A DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE CITIES OF LONDON AND PARIS, In Relation to the present Posture of Affairs, rendered into Verse, and made applicable to the Disturbances which now seem to threaten the Peace of Europe. Written by a Person who has no Money to pay Taxes in Case of a War. [From a Folio Edition, containing thirteen Pages, printed in London, 1701.] THE PREFACE. PREFACES have formerly been made use of to clear up some obscurities which have crept into the body of the books they belonged to, and let the reader into the author's design. But as there is no occasion for such a plea, either to vindicate my present intentions, or illustrate what is so obvious to every man's understanding, that has any knowledge from the news-papers of the publick transactions, I shall forbear making comments in prose, upon that which is no otherwise clouded with verse, than the common performances that run about the town so merrily, as pieces of scandal have of late. I ought, indeed, to account for my making cities speak, when their inhabitants have tongues loud and capable enough of expressing their dissatisfactions at some proceedings, which are like to embroil them in a new war, and be very burthensome to their pockets, which they, probably, might wish to have loaden with more agreeable things than taxes, which are the likeliest methods imaginable to make them too light for those whom they belong to. But since Chaucer's birds and beasts have lately been talkative, and spoke their minds with a sort of assurance and freedom, I presume I may take the liberty to give stones the same privilege, which is altogether as poetical. But as some expressions, probably, may give occasion to some people who are subjects for satyre, and make them very ready to run down and decry them, so I must let them know something of my sentiments, and acquaint them, that its two combatants business to try which can cut deepest, and it has been the custom of every Roman gladiator, to take care, Ne parma caderet, that he should not drop his guard, and lay himself open to his enemy's attacks. This, I hope, will excuse the freedom one city takes with another; and since he, who has set them together by the ears, has taken care, like a true-born Englishman, to state the case so, as to make his own countryman's side the strongest, it is hoped, the English reader will give the design his favourable interpretation, especially since the autoor has as little to get by a war (being no military man) as he has hitherto got by the peace. London. THOU City, whose aspiring turrets rise, * Paris. Ah! sister, while we two divided stand, London. Our Kings will surely do as sov'reigns shou'd, We, that are neighbours, should like neighbours prove, Paris. But ties of blood, and friendship's laws, enjoin And ought, from hence, to be with aid supply'd, Yonder 's a land, from whence your monarch drew His infant breath, and is that land untrue? What e'er he speaks or acts has their applause, While he for arbiter of fate is own'd, And reigns a sov'reign || where he 's not inthron'd. Since there is no distinction in their claim, As I a native's right with zeal pursue, And practise what should be perform'd by you? . London. 'Tis own'd that natives should for natives stand, As if a foreigner the throne enjoy'd; Since what's unjust deserves an equal scorn, From those in France, as those without it born; Such is thy Philip when my William's name And kingd oms skreen themselves behind his s hiel. As Lewis grasps at the terrestrial ball †, And's not content to rise, unless we fall. Paris. Presumptuous wretch, thy base reflexions spare, Is there a line ignoble in his face, Or what's degenerate from Bourbon's race? Is there a thought admitted to his soul, That prompts him to commit a deed that's foul? That has for other's rights so bravely stood; See this well explained in the Rights of the House of Austria to the Spanish sug eession, beginning on page 483, in this volume. Alluding to the bloody Bartholomew massacre of the Protestants at Paris, at a time when all seemed to live in peace. Universal monarchy. This is the doctrine of absolute monarchs, who pretend to an hereditary right, not only to the crown, but to the liberties and properties of their subjects, by divine right, of that they are commissioned by God to inslave their subjects. That kings exil'd maintains within his court, Submit to methods of so vile a fame, When armies might make good his grandson's † claim, Which must have been 'without a will' his own? And promis'd France and Spain should ne'er unite; Since there are different kings that govern both, London. Not that I'd wrongfully crown'd heads abuse, But, when fictitious births, as true, are feign'd, And fall off from the deference he might claim, All must allow, as it by all is known, Yet all must likewise hold this maxim good, And owe to nature what is due to worth. We grant that our Nassovian hero || came, And trod unbeaten ways to purchase fame; Through devious paths in quest of crowns appear❜d: As he through joyful crouds to empire rode, Unweary'd with the mischiefs he had done. James. + Philip's claim to Spain. * See the first note in the foregoing page. Cardinal Mazarine was the supposed father. King William the Third, Prince of Orange and Nassau. } VOL. X. kk With his insatiate strumpet by his side, If no kind beams of goodness grace his soul? Paris. When threat'ning foes her provinces invade, London. Mistake him not; but take a nearer sight, The means by which his predecessors rose, And climb'd the steps where empire was the prize, His troops are Spain's assistants in pretence, But times will come, should German armies fail, And injuries o'er what is right prevail, When her brave sons, that have so long withstood The vain attempts of France and Bourbon's blood, • Madam Maintenon, who lived openly with the King of France, in defiance of God and his holy religion. + Sways the councils of the court of Spain. |