Sign but his peace, he vows he'll ne'er again
The sacred names of fops and beaus profane.
Strike up the bargain quickly; for I swear,
As times go now, he offers very fair.
Be not too hard on him with statutes neither; }
Be kind; and do not set your teeth together, }
To stretch the laws, as coblers do their leather. }
Horses by Papists are not to be ridden,
But sure the muses' horse was ne'er forbidden;
For in no rate-book it was ever found
That Pegasus was valued at five pound[1]:
Fine him to daily drudging and inditing:
And let him pay his taxes out in writing.
Footnote:
1. Alluding to the act for disarming the Catholics, by which, _inter
alia_, it is enacted, "that no Papist, or reputed Papist, so
refusing, or making default, as aforesaid, at any time after the
15th of May, 1689, shall, or may have, and keep in his own
possession, or in the possession of any other person for his use,
or at his disposition, any horse or horses, which shall be above
the value of L.5."--1st William and Mary, c. 15.
DRAMATIS PERSONAE.
_Don_ SEBASTIAN, _King of Portugal._
MULEY-MOLUCH, _Emperor of Barbary._
DORAX, _a noble Portuguese, now a renegade; formerly Don_ ALONZO DE
SYLVERA, _Alcade, or Governor of Alcazar._
BENDUCAR, _chief Minister, and favourite to the Emperor.
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