[]A COLLECTION OF SONGS, SELECTED FROM THE WORKS OF Mr. DIBDIN.
YET STILL AM I ENABLED TO BRING UP IN LIFE'S REAR. G. Pen.
LONDON: PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR: AND SOLD BY HIM AT HIS WAREHOUSE, NO. 411, STRAND, OPPOSITE THE ADELPHI.
DEDICATION. TO WILLIAM DAVIS, ESQ.
[][]If ever dedication had a legitimate motive, this has.
The recollection of a friend's having witneſſed the firſt dawnings of my poetical and muſical ideas—his kind partiality to them—his friendſhip and liberality in promoting a ſcheme for my benefit—his handſome con⯑duct in forgetting that, at the inſtigation of unprin⯑cipled men, I believed him to have been unfaithful to his promiſes: In fine, the variety of inſtances in which he has proved himſelf ſuch a friend as no man but myſelf could ever boaſt of:—
[ii] Theſe not only point out the moſt perfect propriety in my making an acknowledgment of my obligations, but would alſo mark me as very unworthy of them if I neg⯑lected to ſeize ſo becoming an opportunity of inviting the public to bear teſtimony to my high ſenſe of ſuch kind⯑neſs.
You, Sir, are the friend thus deſcribed. The facts I have ſpoken of exiſt. And, as I ſlatter myſelf you will allow that ingratitude makes no part of my diſpo⯑ſition, it cannot ſurprize you that I endeavour to do you common juſtice.
So well, however, do I know you, that you will wonder I ſhould conceive it neceſſary to mention thoſe kindneſſes as a favour which you conferred for your own gratification.
I beg leave, nevertheleſs, to be excuſed if I put in my claim for a little gratification too; for, as nothing ever gave me more pleaſure than this proper addreſs—the ſpirit of which, I beg leave to aſſure you, is us pure [iii] as honour, and the letter as ſincere as truth—ſo I know nothing that could have been a ſeverer mortification to me than to have been prevented from the ſatisfaction of thus telling you how truly
I am Your highly obliged friend, And very grateful humble ſervant, C. DIBDIN.
Strand, April 14, 1790.
PREFACE.
[]So many opinions have been hazarded, by cavillers, on the ſubject of the following ſongs, that it would be almoſt a tacit acquieſcence in the folly, ignorance, and abſurdity of ſuch opinions, were I to do myſelf and the public ſo much injuſtice as to let this oppor⯑tunity paſs without giving them their merited no⯑tice.
Were I diſpoſed to pleaſantry, I might ſay with my Iriſhman, that ‘"the proper notice would be no notice at all:"’—and, indeed, were it not for the ſake of ſimple truth and common juſtice, ſuch calum⯑niators might as well paſs unregarded; for envy is as natural to dunces as hunger, and what ſhould they ſeek to ſatisfy but the cravings of their appetites?
As, however, there is ſomething ſeriouſly material in attending to whatever in the ſlighteſt degree re⯑gards the public, I ſhall go a little into this buſineſs, [ii] if it be only to ſhew how tiny and ineffectual are the yelpings of theſe literary curs, who, like true mon⯑grels, never open but to do miſchief.
It is remarkable that, throughout my whole public career, I have been nibbled at the heel by theſe mon⯑grels of the muſes, theſe ſlinking ſnarlers, who, the reverſe of the dogs that guarded the fane of Diana, fawn upon vice, and cheriſh every thing but virtue.
When I compoſed the muſic of the Padlock, the cry was that I employed ſome Italian, for fifty pounds, to do that of which I was incapable. I ſmiled with contempt at the rumour, and the public very ſoon did me juſtice.
After this I had the temerity to write for myſelf. The villany of ſuch an action was unpardonable; and it was immediately reſolved to brand me with an aſ⯑perſion as falſe as it was invidious. Here I was obliged to aſſert my claim to a public hearing; and the conſequence was, the town choſe to allow that I [iii] had as much right as any other perſon to the privi⯑leges of a ſubject, and the feelings of a man.
This terrible diſappointment to the ſnarlers awed them into a kind of ſulky growl, which has never ſince broke out but very partially; and as petulance and ſoreneſs generally interpret every thing the wrong way, and defeat their own ends, ſo the malig⯑nity of their ſarcaſms have not been more remarkable than their folly. They have attributed my ſea ſongs to men who knew no more of nautical terms than an Engliſh ſailor does of art or hypocriſy; they have made more blunders in detecting my Iriſh ſongs than the ſongs contain themſelves; and in the inveſtigation of my hunting ſongs they have been perpetually at fault.
A friend of mine, one evening, dropt in at a coffee-houſe where a number of theſe literary jurymen were holding an inqueſt over my murdered reputation.—He humoured the jeſt, and, before he had finiſhed, proved, to the ſatisfaction of every one preſent, that [iv] Poor Jack was a poſthumous work of Dr. Johnſon, that the Race Horſe was written by the jockey who rode the famous Flying Childers, and that Blow high Blow low was the production of Admiral Keppel, who dictated the words to his ſecretary as he lay in his cot, after the memorable battle of the twenty-ſeventh of July, waiting for the French to try their force with him handſomely the next morning.
But the miſchief of it is, theſe poor devils cannot diſcern that all they do to injure me gives me real conſequence. The public are always ſure to take up a man at whom the ſhafts of rancour are levelled.—If his efforts be nothing more than inoffenſive, he is ſecure of protection in favour of his intentions; if meritorious, they know too well their own dignity not to rank him according to his deſerts.
To that public I would make a ſolemn declaration that I am the ſole author of every thing this book contains, but that they too well know the hue of truth [v] to need an elucidation of it by any light I can place it in.
As however I do not wiſh to cruſh this vermin—on the contrary, I would have them crawl and nibble, for vermin are as neceſſary in the ſyſtem of literature as in the ſyſtem of the creation—I am willing to allow that there are plenty of faults in this work.
Yet, leſt ſuch reptiles ſhould extend any fang with pleaſure at theſe delicious tidings, I muſt inſiſt that I could very often have written better had it not been for muſical neceſſity, which, in ſome inſtances, precludes nerve, and, in others, requires it, when the reverſe would probably have made the poetry read better.
All theſe conſiderations are very ſafe with the public at large, to whom I never can addreſs myſelf without confeſſing more incapacity of expreſſion than is attributed to me by the ſourneſs of my heart-burnt enemies.
[vi] To theſe poor creatures, did I wiſh their deſerts, I ſhould be more cruel and injurious than they have it in their power to be to me.
SONG.
IN THE WEDDING RING.
I SAW what ſeem'd a harmleſs child,
With wings and bow,
And aſpect mild,
Who ſobb'd, and ſigh'd, and pin'd,
And begg'd I would ſome boon beſtow
On a poor little boy ſtone blind.
Not aware of the danger, I inſtant comply'd,
When he drew from his quiver a dart, Cry'd
' My power you ſhall know;'
Then he levell'd his bow,
And wounded me right in the heart.
THE MILLER's DAUGHTER.
IN THE DESERTER.
[2]THERE was a miller's daughter
Liv'd in a certain village,
Who made a mighty ſlaughter:—
For I'd have you to know,
Both friend and foe,
The clown and the beau,
She always laid low;
And her portion, as I underſtand,
Was three acres of land,
Beſides a mill,
That never ſtood ſtill,
Some ſheep and a cow,
A harrow and plough,
And other things for tillage:—
What d'ye think of the miller's daughter?
II.
This miller's pretty daughter
Was a damſel of ſuch fame, ſir,
That knights and ſquires ſought her;
But they ſoon were told
That ſome were too bold,
[3] And ſome too cold,
And ſome too old;
And ſhe gave them to underſtand
That, though they were grand,
She'd never be ſold:
For ſays Betty, ſays ſhe,
' Since my virtue to me
' Is dearer than gold,
' You may go from whence you came, ſir.'
What d'ye think of my miller's daughter.
III.
But when this miller's daughter
Saw Ned, the morrice dancer,
His perſon quickly caught her;
For who ſo clean
Upon the green,
As Ned was ſeen,
For her his queen:—
Then blithe as a king,
His bells he'd ring,
And dance, and ſing,
Like any thing:—
Says he, 'My life,
' Woot be my wife?'
A bluſh, and yes, was Betty's anſwer.
What d'ye think of my miller's daughter?
SONG.
IN THE WATERMAN.
[4]Two youths for my love are contending in vain;
For, do all they can,
Their ſufferings I rally, and laugh at their pain:
Which, which is the man
That deſerves me the moſt? Let me aſk of my heart,
Is it Robin, who ſmirks, and who dreſſes ſo ſmart?
Or Tom, honeſt Tom, who makes plainneſs his plan?
Which, which is the man?
II.
Indeed, to be prudent, and do what I ought,
I do what I can:—
Yet ſurely pappa and mamma are in fault;
To a different man
They, each, have advis'd me to yield up my heart:
Mamma praiſes Robin, who dreſſes ſo ſmart;
Pappa honeſt Tom, who makes plainneſs his plan:
Which, which is the man?
III.
Be kind then, my heart, and but point out the youth,
I'll do what I can
[5] His love to return, and return it with truth;
Which, which is the man?
Be kind to my wiſhes, and point out, my heart,
Is it Robin, who ſmirks, and who dreſſes ſo ſmart?
Or Tom, honeſt Tom, who makes plainneſs his plan?
Which, which is the man?
BALLAD.
IN THE WATERMAN.
THEN farewel my trim-built wherry,
Oars, and coat, and badge, farewel;
Never more at Chelſea ferry
Shall your Thomas take a ſpell.
[7]II.
But to hope and peace a ſtranger,
In the battle's heat I'll go,
Where, expos'd to every danger,
Some friendly ball ſhall lay me low.
III.
Then, may-hap, when homeward ſteering,
With the news my meſs-mates come,
Even you, the ſtory hearing,
With a ſigh, may cry—poor Tom!
RONDEAU.
IN THE SERAGLIO.
[11]BLOW high, blow low, let tempeſts tear
The main-maſt by the board;
My heart, with thoughts of thee, my dear,
And love well ſtor'd,
Shall brave all danger, ſcorn all fear,
The roaring winds, the raging ſea,
In hopes on ſhore
To be once more
Safe moor'd with thee.
Aloft while mountains high we go,
The whiſtling winds that ſcud along,
And the ſurge roaring from below,
Shall my ſignal be
To think on thee,
And this ſhall be my ſong:
And on that night when all the crew
The mem'ry of their former lives,
O'er flowing cans of flip renew,
And drink their ſweethearts and their wives,
[12] I'll heave a ſigh, and think on thee;
And, as the ſhip rolls through the ſea,
The burthen of my ſong ſhall be,
RONDEAU.
IN THE SERAGLIO.
THE ſignal to engage ſhall be
A whiſtle and a hollow,
Be one and all but firm like me,
And conqueſt ſoon will follow.
You Gunnel keep the helm in hand,
Thus, thus boys, ſteady, ſteady;
Till right a head you ſee the land,
Then, ſoon as we are ready,
Keep boys a good look out, d'ye hear,
'Tis for old England's honour;
Juſt as you've brought your lower tier
Broadſide to bear upon her,
[14]All hands then, lads, the ſhip to clear,
Load all your guns and mortars,
Silent as death th' attack prepare,
And, when your all at quarters,
SONG.
IN POOR VULCAN.
VENUS now no more behold me,
But an humble village dame,
Coarſe and homely trappings fold me,
And Miſtreſs Maudling is my name.
Yet here no leſs is paid that duty
Ever due to Venus' worth,
Not more inſenſible of beauty
Than gods in heaven are men on earth.
BALLAD.
IN POOR VULCAN.
[15]THAT nature's every where the ſame,
Each paſſing day diſcovers;
For that in me,
Some charms they ſee,
Behold me, though a country dame,
Leading a crowd of lovers.
II.
My ſporting ſquire to keep at bay
The courſe I'll double over;
While he, intent
On a wrong ſcent,
Shall always find me ſtole away
When he cries 'Hark to cover.'
III.
With new-coin'd oaths, my grenadier,
May think to ſtorm and bluſter,
And ſwear by Mars,
My eyes are ſtars
That light to love:—he'll ſoon find here
Such ſtuff will ne'er paſs muſter.
[16]IV.
Thus will I ſerve thoſe I diſtruſt,
Firſt laugh at, then refuſe 'em.
But, ah! not ſo
The ſhepherd Joe:—
He like Adonis look'd, when firſt
I preſs'd him to my boſom.
BALLAD.
IN POOR VULCAN.
THE moment Aurora peep'd into my room,
I put on my cloaths, and I call'd to my groom;
And, my head heavy ſtill, from the fumes of laſt night,
Took a bumper of brandy to ſet all things right;
And now were well ſaddled Fleet, Dapple, and Grey,
Who ſeem'd longing to hear the glad ſound hark away.
II.
Will Whiſtle by this had uncoupl'd his hounds,
Whoſe extacy nothing could keep within bounds:
Firſt forward came Jowler, then Scentwell, then Snare.
Three better ſtaunch harriers ne'er ſtarted a hare;
[17] Then Sweetlips, then Driver, then S [...]aunch, and then Tray,
All ready to open at hark, hark away.
III.
'Twas now by the clock about five in the morn,
And we all gallop'd off to the ſound of the horn;
Jack Gater, Bill Babler, and Dick at the gun,
And by this time the merry Tom fairplay made one,
Who, while we were jogging on blitheſome and gay,
Sung a ſong, and the chorus was—Hark, hark away.
IV.
And now Jemmy Lurcher had every buſh beat,
And no ſigns of madam, nor trace of her feet;
Nay, we juſt had begun our ſad fortunes to curſe,
When all of a ſudden out ſtarts Mrs. Puſs;
Men, horſes, and dogs all the glad call obey,
And echo was heard to cry—Hark, hark away.
V.
The chaſe was a fine one, ſhe took o'er the plain,
Which ſhe doubled, and doubled, and doubled again;
Till at laſt ſhe to cover return'd out of breath,
Where I and Will Whiſtle were in at the death;
Then in triumph for you I the hare did diſplay,
And cry'd to the horns, my boys, hark, hark away.
BALLAD.
IN POOR VULCAN.
COME, every man now give his toaſt,
Fill up the glaſs, I'll tell you mine,
Wine is the miſtreſs I love moſt,
This is my toaſt—now give me thine.
II.
Well ſaid my lad, ne'er let it ſtand,
I give you Chloe, nymph divine,
May love and wine go hand in hand;
This is my toaſt—now give me thine.
[20]III.
Fill up your giaſſes to the brink,
Hebe let no one dare decline;
'Twas Hebe taught me firſt to drink:
This is my toaſt—now give me thine.
IV.
Gemmen, I give my wife d'ye ſee;
May all to make her bleſt combine;
So ſhe be far enough from me:
This is my toaſt—now give me thine.
V.
Let conſtant lovers at the feet
Of pale fac'd wenches ſigh and pine,
For me, the firſt kind girl I meet
Shall be my toaſt—now give me thine:
VI.
You toaſt your wife, and you your laſs,
My boys and welcome; here's the wine,
For my part, he who fills my glaſs
Shall be my toaſt—now give me thine.
[21]VII.
Spirit, my lads, and toaſt away,
I have ſtill one with yours to join;
That we may have enough to pay:
This is my toaſt—now give me thine.
DUET.
INTENDED FOR POOR VULCAN.
JOE.
WHEN Serjeant Belſwagger, that maſculine brute,
One day had been drinking to ſwear a recruit,
He kiſs'd you, I ſaw him, or elſe may I die,
And you, cruel Maudlin, ne'er once cry'd, O fie!
[23]Again, when the ſquire had come home from the chaſe,
You receiv'd him, O gods, with a ſmile on your face,
Henceforth, then, my ſheep harum ſkarum may run,
For Maudlin is faithleſs, and I am undone.
MAUDLIN.
Ah, Joe! you're a good one; one day in my place—
My huſband at home—I was forc'd to ſend Grace:
I know for a truth, which you cannot gainſay,
You touzled her well on a cock of new hay.
Nay, ſwore you'd be hers—and, what is worſe yet,
That you only lov'd me juſt for what you could get;
As for charms then, I ne'er will believe I have one,
For Joey is faithleſs, and I am undone.
JOE.
Will you know then the truth on't: I touz'd her I own,
Though I rather by half would have let it alone;
But I did it to ſee if you jealous would prove,
For that, people ſay, is a ſure ſign of love.
MAUDLIN.
And for me, if the ſquire ſaid ſoft things in my ear,
I ſuffer'd it, thinking he'd call for ſtrong beer;
And as to the ſerjeant, 'tis always a rule,
One had better be kiſs'd than be teaz'd—by a fool.
BALLAD.
IN THE QUAKER.
[24]I lock'd up all my treaſure,
I journey'd many a mile,
And by my grief did meaſure
The paſſing time the while.
II.
My buſineſs done and over,
I haſten'd back amain;
Like an expecting lover,
To view it once again.
III.
But this delight was ſtifled
As it began to dawn:
I found the caſket rifled,
And all my treaſure gone.
SONG.
IN THE QUAKER.
[25]WOMEN are Will o' the Wiſps, 'tis plain,
The cloſer they ſeem ſtill the more they retire;
They teaze you, and jade you,
And round about lead you,
Without hopes of ſhelter,
Ding dong, helter ſkelter,
Through water and fire;
And, when you believe every danger and pain
From your heart you may baniſh,
And you're near the poſſeſſion of what you deſire,
That inſtant they vaniſh,
And the devil a bit can you catch them again.
By ſome they're not badly compar'd to the ſea,
Which is calm and tempeſtuous within the ſame hour,
Some ſay they are Sirens, but take it from me,
They're a ſweet race of angels o'er man that have pow'r,
His perſon, his heart, and his reaſon to ſeize,
And lead the poor devil wherever they pleaſe.
RONDEAU.
IN THE QUAKER.
[27]WHILE the lads in the village ſhall merrily ah,
Sound their tabors, I'll hand thee along,
And I ſay unto thee that merrily ah,
Thou and I will be firſt in the throng.
Juſt then, when the youth who laſt year won the dow'r
And his ma [...]e ſhall the ſports have begun,
When the gay voice of gladneſs reſounds from each bow'r
And thou long'ſt in thy heart to make one,
Thoſe joys that are harmleſs what mortal can blame?
'Tis my maxim that youth ſhould be free;
And to prove that my words and my deeds are the ſame
Believe thou ſhall preſently ſee,
DUET.
IN ANNETTE & LUBIN.
BAILIFF.
THEY tell me you liſten to all that he ſays;
That each hour of the day you are full of his praiſe;
That you always together your flocks lead to graze:
Is this true, damſel?
ANNETTE.
Yes, Miſter Bailly.
[35]BAILIFF.
They tell me, alſo, you are ſo void of grace,
As to brag that dear form, and that ſweet pretty face,
That young dog ſhall be welcome to kiſs and embrace:
Is this true damſel?
ANNETTE.
Yes, Miſter Bailly.
BAILIFF.
The neighbours all ſay, though I credit them not,
They have heard you declare, that content with your lot,
Any king you'd refuſe for that lout and a cot:
Is this true damſel?
ANNETTE.
Yes, Miſter Bailly.
BAILIFF.
But one thing I vow frights me out of my life,
'Tis allow'd on all hands, that is barring the ſtrife,
That you both liv'd together juſt like man and wife:
Is this true damſel?
ANNETTE.
Yes, Miſter Bailly.
DUET.
IN ANNETTE & LUBIN.
[36]LUBIN.
'Tis true that oft, in the ſame mead,
We both have led our flocks to feed,
Where by each other's ſide we've ſat;
ANNETTE.
Alas! there was no harm in that.
LUBIN.
'Tis true for thee this cot I roſe,
Where thou tak'ſt pleaſure to repoſe;
For which I found the greeneſt plat;
ANNETTE.
Alas! there was no harm in that.
LUBIN.
'Tis true when tired thou fain would reſt,
And thy dear lips to mine I've preſs'd,
Thy breath, ſo ſweet! I've wondered at:
ANNETTE.
Alas! there was no harm in that.
[37]LUBIN.
Ah, but 'tis true, when thou haſt ſlept,
Cloſer and cloſer have I crept;
And while my heart went pit-a-pat—
ANNETTE.
Alas! there was no harm in that.
RONDEAU.
IN THE CHELSEA PENSIONER.
[41]If deep thy poignard thou would'ſt drench,
In blood, to venge old Blenheim's woes,
My enemies, boy, are the French,
And all who are my country's foes.
Shall I receive an added day
Of life, when crimes your name ſhall brand?
No, never let detraction ſay,
That virtue arm'd a murderer's hand.
Of anger then, no ſingle breath,
Reſpire for my poor ſake—but ſince
You've ſpirit to encounter death,
Die for your country, and your prince.
SONG.
IN THE CHELSEA PENSIONER.
WHEN thou ſhalt ſee his boſom ſwelling,
When ſoft compaſſion's tear ſhall ſtart,
As my poor father's woes thou'rt telling,
Come back and claim my hand and heart.
[45]The cauſe bleſt eloquence will lend thee;
Nay, haſte, and eaſe my ſoul's diſtreſs;
To judge thy worth, I'll here attend thee,
And rate thy love by thy ſucceſs.
SONG.
IN THE CHELSEA PENSIONER.
LET your courage boy be true t'ye,
Hard and painful is the ſoldier's duty;
'Tis not alone to bravely dare,
To fear a ſtranger,
Each threat'ning danger,
That whiſtles through the duſky air;
Where thund'ring jar
Conflicting arms,
All th' alarms,
And dreadful havock of the war.
Your duty done, and home returning,
With ſelf-commended ardour burning,
If this right pride
Foes ſhould deride,
And from your merit turn aſide.
[47] Though than the war the conflict's more ſevere,
This is the trial you muſt learn to bear.
BALLAD.
IN THE FRIENDLY TARS.
I ſail'd in the good ſhip the Kitty,
With a ſmart blowing gale and rough ſea,
Left my Polly, the lads call ſo pretty,
Safe here at an anchor, Yo Yea.
[49]II,
She blubber'd ſalt tears when we parted,
And cry'd now be conſtant to me;
I told her not to be down hearted,
So up went the anchor, Yo Yea.
III.
And from that time, no worſe nor no better,
I've thought on juſt nothing but ſhe;
Nor could grog nor flip make me forget her,
She's my only ſheet anchor, Yo Yea.
IV.
When the wind whiſtled larboard and ſtarboard,
And the ſtorm came on weather and lea,
The hope I with her ſhould be harbour'd
Was my cable and anchor, Yo Yea.
V.
And yet, my boys, would you believe me,
I return'd with no rhino from ſea,
Miſtreſs Polly would never receive me,
So again I heav'd anchor, Yo Yea.
BALLAD.
IN THE FRIENDLY TARS.
[50]IF 'tis love to wiſh you near,
To tremble when the wind I hear,
Becauſe at ſea you floating rove,
If of you to dream at night,
To languiſh when you're out of ſight,
If this be loving—then I love.
II.
If, when you're gone, to count each hour,
To aſk of every tender power
That you may kind and faithful prove;
If, void of falſehood and deceit,
I feel a pleaſure now we meet,
If this be loving—then I love.
III.
To wiſh your fortune to partake,
Determin'd never to forſake,
[51] Though low in poverty we ſtrove;
If, ſo that me your wife you'll call,
I offer you my little all;
If this be loving—then I love.
BALLAD.
IN THE FRIENDLY TARS.
YET though I've no fortune to offer,
I've ſomething to put on a par;
Come then, and accept of my proffer,
'Tis the kind, honeſt heart of a tar.
II.
Ne'er let ſuch a trifle as this is,
Girls, be to my pleaſures a bar,
You'll be rich, though 'tis only in kiſſes,
With the kind, honeſt heart of a tar.
III.
Beſides, I am none of your ninnies;
The next time I come from afar,
I'll give you your lap full of guineas,
With the kind, honeſt heart of a tar.
[52]IV.
Your lords, with ſuch fine baby faces,
That ſtrut in a garter and ſtar,
Have they, under their tambour and laces,
The kind, honeſt heart of a tar?
V.
I have this here to ſay, now, and mind it,
If love, that no hazard can mar,
You are ſeeking, you'll certainly find it,
In the kind, honeſt heart of a tar.
BALLAD.
IN THE OLD WOMAN OF EIGHTY.
COME here ye rich, come here ye great,
Come here ye grave, come here ye gay,
Behold our bleſt, though humble fate,
Who, while the ſun ſhines, make our hay.
II.
The gay plum'd lady, with her ſtate,
Would ſhe in courts a moment ſtay,
[53] Could ſhe but gueſs our happy fate,
Who, while the ſun ſhines, make our hay?
III.
Nature we love, and art we hate,
And blithe and chearful as the day,
We ſing, and bleſs our humble fate,
And, while the ſun ſhines, make our hay.
IV.
Hodge goes a courting to his mate,
Who ne'er coquets, nor ſays him nay,
But ſhares content an humble fate,
And, while the ſun ſhines, they make hay.
V.
The captain puts on board his freight,
And cuts through waves his dangerous way
But we enjoy a gentler fate,
And, while the ſun ſhines, make our hay.
VI.
See Hodge, and Dick, and Nell, and Kate,
In the green meadow friſk and play,
And own that happy is our fate,
Who, while the ſun ſhines, make our hay.
[54]VII.
Come then, and quit each glitt'ring bait,
Simplicity ſhall point the way
To us, who bleſs our humble ate,
And, while the ſun ſhines, make our hay.
BALLAD.
IN THE OLD WOMAN OF EIGHTY.
How kind and how good of his dear majeſty,
In the midſt of his matters ſo weighty,
To think of ſo lowly a creature as me,
A poor old woman of eighty.
II.
Were your ſparks to come round me, in love with each charm,
Say I have nothing to ſay t'ye;
I can get a young fellow to keep my back warm,
Though a poor old woman of eighty.
[55]III.
John Strong is as comely a lad as you'll ſee,
And one that will never ſay nay t'ye;
I cannot but think what a comfort he'll be
To me, an old woman of eighty.
IV.
Then fear not, ye fair ones, though long paſt your youth,
You'll have lovers in ſcores beg and pray t'ye,
Only think of my fortune, who have but one tooth,
A poor old woman of eighty.
SONG.
IN THE TOUCHSTONE.
THIS life is like a troubled ſea,
Where, helm a weather or a lea,
The ſhip will neither ſtay nor wear,
But drives, of every rock in fear;
All ſeamanſhip in vain we try,
We cannot keep her ſteadily:
[57] But, juſt as fortune's wind may blow,
The veſſel's toſticated to and fro;
Yet, come but love on board,
Our hearts with pleaſure ſtor'd,
No ſtorm can overwhelm,
Still blows in vain
The hurricane,
While he is at the helm.
GLEE.
IN THE WIVES' REVENGE.
YOUNG Paris was bleſt juſt as I am this hour,
When proud Juno offer'd him riches and power,
When ſtately Minerva of war talk'd and arms,
When Venus beam'd on him a ſmile full of charms.
Venus' charms gain'd the prize, what an idiot was he!
The apple of gold I'd have parted in three;
And, contenting them all by this witty device,
Given Juno, and Pallas, and Venus a ſlice.
SONG.
IN THE TOUCHSTONE.
MY tears—alas! I cannot ſpeak!
Muſt thank this goodneſs, ſure, divine!
For had I words—words are too weak,
Too poor, to vent ſuch thoughts as mine.
The ſun, in its meridian height,
Will gratitude like this inſpire;
Whoſe kindly heat, and piercing light,
We wonder at, and we admire.
RONDEAU.
IN THE SHEPERDESS OF THE ALPS.
Ah men what ſilly things you are,
To woman thus to humble;
Who, fowler like, but ſpreads her ſnare,
Or at her timid game
Takes aim,
Pop, pop, and down you tumble.
She marks you down, fly where you will,
O'er clover, graſs, or ſtubble;
[67] Can wing you, feather you, or kill,
Juſt as ſhe takes the trouble.
Then fly not from us, 'tis in vain,
We know the art of ſetting,
As well as ſhooting, and can train
The ſhyeſt man our net in.
BALLAD.
IN HARLEQUIN FREE-MASON.
THE Sun's a free-maſon, he works all the day,
Village, city, and town to adorn,
Then from labour at reſt,
At his lodge in the weſt,
Takes with good brother Neptune a glaſs on his way,
Thence ripe for the fair,
He flies from all care,
To Dame Thetis charms,
Till rous'd from her arms
By the morn.
[71] So do we, our labour done,
Firſt the glaſs,
And then the laſs,
And then
Sweet ſlumbers give freſh force
To run our courſe,
Thus with the riſing ſun.
II.
The courſe of the ſun all our myſteries defines:
Firſt maſonry roſe in the eaſt,
Then, to no point confin'd,
His rays cheer mankind;
Beſides, who'll deny that he well knows the ſigns?
The Grand Maſter he
Then of maſons ſhall be,
Nor ſhall aught the craft harm,
Till to ſhine and to warm
He has ceas'd.
Then like him, our labour done, &c.
BALLAD.
IN HARLEQUIN FREE-MASON.
HERE I was my good maſters, my name's Teddy Clinch,
My cattle are ſound, and I drives to an inch;
From Hyde Park to White Chapel I well know the town,
And many's the time I've took up and ſet down:
In ſhort, in the bills I'll be bound for't there's not
A young youth who, like Teddy, can tip the long trot.
[74]II.
Oh the notions of life that I ſee from my box,
While fares of all kinds come about me in flocks:
The ſot, whom I drive home to ſleep out the day,
The kind one, who plies for a fare at the play;
Or, your gents of the law, there, who, four in a lot,
To Weſtminſter Hall I oft tip the long trot.
III.
My coach receives all, like the gallows and ſea,
So I touch but my fare you know all's one to me;
The men of the gown, and the men of the ſword,
A ma'am or a gambler, a rogue, or a lord;
To wherever you're going I well know the ſpot,
And, do you tip a tizzy, I'll tip the long trot.
SONG.
IN THE ISLANDERS.
I'LL mount the cliffs, I'll watch the coaſt,
Anxious ſome welcome tidings ſoon to bear,
Nor let your fortitude be loſt,
Confiding ſtill in honeſt Yanko's care.
[78]Though to my comrades I'm untrue,
Honour ſhall infidelity applaud,
And call, in charity to you,
My broken faith to them a pious fraud.
SONG.
IN THE ISLANDERS.
[80]PASSION is a torrent rude,
Which rapid bears down ev'ry height,
A turbulent, unruly flood,
Which with the ocean would unite.
Reaſon's a fountain, clam, ſerene,
Which near gay fields, and laughing bow'rs,
While it reflects th' enchanting ſcene,
Is borne among a bed of flowers.
BALLAD.
IN THE ISLANDERS.
A bed of moſs we'll ſtraight prepare,
Where near him gently creeping,
We'll pat his cheeks, and ſtroke his hair,
And watch him while he's ſleeping.
[81]II.
Sweet flowers of every ſcent and hue,
Pinks, violets, and roſes,
And blooming Hyacynths we'll ſtrew,
As ſweetly he repoſes.
III.
And we'll with fond emotion ſtart,
And while, with admiration,
We ſoftly feel his fluttering heart,
Partake its palpitation.
BALLAD.
IN PANDORA.
—In the character of Punch—
WHAT a pity 'twill be, odds babies and lambs,
To poſſeſs the young things by the ſide of their mams,
Not with innocent love, but, odds pranks and curvett⯑ings,
With oglings, and leerings, and airs, and coquettings.
What a pity a widow, odds prayers and religion,
Who has mourn'd for her huſband like any tame pigeon,
Should all on a ſudden, odds fruit that is mellow,
To comfort her find out a ſturdy young fellow.
[87]And digadon deer,
Go on her career,
Digadon, digadon,
Odds right turn'd to wrong;
Odds bridewells and whipping-poſts, pillories and ſtocks,
When Madam Pandora has open'd her box.
II.
What a pity 'twill be—odds hearts and odds hands,
That the man whoſe large ſoul generous pity expands,
Should turn quick as thought, odds per cent and per annum,
A hunter of heirs, with a view to trepan 'em.
What a pity a ſtateſman, odds good of the nation,
Who for hours without penſion would make an oration,
Should plump in an inſtant, odds Janus's faces,
Shut his mouth up till given half a dozen places.
III.
What a pity 'twill be, odds confuſions and ſcars,
That the world for ambition ſhould plunge into wars;
What a pity young fellows, odds rakes and hard livers,
Should fall in their youth, through conſumptions and fevers.
[88]What a pity 'twill be, odds priſon and palace,
That a judge ſhould erect, and a thief fear the gallows;
And what pity, odds veniſon, and ſturgeon, and trout,
That eating and drinking ſhould give us the gout.
BALLAD.
IN THE REASONABLE ANIMALS.
—A wolf who had been a lawyer—
By roguery, 'tis true,
I opulent grew,
Juſt like any other profeſſional ſinner,
An orphan, d'ye ſee,
Would juſt waſh down my tea,
And a poor friendleſs widow would ſerve me for dinner
I was, to be ſure,
Of the helpleſs and poor
A guardian appointed to manage the pelf;
And I manag'd it well,
But how—ſays you—tell?
Why I let them all ſtarve to take care of myſelf.
[89]II.
With theſe tricks I went on
Till, faith Sir, anon
A parcel of ſtupid, mean-ſpirited ſouls,
As they narrowly watch'd me,
Soon at my tricks catch'd me,
And, in their own words, haul'd me over the coals.
In the pillory—that fate
For rogues, ſoon or late—
I ſtood, for the ſport of a diſſolute mob;
Till my neck Maſter Ketch
Was ſo eager to ſtretch,
That I gave the thing up as a dangerous job.
III.
Now a wolf, from their dams
I ſteal plenty of lambs,
Pamper'd high, and well fed—an inſatiable glutton—
In much the ſame ſphere
When a man, I move here;
Hake and break laws at pleaſure, and kill my own mut⯑ton.
Then ſince, for their ſport,
No one here moves the court,
Nor am I amenable to an employer,
[90] I ſhall ever prefer,
With your leave, my good ſir,
The life of a wolf to the life of a lawyer.
BALLAD.
IN THE REASONABLE ANIMALS.
—A hog who had been an alderman.
FOR dainties I've had of them all,
At taverns, Lord Mayor's, and Guildhall,
Where the purveyors, nothing ſtingy,
To fill the wallet,
And pamper the palate,
Have rarities brought from India.
Then what ſignifies what one takes in,
For, when one's cram'd up to the chin,
Why, really, good friend, to my thinking,
If on veniſon and wines,
Or on hogwaſh one dines,
At laſt 'tis but eating and drinking.
Beſides, I've no books I arrange,
Nor at two need I e'er go to change;
Have no buſineſs with note, bond, or tally,
[91] Nor need I, from any ill luck,
Either bull, or a bear, or lame duck,
Ever fear waddling out of the alley.
BALLAD.
IN THE REASONABLE ANIMALS.
—A bull who had been an Iriſhman—
IS'T my ſtory you'd know?—I was Patrick Mulrooney,
A jolman, and Ireland my nation:
To be ſure I was not a tight fellow too honey,
Before my tranſmogrification.
I did not at all talk of flames and of darts,
To conquer the fair—the dear jewels!
And [...] huſbands, becauſe why I won their wives hearts
I did not fight plenty of duels.
Then arrah, bodder how you can,
You'll ne'er perſuade me, honey,
For I ſhall always, bull or man,
Be Patric Mulrooney.
[92]II.
When at Almack's, or White's, or at Brooke's, or Boodle's,
I've ſat up all night in the morning,
'Mongſt black legs, and coggers, and pigeons, and noodles,
The calling to uſe I was born in;
To be ſure many honeſt gold guineas it yields,
But ſince 'tis a ſervice of danger,
I'm a better man now I'm a bull in the fields,
To popping and tilting a ſtranger.
BALLAD.
IN LIBERTY-HALL.
WERE Patience kind to me,
Oh he de nos!
Far plyther than a coat I'd be,
Oh he de nos!
Leap, ſkip, and pound, would poor Ap Hugh,
And capriole and caper too,
And friſk, and jump, and dance, look you,
Oh he de nos!
[93]II.
But Patience very cruel is,
Oh he de nos!
With jibes, cheers, and mockeries,
Oh he de nos!
Which makes to ſigh and ſob, Ap Hugh,
And whining his ſad fortune rue,
And crieve, and crean, and crunt, look you,
Oh he de nos!
SONG.
IN LIBERTY-HALL.
WHO to my wounds a balm adviſes,
But little knows what I endure;
The patient's pain to torture riſes
When medicine's try'd and fails to cure.
What can the wiſeſt council teach me,
But ſad remembrance of my grief?
Alas! your kindneſs cannot reach me,
It gives but words—I aſk relief.
BALLAD.
NOSEGAYS I cry, and, though little you pay,
They're ſuch as you cannot get every day.
Who'll buy? who'll buy?—'tis noſegays I cry.
Who'll buy? who'll buy?—'tis noſegays I cry.
[142]Each mincing, ambling, liſping blade,
Who ſmi [...]es, and talks of bliſſes
He never felt, is here portray'd
In form of a narcifſus.
Stateſmen, like Indians, who adore
The ſun, by courting power,
Cannot be ſhewn their likeneſs more
Than in th' humble ſun-flower.
Poets I've here in ſprigs of bays,
Devils in the buſh are friars;
Nettles are critics, who damn plays,
And ſatiriſts are briars.
RONDEAU.
IN THE WHIM OF THE MOMENT.
[158]SMILING grog is the ſailor's beſt hope, his ſheet anchor,
His compaſs, his cable, his log,
That gives him a heart which life's cares cannot canker
Though dangers around him
Unite to confound him,
He braves them and tips off his grog.
'Tis grog, only grog,
Is his rudder, his compaſs, his cable, his log,
The ſailor's ſheet anchor is grog.
What though he to a friend, in truſt,
His prize money convey,
Who to his bond of faith unjuſt,
Cheats him, and runs away,
What's to be done? he vents a curſe
'Gainſt all falſe hearts aſhore,
Of the remainder clears his purſe,
And then to ſea for more.
What though his girl, who often ſwore
To know no other charms,
[159] He finds, when he returns aſhore,
Claſp'd in a rivals arms;
What's to be done? he vents a curſe,
And ſeeks a kinder ſhe,
Dances, gets groggy, clears his purſe,
And goes again to ſea.
To croſſes born, ſtill truſting there,
The waves leſs faithleſs than the fair;
There into toils to ruſh again,
And ſtormy perils brave—what then
SONG.
IN THE WHIM OF THE MOMENT.
[163]ARM'D with javelin, arm'd with dart,
With mighty arm and ſteady heart,
We to the battle go;
Yet, ere we part,
We join with all our friends ſo dear,
And fervent adoration pay,
To the bright orb that gave us day.
Then void of fear,
We ruſh to meet the foe:
Stationed on impervious ground,
We watch their numbers ſcatter'd round;
The ſubtle ambuſh then prepare,
And ſee! they fall into the ſnare:
Hid as in the woods we lay,
They tread the unſuſpected way;
Sudden and fierce from every buſh,
Upon the aſtoniſh'd foe we ruſh,
Bold and reſolved:—and now around,
Hark! the dreadful war-whoop ſound,
Confuſion, terror, and diſmay,
It ſcatters as it wings its way:
They fly! confuſion in their train,
And ſanguine ſlaughter treads the plain!
[164] Hark of our friends the welcome cry,
Proclaims for us the victory!
Then fervent adoration pay.
To the bright orb that gave us day.
See the feſtive train advance,
Breath the muſic lead the dance!
Sound the cymbals!
Beat the tymbals!
Haſte, in glad proceſſion come
To our anxious friends at home,
For our reception who prepare,
While acclamations rend the air,
And loudly a whole nation cry
Honour, glory, victory.
BALLAD.
IN THE GRACES.
AT firſt like an infant appearing,
With neither his bow nor his dart,
To his wiles we attend without fearing,
Till he creeps by degrees to our hearts:
[169]When ſoon for our folly requited,
This gueſt the ſole maſter we find,
For ſcarce to the boſom invited,
He lords it at will o'er the mind.
BALLAD.
IN THE GRACES.
SAY flutt'ring heart,
Why after days of ſweet delight,
Where conſcious innocence bore part,
Serene as ſmiling morn, peaceful as ſilver night,
Or gay as noon, when Phoebus' beams ſhone bright.
Say, how one hour,
One little inſtant, could remove
That vacant careleſs joy? what power
Inflict the torments we now prove;
Cynthia forbid it ever ſhould be love.
Dear goddeſs, for fair honour's ſake,
Relieve the torments we partake!
Teach us to cure our am'rous fires,
Or elſe permit us our deſires;
[170]And this with zealous care perform,
Swift as the wind that rules the ſtorm;
Swift as the glowing god of day
Darts from afar a downward ray,
And ſo ſhall vot'ries to thy praiſe
A thouſand, thouſand altars raiſe.
GLEE.
IN THE WHIM OF THE MOMENT.
Come round me and weep, to your hearts take deſpair:
'Tis a cauſe that all nature muſt mourn,
Poor Hylas of love who from all had a ſhare,
From our wiſhes for ever is torn.
[176]That Hylas to whom we look'd up for a ſmile,
As we bleſſings from heaven would obtain,
Whoſe form was ſo faultleſs, whoſe tongue knew no guile,
Is gone, and our wiſhes are vain.
CATCH.
IN THE BY-STANDER.
HERE lies a philoſopher, knowing and brave,
From whom Madam Nature ne'er hid the leaſt won⯑der,
Who looking to heaven, tumbled into his grave,
And diſdain'd that ſame earth where he rotting lies under.
BALLAD.
IN THE ODDITIES.
ALAS where ſhall I comfort find?
My peace is gone, diſtreſſed my mind;
My heart beats high,
I know not why,
Poor heart! ah me, ah me!
So tender, artleſs, and ſo young,
I liſtened to his flatt'ring tongue,
Nor did I e'er
Suſpect a ſnare
From one who went to ſea.
For ſailors kind and honeſt are,
They injured virtue make their care,
One, only one, did e'er depart
From that prov'd rule, and he,
Ah me!
Was born to break my ſimple heart.
[192]When abſent from my longing arms,
Each hour was fraught with new alarms,
Each riſing morn beheld my tears,
The ſofteſt breeze in my fond fears
Did the horizon ſtraight deform,
And Zephyr grew into a ſtorm:
Yet to be cheated of my bliſs,
And was I then ſo kind for this?
SONG.
IN THE ODDITIES.
Firſt chuſe a pretty melody,
To take in all the flats:
Then change your drift,
And ſuddenly
Prepare to ſhift
The key;
Then growl
Like dogs, and miowl
Like cats:
[216] Then chatter like monkies—now low, and now high
Then whine, and then ſigh,
And all through the noſe,
And then ſwim and die,
And then come to a cloſe.
Among the flats and ſharps now a tedious journey travel,
Then loſe yourſelf in knots of chords,
And then thoſe knots unravel:
Then ſigh, and die,
And faint in bliſs extatic,
And then the half tones, try,
For a touch of the chromatic.
Then where you ſet out come again,
And now—you're welcome home again.
Then once more the melody,
To take in all the flats:
Then change your drift,
And ſuddenly
Prepare to ſhift
The key;
Then growl
Like dogs, and miowl
Like cats:
Then chatter like monkeys—now low, and now high,
And all through the noſe;
And then ſwim and die,
And then come to a cloſe.
[217]Yet not ſhabbily,
But with a fine contabile,
In which go high and low boy,
Still followed by the hautboy,
And all through the noſe,
And then ſwim and die,
And then come to a cloſe.
THE END.