This Satire was printed about the Year 1704, in a Collection of fatirical Poems. A Piece which is not deficient in Wit and Fancy, and has many happy Strokes of Humour, deferves to be refcued from Oblivion. I have endeavoured, but in vain, to learn the Name of the Author. EAR to the Rofe, where Punks in Numbers flock No pick up Cullies to increafe the Stock, Ν A lofty Fabrick does the Sight invade, And ftretches round the Place a pompous Shade, Where fudden Shouts the Neighbourhood surprise, And Thurd'ring Claps and dreadful Hiffings rife. Here thrifty Rhires Monarchs by the Day, And keeps his Mercenary Kings in Pay, With deep mouth'd Actors fills the Vacant Scenes, And drains the Town for Goddeffes and Queens: Here the lewd Punk, with Crowns and Sceptres grac'd, Teaches her Eyes a more Majeftick Caft, * Chriftopher Rich, Efq, Father of the late John Rish Patentee of Covent Garden Theatre. R 3 And And hungry Monarchs, with a numerous Train And Groves obedient to the Mover's Hand He faw the fpacious Circuit all around } With crowding Woods, and neighbouring Cities crown'd. But next the Tiring-room furvey and fee Confus'dly warm, from Heroes,, and from Queens, Perhaps Farqubar. Then Then the gay glittering Diadem put on, Pondrous with Brafs, and starr'd with Bristol Stone. The Whit'ning firft her ghaftly Looks befmears, } Her ruddy Lips the deep Vermillion dyes; So the fame Spear, for double Force renown'd, And rifes every other Night a Ghost. Thro' the cleft Stage his meager Face he rears, Then stalks along, groans thrice, and disappears; Others with Swords and Shields, the Soldiers Pride, More than a thousand Times have chang'd their Side, And in a thousand fatal Battles dy'd. Thus feveral Perfons feveral Parts perform; Till the kind Bowl of Poifon clears the Stage; He whom fuch Titles fwell'd, fuch Power made proud, To whom whole Realms and vanquifh'd Nations bow'd, Throws off the gaudy Plume, the purple Train, FACTION FACTION DISPLAYED: A SATIR E. In a printed Copy of the following Poem which was published foon after the Death of King William, I have feen written, the Name of W. Shippen, Efq. This I must confefs does not bear fufficient Authority to fix it upon that Gentleman, whofe Principles indeed were well known; nor can it be doubted that he was a staunch Tory. But the Writer of Faction Difplayed feems to be an utter Stranger to the moderate and patriotic Views attributed to W. Shippen: His Satire is fometimes extremely virulent, and often degenerates into meer Abuse. The Poem is upon many Accounts very curious: It gives no ill Picture of the Times in which it was written. We are prefented with a Groupe of Characters remarkable for their Attachment to the illuftrious Houfe of Hanover, who were employed in the moft eminent Pofts of the Government during the first eight Years of Queen Ann's Reign. The Character of the famous Marquis of Wharton feems to be the Outline of Pope's masterly Defcription of the Duke his Son. The Poetry of this Piece is very unequal: It fometimes rifes to a juft Height, and at other Times finks into profaic Flatnefs. The Characters are often overcharged, and aggravated into Caricaturas: fuch are those of the Earl of 4 Halifax, |