The Character of a Trimmer.
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HAng out your Cloth, and let the Trumpet sound,
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Here's such a Beast as Africk never own'd.
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A twisted Brute, the Satyr in the Story,
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That blows up the Whig-Heat and cools the Tory.
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A State Hermaphrodite, whose doubtful Lust
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Salutes all Parties with an equal Gust.
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Like Iseland-Shocks, he seems two Natures joyn'd,
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Savage before, and all Betrimm'd behind:
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And the well tutor'd Currs like him will strain;
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Come over for the KING, and back again.
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'Tis such a Sphinx, the Devil can't unriddle,
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A Human Schism upward from the middle,
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And splits again below, which gives us light
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To the sole Point that can all Sects unite.
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Thus did the fam'd Dutch-double-Monster Trimm,
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And that cleft Soul's Pythagoriz'd in him.
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Noah (whom for the sake of Wine we love)
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Sav'd Natures breed by Mandate from above,
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But all the learned Sages doe agree
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He kept his Ark from Mules and Leopards free,
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All such mix'd Animals he scorn'd to float,
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And would not save one Trimmer in his Boat.
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Beasts feed on Beasts, and Fishes Fish devour,
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And o're weak Birds the Winged Tyrants tour;
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But this same Land-Fish with his Feather'd-Finns
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Commits both Air, and Earth, and Water-Sins,
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Complies with those that Fly, and Walk, and Dive,
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But fastens only upon those that Thrive.
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In short, his only Art is to inveagle,
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Flatter the Popular-Power as well as Regal,
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Like a State Janus, or a Church Spread-Eagle.
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