Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A SATYR by JOHN WILMOT

Poet Analysis

First Line: MUST I WITH PATIENCE EVER SILENT SIT
Last Line: OR WHO'D BE SAFE AND SENSELESS LIKE TOM THINN?
Subject(s): GWYNN, ELEANOR (NELL) (1650-1687); HEWITT, GEORGE. VISCOUNT HEWYTT OF GORAN; HOW, JOHN GRUBMAN (1657-1722); SAVAGE, THOMAS. EARL RIVERS (1628-1694); SAVILE, GEORGE. MARQUIS OF HALIFAX; THYNNE OF LONGLEAT, THOMAS (1648-1682); VILLIERS, EDWARD (1620-1689);
MUST I with Patience ever silent sit
Perplext with Fools who will believe they've wit?
Must I find every place by @3Coxcombs@1 seiz'd,
Hear their affected Nonsense, and seem pleas'd?
Must I meet @3Henningham@1 where e'er I go
@3Arp, Arran,@1 Villain @3Frank,@1 nay @3P[oultn]y@1 too?
Shall @3H[ewet]@1 pertly crawl from place to place
And scabby @3Villers@1 for a Beauty pass?
Shall @3H[ow]@1 and @3B[randon]@1 Politicians prove,
And @3S[outherlan]d@1 presume to be in Love?
'Shall pimping @3Dencourt@1 patient Cuckolds Blame
@3'Lumley@1 and @3Savage@1 'gainst the Pope disclaim,
Who can abstain from Satyr in this Age?
What Nature wants, I find supply'd by Rage.
Some do for Pimping, some for Treach'ry rise,
But none's made Great for being good or wise.
Deserve a Dungeon if you would be great,
Rogues always are our Ministers of State.
Mean prostrate Bitches for a @3Bridewell@1 fit,
With @3England's@1 wretched Queen, must equal sit,
@3R[anelagh]@1 and fearful @3M[ulgrave]@1 are preferr'd,
Vertue's commended, but ne'er meets Reward.
'May I ne're be like these I'l ask no more,
'I wou'd not be the Men that have their Pow'r.
Who'd be a Monarch to endure the Prating
Of @3Nell@1 and sawcy @3Oglethorp@1 in waiting,
Who would @3S[outhampton's]@1 drivling Cuckold be?
Who would be @3Y@1 --, and bear his infamy?
What wretch would be @3Green's@1 base begotten Son?
Who would be @3J[ames]@1 out-witted and undone?
Who would be @3S[underland]@1 a cringing knave
Like @3Hallifax@1 like, Boarish @3P[embrook]@1 brave?
'Who'd be that patient @3Bardash S[hrewsbury]@1
'Or who wou'd @3F@1 -- @3s@1 chattering @3M@1 -- be,
Who'd be a Wit in @3Dryden's@1 cudgel'd Skin?
Or who'd be safe and senseless like @3Tom Thinn?@1



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