Earl of Rochester. 1647-1680

Angels listen when she speaks:
She 's my delight, all mankind's wonder;
But my jealous heart would break
Should we live one day asunder.

Song.

Here lies our sovereign lord the king,
Whose word no man relies on;
He never says a foolish thing,
Nor ever does a wise one.

Written on the Bedchamber Door of Charles II.

And ever since the Conquest have been fools.

Artemisia in the Town to Chloe in the Country.

For pointed satire I would Buckhurst choose,

The best good man with the worst-natured muse.[279:1]

An allusion to Horace, Satire x. Book i.

A merry monarch, scandalous and poor.

On the King.

It is a very good world to live in,

To lend, or to spend, or to give in;

But to beg or to borrow, or to get a man's own,

It is the very worst world that ever was known.[279:2]