He ftrives to look worse; he keeps all in awe ; Jefts like a licens'd foo commands like law.

Tir'd, now I leave this place, and but pleas'd fo As men from gaols to execution go,

Go, through the great chamber (why is it hung
With the feven deadly fins?) being among

Those Askaparts 7, men big enough to throw
Charing Crofs for a bar, men, that do know

No token of worth, but Queens man, and fine 'Living; barrels of beef, flaggons of wine.

I fhook like a spied Spie Preachers which are

Seas of Wit and Arts, you can, then dare,

Drown the fins of this place, but as for me
Which am but a scant brook, enough shall be
To wafh the ftains away: Although I yet
(With Maccabees modefty) the known merit
Of my work leffen, yet fome wise men shall,
I hope, esteem my Writs Canonical.

NOTES.

7 A Giant famous in Romances.

P.

Scarecrow to boys, the breeding woman's curfe,
Has yet a strange ambition to look worse;
Confounds the civil, keeps the rude in awe,
Jefts like a licens'd fool, commands like law.
Frighted, I quit the room, but leave it fo
As men froin Jayls to execution go;
For hung with deadly fins. I fee the wall,

270

A lin'd with Giants deadlier than 'em all:

275

Each man an Afkapart, of ftrength to tofs

For Quoits, both Temple-bar and Charing-crofs.
Scar'd at the grizly forms, I fweat, I fly,
And shake all o'er, like a discover'd spy.

Courts are too much for wits fo weak as mine: 280
Charge them with Heav'n's Artillery, bold Divine !
From fuch alone the Great rebukes endure,
Whofe Satire's facred, and whofe rage fecure:
'Tis mine to wash a few light ftains, but theirs
To deluge fin, and drown a Court in tears.
Howe'er what's now Apocrypha, my Wit,
In time to come, may pafs for holy writ.

NOTES.

285

VER. 274. For hung with deadly fins) The Room hung with old Tapestry, reprefenting the feven deadly fins.

P.