Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, UPON SIR ROBERT VYNER'S SETTING UP THE KINGS-STATUE, by ANDREW MARVELL


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

UPON SIR ROBERT VYNER'S SETTING UP THE KINGS-STATUE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
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


i

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

ii

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.

iii

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

iv

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

v

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 Sir William Peak sits much firmer than he.

vi

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

vii

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

viii

But Sir Robert, 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.

ix

But, Sir Knight of the Vine, 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?

x

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

xi

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.

xii

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?

xiii

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

xiv

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 King as no chisel can mend.

xv

But with all his faults pray restore us our King,
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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