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 |  |
If e'er a pair of fine blue eyes Were seen expressive of surprise,
If e'er surprise, chang'd to alarm,
Display'd a face, now pale, now warm,
As these two feelings might impart Their various impulse to the heart;
'Twas when his Hostess did explore The Doctor as he op'd the door;
And, with unusual length of chin, He faintly bow'd and enter'd in.
But ere the Lady found her tongue,
For she saw something had been wrong,
He, in a rather humbler tone, Thus made his serious frolic known:
“To the fair widow I have been, Of course the blessed dame I've seen.
—You must perceive I'm in a ruffle,
For to speak truth, we've had a scuffle:
Nay, I have somewhat more to say, I've been ill-treated in the fray!”
He then told all he did endure, Declar'd his wounds and ask'd a cure.
—Madam now cast a curious eye, To see if she must laugh or cry,
And as a smile from Hearty broke, She turn'd the scuffle to a joke.
“No harm, I trust,” she said, “is done,
'Twas but a piece of Cupid's fun:
That Urchin is a very pickle, And sometimes does his fancy tickle
'Mong lovers thus to make a pother,
T'amuse himself and please his mother;
But these vagaries when they're o'er
Are laugh'd at and disturb no more.”
Hearty seiz'd Syntax by the hand,
And said, “I here the culprit stand;
Nay, I must now your pardon beg, For bruised shin or wounded leg.
'Twas by my awkwardness I own
The clumsy screen was tumbled down;
And for the ill that did attend, You have a right to blame your friend:
But my dear wife, a Doctor she, In all domestic pharmacy,
Will try her utmost skill and care, Your awkward inj'ries to repair;
And by to-morrow you shall lose All feeling of the widow's shoes.
But she, good Sir, must be forgiven, For Charity's the child of Heaven.
If we would calmly pass along, Nor tempt the jostling of the throng,
As in this crowded world we live, We must forget and must forgive.
You will by active duty teach The doctrines you to others preach:
Nor fail to hold up to their view The lesson and th'example too.
To-morrow she shall make amends,
When you shall kiss her and be friends.”
If e'er surprise, chang'd to alarm,
Display'd a face, now pale, now warm,
As these two feelings might impart Their various impulse to the heart;
'Twas when his Hostess did explore The Doctor as he op'd the door;
And, with unusual length of chin, He faintly bow'd and enter'd in.
But ere the Lady found her tongue,
For she saw something had been wrong,
He, in a rather humbler tone, Thus made his serious frolic known:
“To the fair widow I have been, Of course the blessed dame I've seen.
—You must perceive I'm in a ruffle,
For to speak truth, we've had a scuffle:
Nay, I have somewhat more to say, I've been ill-treated in the fray!”
He then told all he did endure, Declar'd his wounds and ask'd a cure.
—Madam now cast a curious eye, To see if she must laugh or cry,
And as a smile from Hearty broke, She turn'd the scuffle to a joke.
“No harm, I trust,” she said, “is done,
'Twas but a piece of Cupid's fun:
That Urchin is a very pickle, And sometimes does his fancy tickle
'Mong lovers thus to make a pother,
T'amuse himself and please his mother;
But these vagaries when they're o'er
Are laugh'd at and disturb no more.”
Hearty seiz'd Syntax by the hand,
And said, “I here the culprit stand;
Nay, I must now your pardon beg, For bruised shin or wounded leg.
'Twas by my awkwardness I own
The clumsy screen was tumbled down;
And for the ill that did attend, You have a right to blame your friend:
But my dear wife, a Doctor she, In all domestic pharmacy,
Will try her utmost skill and care, Your awkward inj'ries to repair;
And by to-morrow you shall lose All feeling of the widow's shoes.
But she, good Sir, must be forgiven, For Charity's the child of Heaven.
If we would calmly pass along, Nor tempt the jostling of the throng,
As in this crowded world we live, We must forget and must forgive.
You will by active duty teach The doctrines you to others preach:
Nor fail to hold up to their view The lesson and th'example too.
To-morrow she shall make amends,
When you shall kiss her and be friends.”
| The three tours of Doctor Syntax | |