154 COURTIER-PARASITE. These can lie, Flatter, and swear, deprave, inform, Smile and betray; make guilty men; then beg Men's throats with whisperings; sell to gaping suitors I have been told, virtue in courtiers' hearts BEN JONSON DR. DONNE. True courtiers should be modest, and not nice; Poor wretches, that depend On greatness' favour, dream as I have done; CHAPMAN The caterpillars of the commonwealth, Whom I have soon to weed and pluck away. I hardly yet have learn'd T'insinuate, flatter, bow, and bend the knee. Those, that go up hill, use to bow Their bodies forward, and stoop low, SHAKSPEARE. SHAKSPEARE SHAKSPEARE To poise themselves; and sometimes creep So those at court, that do address By low, ignoble offices, Can stoop at any thing that's base, BUTLER'S Hudibras See how he sets his countenance for deceit, DRYDEN COURTSHIP. 'Tis the curse of kings, To be surrounded by a venal herd BROOK'S Earl of Warwick. Curse on the coward or perfidious tongue To shake with laughter, ere the jest they hear, A lazy, proud, unprofitable crew, 155 THOMSON. DR. JOHNSON. The vermin gender'd from the rank corruption A mere court butterfly, That flutters in the pageant of a monarch. CUMBERLAND. BYRON'S Sardanapalus And none did love him-though to hall and bower He gather'd followers from far and near; He knew them flatterers of the festal hour, The heartless parasites of present cheer. BYRON'S Childe Harold. COURTSHIP. Bring, therefore, all the forces that you may, Plaints, prayers, vows, ruth, and sorrow, and dismay, These engines can the proudest love convert. SPENSER'S Sonnets. So well he woo'd her, and so well he wrought her, With fair entreaty and sweet blandishment, To lend an ear, and softly to relent. I do not love SPENSER'S Fairy Queen. Much ceremony; suits in love should not, There is, sir, a critical minute in Every man's wooing, when his mistress may She is beautiful, therefore to be woo'd; SHIRLEY MARMYAN. SHAKSPEARE. Flatter and praise, commend, extol their graces; SHAKSPEARE. Say that she rail; why then I'll tell her plain, But tho' I lov'd you well, I woo'd you not; SHAKSPEARE. SHAKSPEARE COURTSHIP. In these ars of mine, These credulous ears, he pour'd the sweetest words I am not form'd, by flattery and praise, To charm at once, and spoil her. He that would win his dame, must do For, you must know, a widow's won BEAUMONT THOMSON BUTLER'S Hudibras 157 BUTLER'S Hudibras. AARON HILL. To me he came; my heart with rapture sprung, ROWE ROWE. GAY's Dione, So, with decorum all things carried, GOLDSMITH. She half consents who silently denies. Mer. dream in courtship, but in wedlock wake. OVID. POPE'S Eloisa. 158 COURTSHIP. Like a lovely tree She grew to womanhood, and between whiles BYRON'S Don Juan. The gentle pressure and the thrilling touch. BYRON'S Don Juan To pick up gloves, and fans, and knitting-needles, BYRON'S Mazeppa Then thro' my brain the thought did pass, Skill'd in the ogle of a roguish eye. BYRON'S Mazeppa. BYRON'S Childe Harold. Not much he kens, I ween, of woman's breast, In whispers low, BYRON'S Childe Harold. And sweet as softest music's gentle flow, The lovers spoke. MRS. HOWE Whue the dimple and blush, starting soft to her cheek, MRS. OSGOOD. |