Earl of Rochester.

*77

Rochester’j Farewell.

T I R’D with the noisom Follies of the Age,

And weary of my Part, I quit the Stage ?

For who in Life’s dull Farce a Part would bear, “Where Rogues, Whores, Bawds, all the chief Actors are?Long I with charitable Malice strove,

Lashing the Court, these Vermin to remove ;

But thri\ ing Vice under the Rod still grew,

As aged Letchers whipr, their Lust jenew ;

Yet this my Life has unsuccessful been,

For who can this Augean Stable clean ?

My gen’rous End I will pursue in Death,

And at Mankind rail with my parting Breath.

First, then, the Tangier Bullies must appear,

With open Brav’ry, and dissembled Fear.

Mulgrave, their Head, but Gen’ral have a Care,

Tho* fkill’d in all the Arts that cheat the Fair ;

The undifcerning and impartial Moor,

Spares net the Lovers on the Ladies Score.

How many perish by one fatal Shot !

The Conquest’s all thy Ogling ever got.

Think then (as I presume you do) how allTh z English Beauties will lament your Fall $

Scarce would a greater Grief pierce ev’ry Heart,Should Sir George Henvet, or Sir Carr * depart.

Had if not belter been, than thus to roam,

To stay and tie the Cravat-string at Home ?

* Scroop.

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