Page:Poems of Anne Countess of Winchilsea 1903.djvu/102

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xcviii

Introduction

he rejoices over the probable outcome of his scheme to defame the virtuous Great Master of Rhodes:

To see this SaintThink how twill feed revenge,To see this Saint, this praying fighting Saint,This child of Fame, this cloud of Holy Incence,Exposed a profligate, and secret sinner,And like an o'er spent taper stink and vanish.

Capriccio, the comic character, is elephantine in his attempted quips and cranks. The comedy scenes are not offensive like those of Venice Preserved, but they are crude and amateurish. Cappriccio as a drunkard would never deceive the initiated. His tipsy jokes and thirsty raptures, and even his slang, have a premeditated, calculated air. There is no abandon. His best speech is the description of the bacchanalian and sensual orgy that broke out in Rhodes with most improbable celerity on the report of Aubusson's sin:

Tis a rare world, a brave world,A ranting, flanting, shining world; *****Never such a time in Rhodes, never such an example,Every one quoting the Great Master,And trooping on to sin, under his banner,As if they were beating up volunteers for the Devil.

The triumph of innocence is typified by Aubusson the Great Master of Rhodes. For a nice courtesy, a delicately fastidious sense of honor, he could set the pace for Sir Charles Grandison, and in absolute, spotless, untempted virtue he walks in the footsteps of King Arthur. As a general he equals the splendid exploits of Dryden's heroes. As a ruler he is surnamed "The Just." But before an accusation of hypocrisy and secret sin he has no force, he attempts no defense. He withdraws like the traditional deer struck by the hunter's dart. He is irritatingly meek and inefficient. His plaintive, "Tell them I am not wicked," when accused,