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Churchill, Charles, 1731-1764

"Poetical Works"


[165] 'Woman's prate:' Henrietta, the intriguing Queen of Charles the
First.
[166] 'Inglorious years:' no parliament was summoned from 1628 to 1640.
[167] 'Dunkirk:' Dunkirk was, in 1662, sold by Charles the Second to
the French for L400,000.
[168] 'Tangier:' Tangier, in Africa, was also shamefully sacrificed
by Charles the Second.
[169] 'Amboyna:' where the Dutch inflicted dreadful and unavenged
cruelties on the English. This happened, however, in 1622, under James
the First, not Charles the Second.
[170] Isa. xlix. 15.


THE AUTHOR.[171]
Accursed the man, whom Fate ordains, in spite,
And cruel parents teach, to read and write!
What need of letters? wherefore should we spell?
Why write our names? A mark will do as well.
Much are the precious hours of youth misspent,
In climbing Learning's rugged, steep ascent;
When to the top the bold adventurer's got,
He reigns, vain monarch, o'er a barren spot;
Whilst in the vale of Ignorance below,
Folly and Vice to rank luxuriance grow; 10
Honours and wealth pour in on every side,
And proud Preferment rolls her golden tide.


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