Page:The lives of the poets of Great Britain and Ireland to the time of Dean Swift - Volume 4.djvu/147

Rh There are ſome ſmall pieces of his in proſe, which ought not to eſcape obſervation. From his letter to Sir John Trott, there ſeems to have been a friendly correſpondence between him and that gentleman. By his Familiar Letters, we may eaſily judge what part of his works are laboured, and what not. But of all his pieces in Proſe, the King’s Mock-Speech to both Houſes of Parliament, has moſt of ſpirit, and humour. As it will furniſh the beſt ſpecimen of Mr. Marvel’s genius for drollery, as well as the character of that prince and miniſtry, we ſhall here inſert it, as a performance of the moſt exquiſite humour we have ever ſeen.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

Told you, at our laſt meeting, the winter was the fitteſt time for buſineſs, and truly I thought ſo, till my lord treaſurer aſſured me the ſpring was the beſt ſeaſon for ſallads and ſubſidies. I hope therefore, that April will not prove ſo unnatural a month, as not to afford ſome kind ſhowers on my parched exchequer, which gapes for want of them. Some of you, perhaps, will think it dangerous to make me too rich; but I do not fear it; for I promiſe you faithfully, whatever you give me I will always want; and although in other things my word may be thought a ſlender authority, yet in that, you may rely on me, I will never break it.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

I can bear my ſtraits with patience; but my lord treaſurer does proteſt to me, that the revenue, as it now ſtands, will not ſerve him and me too. One of us muſt ſuffer for it, if you do not help me. I muſt ſpeak freely to you, I am under bad ,