The COURTIER.
IN good Sir Robert’s golden days,
When bribery had no harm in’c.
My brother Vere first brought this place,
And fought for Court preferment:
And Hinton-house, into this hour.
Doth hold it mortal sin, Sir,
To side with him that’s out pow’r,
Or turn from him that’, in Sir.
And this is law I will maintain,
Unto my dying day, Sir.
Whatever Minister shall reign,
I will be in his pay Sir.
When Scottish councils rul’d this land,
And tarnish’d England’s glory,
I join’d Lord Bute, with heart and hand,
And was a rank old Tory.
I stuck by North, when North came in,
Thro’ his administration,
Voted with him thro’ thick and thin,
And help’d to damn the nation.
And this is law,&c.&c.
When good Lord Rockingham appear’d.
And honest men look’d big Sir.
With this new wind about I veer’d,
And would have been a Whig Sir:
To him I wing’d and made my court.
But found ’twas all in vain, Sir,
He scorn’d such paltrey, mean support,
So I whipp’d back again. Sir,
And this is law,&c,&c.
When Fox and North at length agreed
To turn all blunderers out, Sir,
I then, in duty to my creed,
Once more turn’d North about, Sir,
Receipt-Tax, India Bill, and all,
With them I stoutly voted;
At back-stairs council learn'd to bawl;
And secret influence hooted.
And this is law, &c. &c. &c.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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