58
Diego arose; and said, Sir, I beseech you,
Acquaint us if the Cardinall de Richelieu
Intend a warre, in Italy, or no?
(Most noble Ieff'ry still!) hee seemes to know
Nought of that point; though divers think, when there;
The Cardinall did whisper in his eare
The Scheame of all his plots; and sought to gaine
His company along with him to Spaine;
For thither he'll march, if he can byth' way
Sweep a few durty Nations into th' Sea.
A solemne Monke, that silent stood close by,
Beleev'd this little Captive, a Church-Spie!
Quoth he, that shrivled face, hath Schysme in it;
And lately there's a learned volumne writ,
Wherein Ben-Iharky, and Ben-Ezra too,
And Rabin Kimky eke, a learned Jew,
Are cited all; it labours to make good,
That there were Protestants before the Flood;
And thou its Author art: Ieff'ry swore then,
He never knew those Hebrew Gentlemen!
When they perceiv'd, nor threats, nor kindnesse sought
From love, could get him to discover ought;
Acquaint us if the Cardinall de Richelieu
Intend a warre, in Italy, or no?
(Most noble Ieff'ry still!) hee seemes to know
Nought of that point; though divers think, when there;
The Cardinall did whisper in his eare
The Scheame of all his plots; and sought to gaine
His company along with him to Spaine;
For thither he'll march, if he can byth' way
Sweep a few durty Nations into th' Sea.
A solemne Monke, that silent stood close by,
Beleev'd this little Captive, a Church-Spie!
Quoth he, that shrivled face, hath Schysme in it;
And lately there's a learned volumne writ,
Wherein Ben-Iharky, and Ben-Ezra too,
And Rabin Kimky eke, a learned Jew,
Are cited all; it labours to make good,
That there were Protestants before the Flood;
And thou its Author art: Ieff'ry swore then,
He never knew those Hebrew Gentlemen!
When they perceiv'd, nor threats, nor kindnesse sought
From love, could get him to discover ought;
⟨Diego⟩
