DIALOGUE.
M.
WHY am I daily thus perplext?
Why beyond Womans patience vext?
Your Spurious Issue grow and thrive;
While mine are dead ere well alive.
If they survive a nine days wonder,
Suspicious Tongues aloud do thunder;
And streight accuse my Chastity,
For your damn'd Insufficiency:
You meet my Love with no desire,
My Altar damps your feeble fire:
Though I have infinite more Charms
Than all you e'r took to your Arms.
The Priest at th' Altar bows to me;
When I appear he bends the knee.
His Eyes are on my Beauties fixt,
His Prayers to Heav'n and Me are mixt;
Confusedly he tells his Beads,
Is out both when he Prays and Reads.
I travel'd farther for your Love
Than
Sheba's Queen, I'l fairly prove.
She from the South, 'tis said did rome,
And I as far from East did come.
But here the difference does arise,
Though equally we sought the Prize;
What that great Queen desir'd she gain'd,
But I soon found your Treasury drain'd,
Your Veins corrupted in your Youth,
'Tis sad Experience tells this Truth:
Though I had caution long before
Of that which I too late deplore.
J.
Pray, Madam, let me silence break,
As I have you, now hear me speak.
These stories sure must please you well,
You're apt so often them to tell.
But, if you'l smooth your brow a while,
And turn that Pout into a Smile,
I doubt not, but to make't appear,
That you the great'st Aggressor are.
I took you with an empty Purse,
Which was to me no trivial Curse.
No Dowry could your Parents give;
They'd but a Competence to live.
When you appear'd, your charming Eyes
(As you relate) did me surprize,
With Wonder, not with Admiration,
Astonishment, but no Temptation:
Nor did I see in all your frame
Ought could create an amorous flame,
Or raise the least Desire in me,
Save only for Variety.
I paid such Service as was due,
Worthy my self, and worthy you:
Caress'd you far above the rate
Both of your Birth and your Estate.
When soon I found your haughty mind
Was unto Sov'reignty inclin'd;
And first you practis'd over me
The heavy Yoke of Tyranny,
While I your Property was made,
And you, not I, was still obey'd:
Nor durst I call my Soul my own,
You manag'd me as if I'd none.
I took such measures as you gave,
All day your Fool, all night your Slave.
Nor was Ambition bounded here,
You still resolv'd your course to steer:
All that oppose you, you remove;
'Twas much you'd own the Powers above.
Now several Stratagems you try,
And I'm in all forc'd to comply.
To Mother Church you take Recourse,
She tells you 'tmust be done by force;
And you, impatient of delay,
Contrive and execute the way.
When mounted to the Place you sought,
It no Contentment with it brought:
One Tree within your Prospect stood
Fairest and tallest of the Wood;
Which to your Prospect gave offence,
And it must be remov'd from thence.
In this you also are obey'd,
While all the Fault on me is laid.
Now you was quiet for a while,
As flattering Weather seems to smile,
Till buzzing Beetles of the Night
Had found fresh matter for your spite,
And set to work your busie Brain,
Which took Fire quickly from their Train.
Some Wise, some Valiant, you remove,
'Cause they your Maxims don't approve;
And in their stead such Creatures place
Which to th' Employments brings Disgrace:
While whatsoe're you do I own,
And still the dirt on me is thrown.
Strait new Chimera's fill your Brain,
The humming Beetles buz again;
A Goal Delivery now must be,
All tender Consciences set free;
Not out of Zeal, but pure Design
To make Dissenters with us joyn
To pull down Test and Penal Laws,
The Bulwark of the Hereticks Cause.
The sly Dissenters laugh the while,
They see where lurks the Serpents guile;
And rather than with us comply,
Will on our Enemies rely.
The Cheiftains of the Protestant Cause
We did confine, though 'gainst the Laws;
But soon was glad to set 'em free,
Fearing the giddy Mobile.
Now all is turning upside down,
Loud Murmuring's in every Town;
We've Foes abroad and Foes at home,
Armies and Fleets against us come:
The Protestants do laugh the while,
And the Dissenters sneer and smile;
But no Assistance either sends;
They're neither Enemies nor Friends.
Now pray conclude what must be done,
Consult your Oracle of
ROME,
For next fair Wind besure they come.
FINIS.