since when does name calling and insulting = political criticism?

[LeftishBrit]

40. Very true - he had an amazing number of children, but no legitimate heirs!

Last edited Fri Nov 21, 2014, 01:12 PM - Edit history (1)

Charles is said to have responded to Rochester's verse with 'My words are my own; my actions are my Ministers'!'

Another 17th century poem, this time about about Charles' Ministers (sometimes attributed to Dryden, but not with certainty), goes:

On the Young Statesmen

1 Clarendon had law and sense.
Clifford was fierce and brave.
Bennet's grave look was a pretence,
And Danby's matchless impudence
Helped to support the knave.

2 But Sunderland, Godolphin, Lory[42],
These will appear such chits in story,
'Twill turn all politics to jests,
To be repeated like John Dory,
When fiddlers sing at feasts.

3 Protect us, mighty Providence!
What would these madmen have?
First, they would bribe us without pence,
Deceive us without common sense,
And without power enslave.

4 Shall free-born men, in humble awe,
Submit to servile shame;
Who from consent and custom draw
The same right to be ruled by law,
Which kings pretend to reign?

5 The duke shall wield his conquering sword,
The chancellor make a speech,
The king shall pass his honest word,
The pawn'd revenue sums afford,
And then, come kiss my breech.

6 So have I seen a king on chess
(His rooks and knights withdrawn,
His queen and bishops in distress)
Shifting about, grow less and less,
With here and there a pawn.



During the Bush administration, and earlier during that of our very own Maggie Thatcher, I was frequently reminded of verses 3 and 4 of this poem, in particular.