Quaint Gleanings from Ancient Poetry Part 5

VIII.

All Hearts true as Steel, but of all brave Fellows Th'Attorney for my money who was so zealous, He went for the Lease of his own House from Home, To make a new covering for the Troop's Kettle drum.

IX.

The Lieutenant being thrown by his Jennet, His Son in Law fancying some Treachery in it, Gave the Oaths to the Horse, which the Beast took, they say, But swore by the Lord they went down like chopt hay.

X.

He the Nag of an _Irish_ Papist did buy, So doubting his Courage and his Loyalty, He taught him to eat with his Oats Gunpowdero, And prance to the Tune of Lilly-bolero. [11]

XI.

The Tub-preaching Saint was so furious a Blade, In Jack-boots both Day and Night preacht, slept, and pray'd; To call them to prayers he need no Saint's Bell, For gingling his Spurs chim'd them all in as well.

XII.

A n.o.ble stout Scrivener that now shall be nameless, That in Day of Battle he might be found blameless, A War-horse of Wood from _Duck Carver_ buys, To learn with more safety the Horse Exercise.

XIII.

With one eye on's Honour, the other on's Gain, He fixes a Desk on _Bucephalus_ Main, That so by that means he his Prancer bestriding, Might practise at once both his Writing and Riding.

XIV.

But, oh, the sad news which their Joy now confounds, To _Ireland_, their own, like the last Trumpet sounds; Lord! Lord! how this sets them a Waiting Pet.i.tions, And thinking of nothing but Terms and Conditions.

XV.

Oh, who will March for me? speak any that dare, A Horse and an Hundred Pounds for him, that's fair; Dear Courtiers, excuse me from Teagland and Slaughter, And take which you please, _Sir_, my Wife or my Daughter."

XVI.

Some feign'd themselves lame, some feign'd themselves clapt, At last finding all themselves by themselves trapt, The King most unanimously they addrest, And told him the Truth, 'twas all but a Jest.

XVII.

"A Jest," quoth the King, and with that the King smil'd, "Come, it ne're shall be said such a Jest shall be spoil'd; Therefore I dismiss you. in Peace all depart, For it was more your Goodness than my Desert."

XVIII.

Thus happily freed from the dreadful Vexation Of being Defenders of this, or that Nation, They kist Royal Fist, and were drunk all for Joy, And broke all their swords, and cry'd _Vive le Roy_.

[Footnote 11: The refrain of a celebrated political song.]

A BALLAD ON THE FLEET.

I.

A mighty great Fleet--the like was ne'er seen Since the Reign of K. _William_ and _Mary_ the Q.-- Design'd the Destruction of _France_, to have been, _Which n.o.body can deny_, etc.

II.

The Fleet was composed of _English_ and _Dutch_; For Men and for Guns there was never seen such, Nor so little done when expected so much, _Which_, etc.

III.

One hundred Ships which we Capital call, With Frigots and Tenders, and Yatchts that were small, Went out, and did little or nothing at all, _Which_, etc.

IV.

260,500 and six l.u.s.ty Men, Had they chanc'd to have met with the _French_ Fleet, oh, then, As they beat 'em last year, so they'd beat 'em again, _Which_, etc.

V.

Six thousand great Guns and seventy-eight more, As good and as great as ever did roar; It had been the same thing had they all been ash.o.r.e, _Which_, etc.

VI.

But T---- [12] now must command them no more; We try'd of what Mettle he was made of before; It's safer for him on the Land for to wh.o.r.e, _Which_, etc.

VII.

For a Bullet perhaps from the loud Cannons Breech, Which makes no distinction betwixt poor and rich, Instead of his Dog might have taken his b.i.t.c.h, _Which_, etc.

VIII.

But R---- the C---- C---- R---- is chose His fine self and his Fleet to the Sea to expose, But he'll have a care how he meets with his Foes, _Which_, etc.

IX.

He had Sea-Colonels of the Nature of Otter, Which either might serve by Land or by Water, But of what they have done we have heard no great matter, _Which_, etc.

X.

In the month of _May_ last they sail'd on the Main, And now in _September_ they come back again With the loss of some ships, but in Battle none slain, _Which_, etc.

[Footnote 12: Probably George, Viscount Torrington, First Lord of the Admiralty in 1727.]

ON SEEING MR. FOX AND MR. HASTINGS AT CHELTENHAM.

"En redit Hastingus, pocatis regibus Indi, Anglorum et posito nomine, et imperio, Ecce silet vulpes, annosaque fabula Burki, Faucibus haret, eheu, Dic, age, dic Sheridan."