The Works of John Dryden | Page 4

and one of the commissioners of the treasury; he had served in the Dutch wars.
3. Alluding to Lord Clifford's resignation of an office he could not
hold without a change of religion.
PROLOGUE.
_This poem was written as far back as 1662, and was then termed a
Satire against the Dutch._
As needy gallants in the scriveners' hands,?Court the rich knave that gripes their mortgaged lands,?The first fat buck of all the season's sent,?And keeper takes no fee in compliment:?The dotage of some Englishmen is such?To fawn on those who ruin them--the Dutch.?They shall have all, rather than make a war?With those who of the same religion are.?The Straits, the Guinea trade, the herrings too,?Nay, to keep friendship, they shall pickle you.?Some are resolved not to find out the cheat,?But, cuckold like, love him who does the feat:?What injuries soe'er upon us fall,?Yet, still, The same religion, answers all:?Religion wheedled you to civil war,?Drew English blood, and Dutchmen's now would spare:?Be gulled no longer, for you'll find it true,?They have no more religion, faith--than you;?Interest's the god they worship in their state;?And you, I take it, have not much of that.?Well, monarchies may own religion's name,?But states are atheists in their very frame.?They share a sin, and such proportions fall,?That, like a stink, 'tis nothing to them all.?How they love England, you shall see this day;?No map shews Holland truer than our play:?Their pictures and inscriptions well we know[1];?We may be bold one medal sure to show.?View then their falsehoods, rapine, cruelty;?And think what once they were, they still would be:?But hope not either language, plot, or art;?'Twas writ in haste, but with an English heart:?And least hope wit; in Dutchmen that would be?As much improper, as would honesty.
Footnote?1. Amongst the pretexts for making war on the states of Holland were
alleged their striking certain satirical medals, and engraving prints in ridicule of Charles II. See his proclamation of war in 1671-2.
DRAMATIS PERSON?.
Captain GABRIEL TOWERSON.?Mr BEAMONT, } English Merchants, his Friends.?Mr COLLINS, }?Captain_ MIDDLETON, _an English Sea Captain.?PEREZ, a Spanish Captain.?HARMAN Senior, Governor of Amboyna.?The Fiscal.?HARMAN Junior, Son to the Governor.?VAN HERRING, a Dutch Merchant.
ISABINDA, betrothed to_ TOWERSON, _an Indian Lady.?JULIA, Wife to PEREZ.?An English Woman.?Page to TOWERSON.?A Skipper.?Two Dutch Merchants.
SCENE--Amboyna.
AMBOYNA.
ACT I.
SCENE I.--A Castle on the Sea.
Enter_ HARMAN _Senior, the Governor, the Fiscal, and VAN HERRING: Guards.
Fisc. A happy day to our noble governor.
Har. Morrow, Fiscal.
Van Her. Did the last ships, which came from Holland to these parts, bring us no news of moment?
Fisc. Yes, the best that ever came into Amboyna, since we set footing here; I mean as to our interest.
Har. I wonder much my letters then gave me so short accounts; they only said the Orange party was grown strong again, since Barnevelt had suffered.
Van Her. Mine inform me farther, the price of pepper, and of other spices, was raised of late in Europe.
Har. I wish that news may hold; but much suspect it, while the English maintain their factories among us in Amboyna, or in the neighbouring plantations of Seran.
Fisc. Still I have news that tickles me within; ha, ha, ha! I'faith it does, and will do you, and all our countrymen.
Har. Pr'ythee do not torture us, but tell it.
Van Her. Whence comes this news?
Fisc. From England.
Har. Is their East India fleet bound outward for these parts, or cast away, or met at sea by pirates?
Fisc. Better, much better yet; ha, ha, ha!
Har. Now am I famished for my part of the laughter.
Fisc. Then, my brave governor, if you're a true Dutchman, I'll make your fat sides heave with the conceit on't, 'till you're blown like a pair of large smith's bellows; here, look upon this paper.
Har. [reading.] _You may remember we did endamage the English East-India Company the value of five hundred thousand pounds, all in one year; a treaty is now signed, in which the business is ta'en up for fourscore thousand._--This is news indeed: would I were upon the castle-wall, that I might throw my cap into the sea, and my gold chain after it! this is golden news, boys.
Van Her. This is news would kindle a thousand bonfires, and make us piss them out again in Rhenish wine.
Har. Send presently to all our factories, acquaint them with these blessed tidings: If we can 'scape so cheap, 'twill be no matter what villanies henceforth we put in practice.
Fisc. Hum! why this now gives encouragement to a certain plot, which I have been long brewing, against these skellum English. I almost have it here in pericranio, and 'tis a sound one, 'faith; no less than to cut all their throats, and seize all their effects within this island. I warrant you we may compound again.
Van Her. Seizing their factories I like well enough, it has some savour in't; but for this whoreson cutting of throats, it goes a little against