The works of John Dryden, $c now first collected in eighteen volumes. $p Volume 07 by John Dryden
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page 35 of 564 (06%)
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_Gui._ What say you, curate?
_Cur._ I hope well, my lord. _Card._ That is, he hopes you mean to make him abbot, And he deserves your care of his preferment; For all his prayers are curses on the government, And all his sermons libels on the king; In short, a pious, hearty, factious priest. _Gui._ All that are here, my friends, shall share my fortunes: There's spoil, preferments, wealth enough in France; 'Tis but deserve, and have. The Spanish king Consigns me fifty thousand crowns a-week To raise, and to foment a civil war. 'Tis true, a pension, from a foreign prince, Sounds treason in the letter of the law, But good intentions justify the deed. _Cur._ Heaven's good; the cause is good; the money's good; No matter whence it comes. _Buss._ Our city-bands are twenty thousand strong, Well-disciplined, well-armed, well-seasoned traitors, Thick-rinded heads, that leave no room for kernel; Shop-consciences, of proof against an oath, Preached up, and ready tined for a rebellion[1]. _Gui._ Why then the noble plot is fit for birth; And labouring France cries out for midwife hands. |
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