Original - Duke Divinity School

Upon John Dryden
At All religions, Present and the Past
Thou still hast railed, yet chose the Worst at last.
True to thyself: ’Tis what Thou didst before;
Rail at all women, and then Wed a Whore.
[another] 125
John Dryden enemies had three,
Sir Dick, Old Nick, and Jeremy: 126
The doughty Knight was forc’d to yield:
The other Two maintained the Field:
Yet, had his life been somewhat holier,
He had shamed the Devil and the Collier.
The Spider. by Mr. Pope 127
Artist that underneath my Table,
Thy curious Texture hast display’d,
Who, if we may believe the Fable,
Wast once a lovely blooming Maid.
Insidious, restless, watchful Spider,
Fear no officious Damsel’s Broom;
Extend thine artful Cobweb wider,
And spread thy Banner round my Room.
Whilst I the wond’rous Fabrick stare at,
And think on hapless Poet’s Fate,
Like Thee confin’d to lonely Garret,
And rudely banish’d Rooms of State.
125Cf. William Oldys, ed., A Collection of Epigrams (London: J. Walthoe, 1727), #397 (original by E.
Baynard).
126Sir Richard Blackmore, the Devil, and Jeremy Collier (who wrote against the immorality of the stage).
127Cf. Anthony Hammond, ed., A New Miscellany of Original Poems, Translations and Imitations (London:
T. Jauncy, 1720), 147–49.
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