now wou’d spare. 
  Be gull’d no longer; for you’ll find it true,
  They have no more religion, faith! than you. 
  Int’rest’s the God they worship in their state,
  And we, I take it, have not much of that. 
  Well monarchies may own religion’s name,
  But states are atheists in their very frame. 
  They share a sin; and such proportions fall,
  That, like a stink, ’tis nothing to them all. 
  Think on their rapine, falsehood, cruelty,
  And that what once they were, they still wou’d be. 
  To one well-born th’ affront is worse and more,
  When he’s abus’d and baffl’d by a boor. 
  With an ill grace the Dutch their mischiefs do;
  They’ve both ill nature and ill manners too. 
  Well may they boast themselves an ancient nation;
  For they were bred ere manners were in fashion: 
  And their new commonwealth has set them free
  Only from honour and civility. 
  Venetians do not more uncouthly ride,
  Than did their lubber state mankind bestride. 
  Their sway became ’em with as ill a mien,
  As their own paunches swell above their chin. 
  Yet is their empire no true growth but humour,
  And only two kings’ touch can cure the tumour. 
  As Cato did in Africk fruits display;
  Let us before our eyes their Indies lay: 
  All loyal English will like him conclude;
  Let Caesar live, and Carthage be subdu’d.

XIX.  MACFLECKNOE.

This satire was written in reply to a savage poem by the dramatist, Thomas Shadwell, entitled “The Medal of John Dayes”.  Dryden and Shadwell had been friends, but the enmity begotten of political opposition had separated them.  Flecknoe, who gives the name to this poem, and of whom Shadwell is treated as the son and heir, was a dull poet who had always laid himself open to ridicule.  It is not known (says W.D.  Christie in the Globe Dryden) whether he had ever given Dryden offence, but it is certain that his “Epigrams”, published in 1670, contain some lines addressed to Dryden of a complimentary character.

  All human things are subject to decay,
  And, when fate summons, monarchs must obey;
  This Flecknoe found, who, like Augustus, young
  Was call’d to empire, and had govern’d long;
  In prose and verse, was own’d, without dispute,
  Through all the realms of Nonsense, absolute
  This aged prince, now flourishing in peace,
  And blest with issue of a large increase;
  Worn out with business, did at length debate
  To settle the succession of the state: 
  And, pond’ring, which of all his sons was fit
  To reign, and wage immortal war with wit,
  Cry’d, “’Tis resolv’d; for Nature pleads, that he
  Should only rule, who most resembles me. 
  Shadwell alone my perfect image bears,
  Mature in dulness from his tender years: 
  Shadwell alone, of all my sons, is he,
  Who stands confirm’d in full stupidity.