PORTRAIT OF ZIMRI BY JOHN DRYDEN (Augustan poetry)

             PORTRAIT OF ZIMRI

                 JOHN DRYDEN                     

               (Augustan poetry)      

                                                                           

Some of their chiefs were princes of the land:

In the first rank of these did Zimri stand:

A man so various, that he seem'd to be

Not one, but all Mankind's Epitome.

Stiff in opinions, always in the wrong;

Was everything by starts, and nothing long:

But in the course of one revolving moon,

Was chemist, fiddler, statesman, and buffoon:

Then all for women, painting, rhyming, drinking;

Besides ten thousand freaks that died in thinking.

Blest madman, who could every hour employ,

With something new to wish, or to enjoy!

Railing and praising were his usual themes;

And both (to show his judgment) in extremes:

So over violent, or over civil,

That every man, with him, was god or devil.

In squandering wealth was his peculiar art:

Nothing went unrewarded, but desert.

Beggar'd by fools, whom still he found too late:

He had his jest, and they had his estate.

He laugh'd himself from court; then sought relief

By forming parties, but could ne'er be chief:

For, spite of him, the weight of business fell

On Absalom and wise Achitophel:

Thus, wicked but in will, of means bereft,

He left not faction, but of that was left.