They smile, and bow, and hug, and shake the hand, Beller's Injured Innocence. I am no courtier, no fawning dog of state, Sewell's Sir Walter Raleigh. What are such wretches? What, but vapours foul, Young's Brothers, a. 3. He was no civil ruffian: none of those, Who lie with twisted looks, betray with shrugs. Thomson's Agamemnon. Curse on the coward or perfidious tongue, That dares not, ev'n to kings, avow the truth! Ibid, a. 3, s. 1. 'Tis the curse of kings To be surrounded by a venal herd Of flatterers, that soothe his darling vices, And rob their master of his subjects' love. Brooke's Earl of Warwick. 'Tis such pernicious flatterers, Such busy, ready, fawning slaves as thou art A lazy, proud, unprofitable crew, The vermin, gender'd from the rank corruption A mere court butterfly, That flutters in the pageant of a monarch. Byron's Sardanapalus, a. 5, s. 1. This traitorous wretch Betrays his sovereign. Others, destitute Of real zeal, to every altar bend By lucre sway'd, and act the basest things Philips's Cider, b. 1. Men, that would blush at being thought sincere, Young's Night Thoughts, n. 8. But equal inhumanity, in courts, Delusive pomp, and dark cabals, delight; Thomson's Seasons-Autumn. At the throng'd levee bends the venal tribe : Thomson's Liberty. There is a public mischief in your mirth, A mutilated structure, soon to fall. Cowper's Task, b. 1. COURTSHIP. Into these ears of mine, These credulous ears, he pour'd the sweetest words Beaumont's Maid's Tragedy. Like conquering tyrants, you our breasts invade, Otway's Orphan. Trust me-with women worth the being won, I am not form'd, by flattery and praise, Hill's Alzira. By sighs and tears, and all the whining trade To charm at once and spoil her. Thomson's Tancred and Sigismunda, a. 2, s. 3. Come then, ye virgins and ye youths, whose hearts Come with those downcast eyes, sedate and sweet, His folded flocks secure, the shepherd home The ruddy milk-maid of her brimming pail; Thomson's Seasons-Summer. Now from the world,、 Sacred to sweet retirement, lovers steal, CRUELTY. Do not insult calamity : It is a barbarous grossness, to lay on The weight of scorn, where heavy misery Too much already weighs men's fortunes down. Villain, abhorr'd villain. Ibid. Daniel's Philotas. Hath he not pushed me to extremity? Are these wild limbs, these scarr'd and scathed limbs, There have been those who from the high bark's side Maturin's Bertram, a. 4, s. 1. Thou fairest flower Why didst thou fling thyself across my path? Ibid, s. 2. O breasts of pity void! t' oppress the weak, Somerville's Chase, b. 1. I would not enter on my list of friends (Though grac'd with polish'd manners and fine sense, Yet wanting sensibility) the man Who needlessly sets foot upon a worm. CURSES. Cowper's Task, b. 6. Oh! I will curse thee till thy frighted soul Runs mad with horror. Lee's Casar Borgia. I curse thee not! For who can better curse the plague or devil, Dryden's Don Sebastian. May sorrow, shame, and sickness overtake her, Blast, blast her charms, some bloom-destroying air! Lover's worst hell, may meet her warmest wishes, Plagues and palsy, Disease and pestilence consume the robber, Brown's Athelstan. May curses blast thy arm! May Etna's fires |