Faction, that ever dwells in Courte where witt excels,
Hath sett defiance;
Fortune and Love have sworne that they were never borne
Of one alliance.
Cupid, which doth aspire to be god of Desire,
Swears he "gives lawes;
That where his arrows hit, somejoy, some sorrow it:
Fortune no cause."
Fortune swears "weakest heartes," the bookes of Cupide's artes.
"Turn'd with her wheel,
Senselesse themselves shal prove. Venture hath place in love.
Aske them that feel!"
This discord it begot atheists, that honour not.
Nature thought good
Fortune shoud ever dwel in Court where wits excel;
Love keepe the wood.
Soe to the wood went I, with Love to live and dye;
Fortunes forlorne.
Experience of my youth made mee thinke humble Truth
In deserts borne.
My saint I keepe to mee, and Joan herself is free,
Joan fair and true!
Shee that doth onely move passions of love with Love.
Fortune! adieu!
A LETTER FROM THE DUKE OF MONMOUTH TO THE KING.
Disgrac'd, undone, forlorn, made Fortune's Sport,
Banish'd your Kingdom first, and then your Court;
Out of my Places turn'd, and out of Doors,
And made the meanest of your Sons of Whores;
The scene of Laughter, and the common chats
Of your salt Bitches, and your other Brats;
Forc'd to a private Life, to Whore and Drink,
On my past Grandeur and my Follies Think:
Would I had been the Brat of some mean Drab,
Whom Fear or Chance had caus'd to choak or stab,
Rather than be the Issue of a King,
And by him made so wretched, scorn'd a Thing.
How little cause has mankind to be proud
Of Noble Birth, the Idol of the Crowd!
Have I abroad in Battels Honour won
To be at home dishonourably undone?
Mark'd with a Star and Garter, and made fine
With all those gaudy Trifles once call'd mine,
Your Hobby-Horses [1] and your Joys of State,
And now become the Object of your Hate;
But, d———'ee, Sir, I'll be Legitimate.
I was your Darling, but against your Will,
And know that I will be the Peoples still;
And when you're dead, I and my Friends, the Rout,
Will with my Popish Uncle try a Bout,
And to my Troubles this one Comfort bring,
Next after you, by ———, I will be King.
[Footnote 1: At the age of sixteen he was made Master of the
Horse.]