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
  To Absalom and wise Achitophel.[140]
  Thus, wicked but in will, of means bereft,
  He left not faction, but of that was left.

[Footnote 138:  This is a satirical sketch of George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham.] [Footnote 139:  Found out, detected.] [Footnote 140:  The Duke of Monmouth and the Earl of Shaftesbury.]

THE CHEATS OF HOPE.

[From Aurengzebe.]

  When I consider life, ’tis all a cheat;
  Yet, fooled with hope, men favor the deceit,
  Trust on, and think to-morrow will repay;
  To-morrow’s falser than the former day. 
  Lies worse, and while it says we shall be blest
  With some new joys, cuts off what we possessed. 
  Strange cozenage! none would live past years again,
  Yet all hope pleasure in what yet remain,
  And from the dregs of life think to receive
  What the first sprightly running could not give. 
  I’m tired of waiting for this chymic[141] gold
  Which fools us young and beggars us when old.

[Footnote 141:  The gold which the alchemists tried to make from base metals.]

* * * * *

JONATHAN SWIFT.

THE EMPEROR OF LILLIPUT.

[From Gulliver’s Travels.]

He is taller by almost the breadth of my nail than any of his court; which alone is enough to strike an awe into the beholders.  His features are strong and masculine, with an Austrian lip and arched nose, his complexion olive, his countenance erect, his body and limbs well proportioned, all his motions graceful, and his deportment majestic.  He was then past his prime, being twenty-eight years and three quarters old, of which he had reigned about seven in great felicity, and generally victorious.  For the better convenience of beholding him, I lay on my side, so that my face was parallel to his, and he stood but three yards off; however, I have had him since many times in my hand, and therefore cannot be deceived in the description.  His dress was very plain and simple, and the fashion of it between the Asiatic and the European; but he had on his head a light helmet of gold, adorned with jewels and a plume on the crest.  He held his sword drawn in his hand to defend himself, if I should happen to break loose; it was almost three inches long:  the hilt and scabbard were gold enriched with diamonds.  His voice was shrill, but very clear and articulate, and I could distinctly hear it, when I stood up.

THE STRULDBRUGS.

[From Gulliver’s Travels.]