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 Doctor here made no reply, But a warm tear in either eye,
And quietly pursued his way In thoughtful mood from day to day,
'Till he attain'd his journey's end And shook the hand of Dicky Bend.
It was not long ere they were seated, And had each other kindly greeted;
Talk'd o'er the college news, and told
Who lately died and who grew old,
Or look'd for tardy time to pay The hopes of the impatient day;
What the preferment in their giving,
And who had got the last good living.
They then both div'd in classic lore, And did the various toil explore
Of learning and of learned elves: At length they talk'd about themselves.
When, looking downwards, Dicky Bend
Call'd on the Doctor to attend.
D--- Bend.—
“My invitation gave a hint
As if that something more was in't,
Than a mere gen'ral kind request To come and eat and drink the best
Which my known hospitable board Does to a valued friend afford.
In short 'tis some time since I found How dull the solitary round
Of a continued single life; I therefore look'd out for a wife;
And soon the widow of a friend Did by her qualities commend
A fitness for the married state, And suited just to such a mate,
As I, at length, am like to prove, Now past the warmer age of love.
Indeed I'm told the gen'ral voice Of all my friends approves my choice.
We are not strangers to each other:
I knew her husband and her mother:
Known a good wife to Johnny Free, Why then, I ask you, may not she
Be just as good a wife to me?
Beauty indeed she does not boast; She never was the college toast:
But manners sweet, with winning smile,
That do the feeling heart beguile,
All these she surely doth possess, And more than I can well express;
Nay somewhat of a sleepy eye— But you will see her bye and bye.”
Syntax.—
“Let now I pray the subject cease,
It wakes those thoughts which wound my peace:
No more of wives before we dine, You know that I'm depriv'd of mine;
So leave that topic to the wine.”
And quietly pursued his way In thoughtful mood from day to day,
'Till he attain'd his journey's end And shook the hand of Dicky Bend.
It was not long ere they were seated, And had each other kindly greeted;
Talk'd o'er the college news, and told
Who lately died and who grew old,
Or look'd for tardy time to pay The hopes of the impatient day;
235
And who had got the last good living.
They then both div'd in classic lore, And did the various toil explore
Of learning and of learned elves: At length they talk'd about themselves.
When, looking downwards, Dicky Bend
Call'd on the Doctor to attend.
D--- Bend.—
“My invitation gave a hint
As if that something more was in't,
Than a mere gen'ral kind request To come and eat and drink the best
Which my known hospitable board Does to a valued friend afford.
In short 'tis some time since I found How dull the solitary round
Of a continued single life; I therefore look'd out for a wife;
And soon the widow of a friend Did by her qualities commend
A fitness for the married state, And suited just to such a mate,
As I, at length, am like to prove, Now past the warmer age of love.
Indeed I'm told the gen'ral voice Of all my friends approves my choice.
We are not strangers to each other:
I knew her husband and her mother:
Known a good wife to Johnny Free, Why then, I ask you, may not she
Be just as good a wife to me?
Beauty indeed she does not boast; She never was the college toast:
But manners sweet, with winning smile,
That do the feeling heart beguile,
All these she surely doth possess, And more than I can well express;
Nay somewhat of a sleepy eye— But you will see her bye and bye.”
Syntax.—
“Let now I pray the subject cease,
It wakes those thoughts which wound my peace:
No more of wives before we dine, You know that I'm depriv'd of mine;
So leave that topic to the wine.”
| The three tours of Doctor Syntax | |