1648 - Wither, George - Prosopopœia Britannica

From International Robin Hood Bibliography
Allusion
Date c. 1648
Author Wither, George
Title Prosopopœia Britannica
Mentions Tales of Robin Hood
George Wither / Wikipedia.

By Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2013-07-16. Revised by Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2021-01-07.

Allusion

They, from the poorest, and the basest sort
Of people, rose, to highest place in Court.
This is their Jus divinum, whatsoe're
Their friends, or they, would make themselves appear:
Which, by clear demonstration, I make good,
And, not by tales of Tubs, and Robin-Hood.
Thus, what they were; and, what they had to do,
And, what at best their pride hath brought them to,
I have declared; that, your King no more
May cheated be by them, as heretofore:
Or, think, that Law, or Conscience, him obliges,
To keep up their usurped Priviledges,
But, thereby know, that if he shall delight
In that, which is indeed the Royall-right;
He, their vaine services, no more, well need,
And, joy, that from such Flatt'rers he is freed.[1]

IRHB comments

'A [ prosopopoeia [...] is a rhetorical device in which a speaker or writer communicates to the audience by speaking as another person or object'.[2]

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