Canidia, or, The witches a rhapsody, in five parts / by R.D.

CANTO III.

If any lack to know his Fate For a Wife, or an Estate; For a Voyage, Live or Dy, To Fall, or Conquer Enemy: If it be to get a Crown, We can lift up or pull down; To shift an Heir out of the way, To make a younger Brother play.

To slink a Boy, that dares to enter, To stop a gap by a second Venter; Hang him, Damn him, let him go. If any lack a Miss, or so, Or if a Chamber-Maid, forsooth, Be crackt by any dainty Tooth, Send her to us; for it is said, We can make her a perfect Maid.

If Nineteen weds a Beldam-Mate Of Ninety, and longs for a rich young Bait, We'l fit him with a Girl in Teens, We know how, and what he means;

The Feat is done, all in a trice, Two great Estates, and married twice. It is enough, yet let him range, Tell us when h'as a mind to change.

We deal not only with bare Fools, But Knaves and learn'd in Courts and Schools: We trade in Camps, in Merchants Wares, In Shops, Farms and Plow-Shares. To us nothing can come amiss, To our Net all that comes is Fish: Right or wrong no matter what, We can shew you a trick for that.

If ye lack one of the Rump, Of the long Robe▪ or the short Jump; From the Confessing Chair or Stool, From the Quaking Knave or Fool, In the Parlour or Conclave, A Committe or Junto Slave, We'l warrant you their help or favour, We bind all th' World to their good Behaviour.

Monks and Friars, and the Train Of Lords Inquisitors of Spain; Nuns, Priests or Anchorites we probe, And Gentlemen of the Long-Robe: Juglers, Dancers on the Ropes, Abbots, Cardinals and Popes; Physicians and every Bard, That helps to make a fat Church-yard.

Come along my Hearts, what is't you lack? From the Pedlar and his Pack,

To the great Dons we drive a Trade, Joyn with us, and be for ever made. If you procure us on your side, We'l do your Business every Tide; We ply hard for a Fare up or down, In City or in Country Town.

If you lack a Dainty-Sister, She's yours, be sure, we never mist her. If cut a Knot, or split a Hair; We'l be your Counsel, never fear: Or do you lack Knights of the Post, To stab a Cause, spare for no Cost; Suborn a Witness, greaze a Fist, And you shall have what you lift.

Canst thou hit a lofty Strain, Strike dead sure on a Royal Vein? Canst thou kiss, and laugh and grin, To see the last Heart-blood spin? Mock at groans and dying Faces, Entertain them with Embraces; Sing aloud Triumphant Notes, While thou art a cutting Throats.

Dance on the Carkasses of Kings, Those inconsiderable Things; Dash out the Brains of Noble Wights, Poyson or Pistol all to rights: Then come to us, and thou shalt find All our Corporation kind: Revenge thy Foes, advance thy Story, Get the everlasting Glory.

Can you look out sharp with a Grace, Or put on a brazen-Face? Sugar your Tongue, or oyl your Knee, Stand bent, or creep to Flattery: Nay, can you Smile and Kill together, Hold out all brunts of Wind and Weather; You and your Rogues may choose your Fates, Be hang'd or damn'd at any Rates.

Can you be prostitute, or stand To every base and foul Command, Without reflecting, without thinking, Like Devils without shrinking? Then you are for our turn, Com on; D'you make Faces? Dogs, be gon. They are not fit for us at all That scruple coming at first Call.

O Flattery, thou prevailing Art! 'Mong Witches thou dost act thy part: O're the Grandees thou dost prevail, Base fawning Consul, dost thou wag thy Tail? They crush and advance each other, A Rogue may his fellow-Rogue discover; But undermine all you can, The Knave with the honest man.

O Revenge, thou pleasing Bait, Work it on all you love or hate; Fail not be sure to cringe or smile, Dissemble deeply all the while: Tongue, Heart and Hand keep far asunder, When they meet 'twill be a wonder. Regard not others Weal nor Wo, Love Self, your own mind let none know.

Stand low in the Dark to all, but view Aloft all in the Light to you. Manfully bring about your ends, Without regard to Foes or Friends. A Witches craft is to out-wit Any thing that's just and fit, And gallantly to throw all by That in your way as Blocks shall lie.

Blaspheme the Stars, and curse the Fates, Which thwart your publick or private States. Cross them again, for you can do it; I say, be valiant and stand to it. Influences or contingent Chances, Are but Fortunes, Jigs and Dances: A Noble Spirit is the same still, Right or wrong she has her Will.

We were not born, to be tost Like Slaves in Blankets, but to rule the rost; Come what will, whole or broken Pates, Look to your Hilts at any rates. The silly Imps are always mumpt, But wise Witches are never crumpt; He is an Ass that will be pumpt. What over-reach'd, cavil'd, outwitted? Such a Gull deserves to be Spitted.

Beg him, Beg him for a Fool, And send him to the Ducking-Stool. Sowce him, Salt him, flea him, roast him, Cane him, kick him, box him, post him. He that is a Cock o'th' Game, Never yields to any shame; A Rogue he will be by yea or nay, A Traytor to his dying Day.

This it is to be a Witch, When a man's Fingers itch, To do all baseness, and outface The Devil, to his disgrace. Of this I'le not bate you an Ace; Trump about, Cog a Dye, Spare not to tell, or act any Lye, Out-face the face of Villany.

Ne're be danted, stop your ears At the cries of Cares or Fears, Sighs and Tears; poor silly things, Fit to move Nobles, Princes, Kings. Be above all, scorn to be true Or just, to give any Man his due. Pay Debts, give to Poor, what's worse? My Son, keep mony in thy Purse.

Civility, a pretty thing, good Nature, 'Tis a Monster, hunt her, bait her, Pull her down, with a full Cry Of Hell-hounds, make her dye: She combers the World, post her to Hell, 'Mongst Men she is not fit to dwell.

Get all, take all, save all, part With nothing, let ev'ry Penny go t'your heart: These are our Principles, think no evil, Rake Hell and scum the Devil. Let the World sink or swim about ye, So you be safe, nothing doubt ye; Be not concern'd for any Elf, So it be well with your own Self.

They talk of Consciences, 'tis a Flea bite, 'Tis Conscience to bid all Honesty good night. These are the Dictates and the Rules, Which all will follow, but stark Fools.

I say then come, and we will teach you To climb so high, as none shall reach you; Be, and do any thing, laugh or cry, Swear and forswear, all's Destiny: Lye, Steal, Murder at any rate, Torment Mortals in sp••ght of Fate; The more you do, the more you may, And never fear a Judgment Day.