Scandall away,
Does the fault upon the Artificer lay
And alledges the workmanship was not his owne,
For he counterfeits onely in Gold, not in Stone.

@3ix@1

But, @3Sir Knight of the Vine@1, how came't in your thought
That when to the scaffold your Liege you had brought,
With Canvas and deale you e'er since do him cloud,
As if you it meant for his Coffin and shrowd?

@3x@1

Has @3Blood@1 him away, as his Crowne once, convey'd,
Or is he to @3Clayton's@1 gone in Masquerade,
Or is he in Caball in this Cabinet sett,
Or have you to the @3Counter@1 remov'd him for debt?

@3xi@1

Methinks by the Equipage of this vile scene
That to change him into a Jackpudding you mean,
Or else thus expose him to popular flouts
As if we'd as good have a King made of Clouts.

@3xii@1

Or do you his beames out of modesty veile
With three shatter'd planks and the Ragg of a Saile,
To express how his navy was tatter'd and torn,
The day that he was both restored and born?

@3xiii@1

Sure the @3King@1 will ne'er think of repaying his bankers,
Whose loyalty all expires with his Spankers,
Now the @3Indies@1 or @3Smirna@1 do not him inrich,
They'll scarcely afford a ragg to his Breech.

@3xiv@1

But Sir Robert affirmes that we do him much wrong
For the Graver's at work to reform him thus long
But alas! he will never arrive at his end,
For 'tis such a @3King@1 as no chisel can mend.

@3xv@1

But with all his faults pray restore us our @3King@1,
As ever you hope in December for Spring;
For though the whole world can not shew such another,
Yet we'd better by far have him than his Brother.



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