ART of POLITICKS,
In IMITATION of
_HORACE_'s
ART of POETRY.
[Ill.u.s.tration]
_LONDON_:
Printed for LAWTON GILLIVER, at _Homer_'s _Head_ against St. _Dunstan_'s Church in _Fleet-Street_.
MDCCXXIX.
THE
ART of POLITICKS,
In IMITATION of
_HORACE_'s
ART of POETRY.
[1]
[Ill.u.s.tration]
If to a Human Face Sir _James_ should draw A Gelding's Mane, and Feathers of Maccaw, A Lady's Bosom, and a Tail of Cod, Who could help laughing at a Sight so odd?
Just such a Monster, Sirs, pray think before ye, When you behold one Man both _Whig_ and _Tory_.
Not more extravagant are Drunkard's Dreams, Than _Low-Church_ Politicks with _High-Church_ Schemes.
Painters, you'll say, may their own Fancies use, And Freeborn _Britons_ may their _Party_ chuse; That's true, I own: but can one Piece be drawn For Dove and Dragon, Elephant and Fawn?
[2] Speakers profess'd, who Gravity pretend,) With motley Sentiments their Speeches blend:) Begin like Patriots, and like Courtiers end.) Some love to roar, _the Const.i.tution's broke_, And others on the _Nation's Debts_ to joke; Some rail, (they hate a Commonwealth so much,) What e'er the Subject be, against the _Dutch_; While others, with more fashionable Fury, Begin with _Turnpikes_, and conclude with _Fleury_; Some, when th' Affair was _Blenheim_'s glorious Battle, Declaim'd against importing _Irish Cattle_.
But you, from what e'er Side you take your Name, Like _Anna_'s _Motto_, always be the same.
[3] Outsides deceive, 'tis hard the Truth to know;) _Parties_ from quaint Denominations flow,) As _Scotch_ and _Irish_ Antiquaries show.) The _Low_ are said to take Fanaticks Parts, The _High_ are b.l.o.o.d.y _Papists_ in their Hearts.
Caution and Fear to highest Faults have run; In pleasing both the Parties, you please none.
Who in the _House_ affects declaiming Airs, _Whales_ in _Change-Alley_ paints: in _Fish-Street, Bears_.
Some Metaphors, some Handkerchiefs display;) These peep in Hats, while those with b.u.t.tons play,) And make me think it _Repet.i.tion-Day_;) There Knights haranguing hug a neighb'ring Post, And are but _Quorum_ Orators at most.
Sooner than thus my want of Sense expose,) I'd deck out Bandy-Legs with Gold-Clock't Hose,) Or wear a Toupet-Wig without a Nose.) Nay, I would sooner have thy Phyz, I swear, _Surintendant des Plaisirs d' Angleterre_[P].
[4] Ye _Weekly Writers_ of seditious _News_, Take Care your _Subjects_ artfully to chuse, Write _Panegyrick_ strong, or boldly _rail_, You cannot miss _Preferment_, or a _Goal_.
Wrap up your Poison well, nor fear to say What was a Lye last Night is Truth to Day; Tell this, sink that, arrive at _Ridpath_'s Praise, Let _Abel Roper_ your Ambition raise.
To Lye fit Opportunity observe, Saving some double Meaning in reserve; But oh, you'll merit everlasting Fame, If you can quibble on Sir _Robert_'s Name.
In _State-Affairs_ use not the Vulgar Phrase, Talk Words scarce known in good Queen _Besse_'s days.
New Terms let War or Traffick introduce, And try to bring _Persuading Ships_ in Use.
Coin Words: in coining ne'er mind common Sense, Provided the Original be _French_.
[5] Like _South-Sea Stock_, Expressions rise and fall: King _Edward_'s Words are now no Words at all.
Did ought your Predecessors Genius cramp?
Sure ev'ry Reign may have it's proper Stamp.
All Sublunary things of Death partake; What Alteration does a Cent'ry make?
Kings and Comedians all are mortal found, _Caesar_ and _Pinkethman_ are under Ground.
What's not destroy'd by Times devouring Hand?
Where's _Troy_, and where's the _May-Pole_ in the _Strand_?
Pease, Cabbages, and Turnips once grew, where Now stands new _Bond-street_, and a newer Square; Such Piles of Buildings now rise up and down; London itself seems going out of _Town_.
Our Fathers cross'd from _Fulham_ in a Wherry, Their Sons enjoy a Bridge at _Putney-Ferry_.
Think we that modern Words eternal are?
_Toupet_, and _Tompion_, _Cosins_, and _Colmar_ Hereafter will be call'd by some plain Man A _Wig_, a _Watch_, a _Pair of Stays_, a _Fan_.
To Things themselves if Time such change affords, Can there be any trusting to our Words.
[6] To screen good Ministers from Publick rage,) And how with Party Madness to engage,) We learn from _Addison_'s immortal Page.) The _Jacobite_'s ridiculous Opinion Is seen from _Tickel_'s Letter to _Avignon_.
But who puts _Caleb_'s _Country-Craftsman_ out, Is still a secret, and the World's in doubt.
[7] Not long since _Parish-Clerks_, with saucy airs, Apply'd _King David_'s _Psalms_ to _State-Affairs_.
Some certain _Tunes_ to Politicks belong, On both Sides Drunkards love a Party-Song.
[8] If full a-cross the Speaker's Chair I go, Can I be said the _Rules_ o'th' _House_ to know?
I'll ask, nor give offence without intent, Nor through meer Sheepishness be impudent.
[9] In _Acts of Parliament_ avoid Sublime, Nor e'er Address his Majesty in Rhime; An _Act of Parliament_'s a serious thing, Begins with Year of Lord and Year of King; Keeps close to Form, in every word is strict, When it would _Pains_ and _Penalties_ inflict.
Soft Words suit best _Pet.i.tioners_ intent; Soft Words, O ye _Pet.i.tioners_ of Kent!
[10] Who e'er harangues before he gives his Vote, Should send sweet Language from a tuneful Throat.
_Pultney_ the coldest Breast with Zeal can fire, And _Roman Thoughts_ by _Attick Stile_ inspire; He knows from tedious Wranglings to beguile The serious _House_ into a chearful Smile; When the great Patriot paints his anxious Fears For _England_'s Safety, I am lost in Tears.
But when dull Speakers strive to move compa.s.sion, I pity their poor Hearers, not the Nation: Unless young _Members_ to the purpose speak, I fall a laughing, or I fall asleep.
[11] Can Men their inward Faculties controul?
Is not the Tongue an Index to the Soul?
Laugh not in time of _Service_ to your G.o.d, Nor bully, when in _Custody_ o'th' _Rod_; Look Grave, and be from Jokes and Grinning far, When brought to sue for Pardon at the _Bar_.
If then you let your ill-tim'd Wit appear, Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses will sneer.
[12] For Land, or Trade, not the same Notions sire The _City-Merchant_, and the _Country-Squire_; Their Climes are distant, tho' one Cause unites The _Lairds_ of _Scotland_, and the _Cornish Knights_.
[13] To _Likelihood_ your _Characters_ confine; Don't turn _Sir Paul_ out, let _Sir Paul_ resign.
In _Walpole_'s Voice (if Factions Ill intend) Give the Two _Universities_ a Friend; Give _Maidston_ Wit, and Elegance refin'd; To both the _Pelhams_ give the _Scipios_ Mind; To _Cart'ret_, Learning, Eloquence, and Parts; To _George_ the _Second_, give all _English_ Hearts.
[14] Sometimes fresh Names in Politicks produce, And Factions yet unheard of introduce; And if you dare attempt a thing so new, Make to itself the _Flying-Squadron_ true.
[15] To speak is free, no _Member_ is debarr'd: But _Funds_ and _National Accounts_ are hard: Safer on common Topicks to discourse, The _Malt-Tax_, and a _Military Force_.
On these each Coffee-House will lend a hint, Besides a thousand things that are in Print.
But steal not Word for Word, nor Thought for Thought: For you'll be teaz'd to death, if you are caught.