Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 7.djvu/84

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72
SWIFT'S POEMS.

He has vamp'd an old speech, and the court to their sorrow,
Shall hear him harangue against Prior to morrow.
When once he begins, he never will flinch,
But repeats the same note a whole day, like a Finch.
I have heard all the speech repeated by Hoppy,
And, "Mistakes to prevent, I've obtained a copy."


THE SPEECH.


WHEREAS, notwithstanding, I am in great pain,
To hear we are making a peace without Spain;
But, most noble senators, 'tis a great shame,
There should be a peace, while I'm Not-in-game.
The duke show'd me all his fine house; and the duchess
From her closet brought out a full purse in her clutches:
I talk'd of a peace, and they both gave a start,
His grace swore by G—d, and her grace let a f—t:
My long oldfashion'd pocket was presently cramm'd;
And sooner than vote for a peace I'll be damn'd.
But some will cry Turncoat, and rip up old stories,
How I always pretended to be for the tories:
I answer; the tories were in my good graces,
Till all my relations were put into places.
But still I'm in principle ever the same,
And will quit my best friends, while I'm Not-in-game.
When I and some others subscribed our names
To a plot for expelling my master king James;
I withdrew my subscription by help of a blot,

And so might discover or gain by the plot:

I had