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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A29983	Poetical reflections on a late poem entituled Absalom and Achitophel by a person of honour.	Buckingham, George Villiers, Duke of, 1628-1687.	1681 (1681)	Wing B5319; ESTC R3196	6,367	17

Poetical Reflections ON A LATE POEM ENTITULED Absalom and Achitophel By a Person of Honour LONDON Printed for Richard Ianeway 1681. TO THE READER IF ever any thing call'd a Poem deserv'd a severe Reflection that of Absalom and Achitophel may justly contract it For tho' Lines can never be purg'd from the dross and filth they would throw on others there being no retraction that can expiate the conveying of persons to an unjust and publick reproach yet the cleansing of their fames from a design'd pollution may well become a more ingenious Pen than the Author of these few reflections will presume to challenge To epitomize which scandalous Phamphlet unworthy the denomination of Poesy no eye can inspect it without a prodigious amazement the abuses being so gross and deliberate that it seems rather a Capital or National Libel than personal exposures in order to an infamous detraction For how does he character the King but as a broad figure of scandalous inclinations or contriv'd unto such irregularities as renders him rather the property of Parasites and Vice than suitable to the accomplishment of so excellent a Prince Nay he forces on King David such a Royal resemblance that he darkens his sanctity in spite of illuminations from Holy Writ Next to take as near our King as he could he calumniates the Duke of Monmouth with that height of impudence that his Sense is far blacker than his Ink exposing him to all the censures that a Murderer a Traytor or what a Subject of most ambitious evil can possibly comprehend and it is some wonder that his Lines also had not hang'd him on a Tree to make the intended Ahsalom more compleat As to my Lord Shaftsbury in his collusive Achitophel what does he other than exceed Malice it self or that the more prudent deserts of that Peer were to be so impeach'd before-hand by his impious Poem as that he might be granted more emphatically condign of the Hangman's Ax And which his Muse does in effect take upon her to hasten And if the season be well observ'd when this Adulterate Poem was spread it will be found purposely divulg'd near the time when this Lord with his other Noble Partner were to be brought to their Tryals And I suppose this Poet thought himself enough assur'd of their condemnation at least that his Genius had not otherwise ventur'd to have trampled on persons of such eminent Abilities and Interest in the Nation A consideration I confess incited my Pen its preceding respect being paid to the Duke of Monmouth to vindicate their Reputations where I thought it due And some are not a little mistaken in their judgments of persons if any Kingdom has at this time Two men of their Dignity of more extraordinary Understandings Which may if well consider'd be some inducement to their future preservation and esteem As I have endeavour'd chiefly to clear their abuse so I have pass'd divers considerable persons under as malign inclinations of this Author's conceiving that what I have said for the Principals may remove such smaller prejudices as are on the value of others on the same concern His most select and pecuniary Favourites I have but barely touch'd in respect his praise includes a concomitant reprehension if well apprehended Besides I was unwilling to discourage any that for the future may desire to be admir'd by him according to their liberality A method that perhaps may in time set up some Merchants of Pernassus where the Indies of Fame seem lately discover'd and may be purchas'd per Centum according to modern example As to the Charactet of Amiel I confess my Lines are something pointed the one reason being that it alludes much to a manner of expression of this Writer's as may be seen by the marginal Notes and a second will be soon allowed The figure of Amiel has been so squeez'd into Paint that his soul is seen in spite of the Varnish And none will deny but it is as easie to send Truth backward as it is to spur Falsities egregiously forward and might have caus'd any Asse as knowing as Balaam's to have rebuk'd such a Poet as will needs prophecy against the sense of Heaven and Men. But I have enough of this Amiell as well as of his Muse unless that by his means it occasions a further account And for what is mine here It will at worst contract censure in respect it is a brief reflection on a very large Libel And tho' I believe it did not cost tho' that be not offer'd for an excuse the tenth part of the time of the other As to my Preface I was willing that he should find that this smaller work has some Nose Tho' I am no more bound to have my Face known by it than he is willing to obscure his by a Nameless Preamble Poetical Reflections ON A POEM CALLED Absolon and Achitophel WHen late Protectorship was Canon-Proof And Cap-a-pe had seiz'd on Whitehall-Roof And next on Israelites durst look so big That Tory-like it lov'd not much the Whigg A Poet there starts up of wondrous Fame Whether Scribe or Pharisee his Race doth name Or more t'intrigue the Metaphor of Man Got on a Muse by Father-Publican For 't is not harder much if we tax Nature That Lines should give a Poet such a Feature Than that his Verse a Hero should us show Produc'd by such a Feat as famous too His Mingle such what Man presumes to think But he can Figures daub with Pen and Ink. A Grace our mighty Nimrod late beheld When he within the Royal Palace dwell'd And saw 't was of import if Lines could bring His Greatness from Usurper to be King Or varnish so his Praise that little odds Should seem 'twixt him and such called Earthly Gods And tho no Wit can Royal Blood infuse No more than melt a Mother to a Muse Yet much a certain Poet undertook That Men and Manners deals in without-without-Book And might not more to Gospel-Truth belong Than he if Christened does by name of Iohn This Poet who that time much squanderd thought Of which some might bring Coyn whilst some none brought As Men that hold their Brains of powerful sense Will least on Poet's Tales bestow their pence Tho he such Dispensations to endear Had notch'd his Sconce just level with his Ear. An Emblem in these days of much import When Crop-ear'd Wits had such a Modish Court Tho some from after-deeds much fear the Fate That such a Muse may for its Lugs create As Stars may without Pillories dispence To slit some Ears for Forgeries of sense Which Princes Nobles and the Fame of Men Sought to bespatter by a worthless Pen. But leaving this to Circumstances fit With what thence spreads this Renegado-wit We 'll tell you how his Court he now doth make And what choice Things and Persons he doth take That Lines for Guinnys might more liquorish speak To heigten which we 'll to his Muse advance Which late discover'd