Classic and Contemporary Poetry
DON SEBASTIAN: PROLOGUE, by JOHN DRYDEN Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: The judge removed, though he's no more my lord Last Line: And let him pay his taxes out in writing. Subject(s): Great Britain - Commonwealth & Colonies; Judges; Plays & Playwrights ; Religious Discrimination; British Empire; England - Empire; Dramatists; Religious Conflict | ||||||||
THE Judge remov'd, tho he's no more My Lord, May plead at Bar, or at the Council-Board: So may cast Poets write; there's no Pretension, To argue loss of Wit from loss of Pension. Your looks are cheerful; and in all this place I see not one that wears a damning face. The British Nation is too brave to show Ignoble vengeance on a vanquish'd foe. At least be civil to the Wretch imploring; And lay your Paws upon him without roaring: Suppose our Poet was your foe before, Yet now, the bus'ness of the Field is o'er; 'Tis Time to let your Civil Wars alone, When Troops are into Winter-quarters gone. Jove was alike to Latian and to Phrygian; And you well know, a Play's of no Religion. Take good advice, and please your selves this Day No matter from what hands you have the Play. Among good Fellows ev'ry health will pass, That serves to carry round another glass: When with full bowls of Burgundy you dine, Tho at the Mighty Monarch you repine, You grant him still most Christian, in his Wine. Thus far the Poet; but his brains grow Addle, And all the rest is purely from this Noddle. You've seen young Ladies at the Senate door Prefer Petitions, and your grace implore; However grave the Legislators were, Their Cause went ne're the worse for being fair. Reasons as weak as theirs, perhaps I bring; But I cou'd bribe you with as good a thing, I heard him make advances of good Nature, That he for once, wou'd sheath his cutting Satyr: Sign but his Peace, he vows he'll ne'er again The Sacred Names of Fops and Beaus profane. Strike up the Bargain quickly; for I swear, As Times go now, he offers very fair. Be not too hard on him with Statutes neither; Be kind; and do not set your Teeth together, To stretch the Laws, as Coblers do their Leather. Horses by Papists are not to be ridden, But sure the Muses Horse was ne're forbidden; For in no Rate-Book it was ever found That Pegasus was valued at Five-pound: Fine him to dayly Drudging and Inditing; And let him pay his Taxes out in Writing. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: YEE BOW by EDGAR LEE MASTERS CASSANDRA SOUTHWICK; 1658 by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER JOHN UNDERHILL by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER LATIMER AND RIDLEY, BURNED AT THE STAKE IN OXFORD, 1555 by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN THE NEW ANTHEM by NORMAN BOLKER ROGER WILLIAMS by HEZEKIAH BUTTERWORTH AN EXPOSTULATION WITH A SECTARIST, WHO INVEIGHED AGAINST THE CLERGY by JOHN BYROM ON THE GROUND OF TRUE AND FALSE RELIGION by JOHN BYROM A DIALOGUE BETWEEN TWO ZEALOTS UPON THE &C. IN THE OATH by JOHN CLEVELAND A SONG FOR ST. CECILIA'S DAY by JOHN DRYDEN A SONG TO A FAIR YOUNG LADY GOING OUT OF TOWN IN THE SPRING by JOHN DRYDEN |
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