Classic Poem

He pass'd his Journey, to the Court arriv'd,
There soon by Arts which thrive in Courts he thriv'd;
Straight reign'd Ambition, Right began to fail,
And Posts and Places all were set to Sale.
Blazing their Secrets, he his Suitors cheats;
Begs Titles from his Prince, new Lords creates,
Gives them new Names, and takes their old Estates.
Where of the least Offence he catches hold,
He fines the poor Offender forty fold:
He stifles rising Mercy, and improves
Each turn of Thought that Royal Vengeance moves:
Where his Spite strikes — Death waits on ev'ry Blow,
Slight Wounds turn mortal and green Gangrenes grow.
Just as the Sea, which Streams unnumber'd feed,
Those Streams or needs not, or not seems to need;
Though here he swallows Ister 's foaming course,
There drinks down Nilus from his sevenfold Source;
Their wat'ry Tributes He nor feels nor knows,
But on, with equal Majesty, he flows:
So Tides of Gold, tho' pour'd from ev'ry Coast,
In his wide Gulph of Avarice are lost.
Who e'er of Jewels held a sparkling store,
Or Farms, that yielded much, and promis'd more,
Soon knew R UFINUS , and as soon grew poor.