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 |  |
O how I wish that I could sing,
And touch the sweetly sounding string,
In soft harmonious praise to join Of her who claims a source divine,
An offspring of celestial birth And Charity yclep'd on earth;
Where they to whom its spirit's given
Enjoy the best foretaste of Heaven:—
For what in life can mortals know, So sure a balm to human woe,
As that which certain joy imparts,
Or plucks the pang from mourning hearts;
That bids the turbid passions rest
And soothes to peace the troubled breast.
—If Vengeance with its hostile brood
Of stern resolves inflames the blood,
And lifts the hand to strike the blow That meditates an added woe;
—If Malice, with insidious aim, Prepares, in secret, to defame
The virtues of a spotless name;
—If Envy, with distorted eye Does ev'ry failing magnify,
Gleams hatred on superior worth, And fain would bury deep in earth
Each plant that blooms with blossoms fair,
Which Virtue makes her darling care;—
If, 'mid this odious group appears Mild charity that knows no fears;
E'en Vengeance owns a soften'd soul,
And yields to the benign controul:
Malice, the influence kind obeys,
Checks its foul tongue and learns to praise
While Envy does her name belie, By smiles of gen'rous sympathy.
But such is not the only good That by this virtue is pursued;
In many a stream its bounties flow, To ease the weight of human woe;
While it exerts its pow'r to bless, By aiding human happiness.
It gives to pleasure higher aims, It sweetens honour's fairest claims,
And banishes each fretful strife That oft disturbs domestic life.
It gives to manners social ease, And heightens each desire to please:
To ev'ry station adds a grace, And renders cheerful ev'ry face;
As it with changeful charm appears,
Now gives the smile, now dries the tears,
Sees amid foes fair peace restored, And crowns the hospitable board.
'Tis that to Syntax which affords
A welcome not express'd by words;
But which dumb feeling can impart,
When issuing from a gen'rous heart:
For Charity ne'er stands aloof Beneath the comfortable roof
Where Hearty's wishes now attend To give each comfort to his friend;
Where he may find for weeks to come,
If he so please, that he's at home;
For there 'tis Charity we see, In form of Hospitality.
Shakes by the hand and kisses kind,
Told 'tween these friends the mutual mind;
And much warm salutation past,
Then, what had happen'd since they last
Were in that friendly room together,
The state of things and of the weather,
Employ'd them 'till the Minster chime
Announc'd the approaching supper time,
A pleasing sound to strike the ear Of any hungry traveller;
And Syntax was prepar'd to meet With due regard the coming treat.
He seem'd not chang'd in Hearty's view; He eat as he was wont to do;
Nor did he let the bev'rage pass, 'Till he had emptied many a glass.
But to the 'Squire it strange appear'd,
That Dolly's name had not been heard;
The theme of so much lively praise In other times, in former days:
But now of her he had not spoke, Nor turn'd a matrimonial joke,
Nor seem'd inclin'd a tale to swell, Nor sang forth, Vive la Bagatelle.
But though he seem'd not over-glad, His looks did not declare him sad:
Besides, the journey of the day Might check his being very gay.
Though if an appetite e'er prov'd
That a man's hours in comfort mov'd,
'Squire Hearty thought his pleasant friend
Enjoy'd our being's aim and end;
(By which the poet's lines express The character of Happiness )
And that, when he had ceas'd to sup,
The sage would clear the matter up.
And touch the sweetly sounding string,
In soft harmonious praise to join Of her who claims a source divine,
An offspring of celestial birth And Charity yclep'd on earth;
Where they to whom its spirit's given
Enjoy the best foretaste of Heaven:—
For what in life can mortals know, So sure a balm to human woe,
As that which certain joy imparts,
Or plucks the pang from mourning hearts;
That bids the turbid passions rest
And soothes to peace the troubled breast.
—If Vengeance with its hostile brood
Of stern resolves inflames the blood,
And lifts the hand to strike the blow That meditates an added woe;
—If Malice, with insidious aim, Prepares, in secret, to defame
The virtues of a spotless name;
—If Envy, with distorted eye Does ev'ry failing magnify,
Gleams hatred on superior worth, And fain would bury deep in earth
Each plant that blooms with blossoms fair,
Which Virtue makes her darling care;—
If, 'mid this odious group appears Mild charity that knows no fears;
E'en Vengeance owns a soften'd soul,
And yields to the benign controul:
Malice, the influence kind obeys,
Checks its foul tongue and learns to praise
While Envy does her name belie, By smiles of gen'rous sympathy.
But such is not the only good That by this virtue is pursued;
In many a stream its bounties flow, To ease the weight of human woe;
177
It gives to pleasure higher aims, It sweetens honour's fairest claims,
And banishes each fretful strife That oft disturbs domestic life.
It gives to manners social ease, And heightens each desire to please:
To ev'ry station adds a grace, And renders cheerful ev'ry face;
As it with changeful charm appears,
Now gives the smile, now dries the tears,
Sees amid foes fair peace restored, And crowns the hospitable board.
'Tis that to Syntax which affords
A welcome not express'd by words;
But which dumb feeling can impart,
When issuing from a gen'rous heart:
For Charity ne'er stands aloof Beneath the comfortable roof
Where Hearty's wishes now attend To give each comfort to his friend;
Where he may find for weeks to come,
If he so please, that he's at home;
For there 'tis Charity we see, In form of Hospitality.
Shakes by the hand and kisses kind,
Told 'tween these friends the mutual mind;
And much warm salutation past,
Then, what had happen'd since they last
Were in that friendly room together,
The state of things and of the weather,
Employ'd them 'till the Minster chime
Announc'd the approaching supper time,
A pleasing sound to strike the ear Of any hungry traveller;
And Syntax was prepar'd to meet With due regard the coming treat.
He seem'd not chang'd in Hearty's view; He eat as he was wont to do;
Nor did he let the bev'rage pass, 'Till he had emptied many a glass.
But to the 'Squire it strange appear'd,
That Dolly's name had not been heard;
The theme of so much lively praise In other times, in former days:
But now of her he had not spoke, Nor turn'd a matrimonial joke,
Nor seem'd inclin'd a tale to swell, Nor sang forth, Vive la Bagatelle.
But though he seem'd not over-glad, His looks did not declare him sad:
Besides, the journey of the day Might check his being very gay.
Though if an appetite e'er prov'd
That a man's hours in comfort mov'd,
'Squire Hearty thought his pleasant friend
Enjoy'd our being's aim and end;
(By which the poet's lines express The character of Happiness )
And that, when he had ceas'd to sup,
The sage would clear the matter up.
| The three tours of Doctor Syntax | |