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Jonathan Swift - An Excellent New Song Being The Intended Speech Of A Famous Orator Against Peace
Work rating: Low

An orator dismal of Nottinghamshire,
Who has forty years let out his conscience to hire,
Out of zeal for his country, and want of a place,
Is come up, vi et armis, to break the queen`s peace.
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 old-fashion`d pocket was presently cramm`d;
And sooner than vote for a peace I`ll be damn`d.
  But some will cry turn-coat, 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 my advantage, and stood at defiance,
For Daniel was got from the den of the lions:
I came in without danger, and was I to blame?
For, rather than hang, I would be Not-in-game.
  I swore to the queen, that the Prince of Hanover
During her sacred life would never come over:
I made use of a trope; that "an heir to invite,
Was like keeping her monument always in sight."
But, when I thought proper, I alter`d my note;
And in her own hearing I boldly did vote,
That her Majesty stood in great need of a tutor,
And must have an old or a young coadjutor:
For why; I would fain have put all in a flame,
Because, for some reasons, I was Not-in-game.
  Now my new benefactors have brought me about,
And I`ll vote against peace, with Spain or without:
Though the court gives my nephews, and brothers, and cousins,
And all my whole family, places by dozens;
Yet, since I know where a full purse may be found,
And hardly pay eighteen-pence tax in the pound:
Since the Tories have thus disappointed my hopes,
And will neither regard my figures nor tropes,
I`ll speech against peace while Dismal`s my name,
And be a true Whig, while I`m Not-in-game.
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