The three tours of Doctor Syntax In search of 1. The picturesque, 2. Of consolation, 3. Of a wife. The text complete. [By William Combe] With four illustrations |
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 | The three tours of Doctor Syntax |  |
The Parson-Errant travell'd on, And found that ev'rything was done,
That he could wish for or desire, By his accomplish'd trusty 'Squire:
In fact, for all things that the mind
Could hope in such a scheme to find,
It may be thought, from hour to hour, A kind of ready-furnish'd Tour.
Thus no slight trouble could delay The tranquil progress of the day
And all as yet was clean and tight,
Where'er the Doctor pass'd the night:
Though we're not pledge for what may wait
His progress in the book of fate.
But Pat had a small spice of pride
Which sometimes turn'd his tongue aside,
Nor suffer'd truth to be his guide:
And, in the kitchen of an inn, He seldom thought it was a sin,
By many a bold and bloody story
To boast his own and England's glory;
And raise his Master's rank and station,
To be first Parson in the nation.
—He would exclaim, his Rev'rence there,
Nursing his pipe in easy chair,
And at this moment reading Greek, A dozen languages can speak:
And as for trav'lling, he has been Where scarce another man was seen,
Where he has rode on camels' backs,
And elephants were common hacks.
This day the Doctor was a Dean, The next he was a Bishop seen,
But from a hatred of all show, Was travelling incognito.
A landlord fat, who lov'd a joke, And did Pat's boasting chatter smoke,
Half-whisper'd,—“Faith I'm glad I know it,
And my Lord Bishop's bill shall show it.”
—When Patrick, who was shrewd and quick
And up to any kind of trick,
Said, “when my Lord, in coach and four
Shall make a stoppage at your door,
You may, with all habitual skill, Tickle up items at your will;
But as for reasons which are known To his wise head and that alone,
He chuses thus to travel on;
Take care his bill is free from show, And every charge, incognito.”
That he could wish for or desire, By his accomplish'd trusty 'Squire:
In fact, for all things that the mind
Could hope in such a scheme to find,
It may be thought, from hour to hour, A kind of ready-furnish'd Tour.
Thus no slight trouble could delay The tranquil progress of the day
And all as yet was clean and tight,
Where'er the Doctor pass'd the night:
Though we're not pledge for what may wait
His progress in the book of fate.
But Pat had a small spice of pride
Which sometimes turn'd his tongue aside,
Nor suffer'd truth to be his guide:
And, in the kitchen of an inn, He seldom thought it was a sin,
By many a bold and bloody story
To boast his own and England's glory;
And raise his Master's rank and station,
To be first Parson in the nation.
—He would exclaim, his Rev'rence there,
Nursing his pipe in easy chair,
And at this moment reading Greek, A dozen languages can speak:
And as for trav'lling, he has been Where scarce another man was seen,
Where he has rode on camels' backs,
And elephants were common hacks.
This day the Doctor was a Dean, The next he was a Bishop seen,
But from a hatred of all show, Was travelling incognito.
169
Half-whisper'd,—“Faith I'm glad I know it,
And my Lord Bishop's bill shall show it.”
—When Patrick, who was shrewd and quick
And up to any kind of trick,
Said, “when my Lord, in coach and four
Shall make a stoppage at your door,
You may, with all habitual skill, Tickle up items at your will;
But as for reasons which are known To his wise head and that alone,
He chuses thus to travel on;
Take care his bill is free from show, And every charge, incognito.”
| The three tours of Doctor Syntax | |