So over-violent, or over-civil,

That every man with him was god or devil.

In squandering wealth was his peculiar art;

Nothing went unrewarded but desert:

Beggared by fools, whom still he found too late,

He had his jest, and they had his estate;

He laughed himself from court, then sought relief

By forming parties, but could ne’er be chief;

For, spite of him, the weight of business fell

On Absalom and wise Achitophel.