Fools out of Favour grudge at Knaves in Place,
And men are always honest in Disgrace:
The Court-Preferments make men Knaves in course:
But they which wou’d be in them wou’d be worse.
‘Tis not at Foreigners that we repine,
Wou’d Foreigners their Perquisites resign:
The Grand Contention’s plainly to be seen,
To get some men put out, and some put in.
For this our S———rs make long Harangues,
And florid M———rs whet their polish’d Tongues.
Statesmen are always sick of one Disease;
And a good Pension gives them present Ease.
That’s the Specifick makes them all content
With any King, and any Government.
Good Patriots at Court-Abuses rail,
And all the Nation’s Grievances bewail:
But when the Sov’reign Balsam‘s once appli’d,
The Zealot never fails to change his Side.
And when he must the Golden Key resign,
The Railing Spirit comes about again.
(Daniel Defoe, The True-Born Englishman)
