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 |  |
And now old Margaret sigh'd again As if she suffer'd real pain;
When Syntax thus the dame address'd—
“What anxious thought disturbs your breast,
And wherefore do you lift your eye As if commercing with the sky?”
Now Madge it seems had caught the sense
Of all the Doctor's eloquence,
And, with kind feelings for her guide,
She thus, in measur'd speech, replied—
“It is not for myself I sue To Heaven's mercy, 'tis for you.
I could well scold you if I dare,
And your whims almost make me swear;
You may keep talking on for ever 'Twill never do you good, no never.
What is your fending and your proving,
'Tis nonsense all—I say, keep moving.
Do you not hear what pleasures reign
Among the crowd on yonder plain?
Quit, my sad Sir, that odious chair,
With your grave melancholy air, And join the pastimes of the fair.
See 'midst the bustle what is done,
Look on the sports and view the fun:
Who knows but a good donkey race May plant a smile upon your face.
Of this I'm sure, that when you see The scene of harmless revelry,
And from the happy people hear The untaught joke, the merry jeer,
Their honest pleasures will impart Smiles to your sympathising heart.
You know the joy your flock will share
To view their much-lov'd pastor there;—
And when you see how they receive it,
You'll feel it two-fold, you who give it.
Do as I say—you'll find it right, 'Twill prove a most enliv'ning sight,
And save you from a restless night.
Keep moving—quit your studious labours,
Set off and visit all your neighbours.
A change of scene, a change of place,
Will from your mind these whimsies chase,
And soon I with delight shall see My master from his meagrims free.”
Syntax.—
“Thank you for that, my vet'ran lady,
I'll go and try to get a gay day;
'Twas rare, sound common-sense, that brought
Such good advice into your thought.
To-morrow, I'll clap spurs to horse,
And, in good earnest, take my course
To Billy Bumpkin, who will greet me
With his loud laughs, and kindly treat me:
Yes, with his broad-face mirth he'll try The power of hospitality.”
When Syntax thus the dame address'd—
“What anxious thought disturbs your breast,
And wherefore do you lift your eye As if commercing with the sky?”
Now Madge it seems had caught the sense
Of all the Doctor's eloquence,
And, with kind feelings for her guide,
She thus, in measur'd speech, replied—
“It is not for myself I sue To Heaven's mercy, 'tis for you.
I could well scold you if I dare,
And your whims almost make me swear;
You may keep talking on for ever 'Twill never do you good, no never.
What is your fending and your proving,
'Tis nonsense all—I say, keep moving.
Do you not hear what pleasures reign
Among the crowd on yonder plain?
Quit, my sad Sir, that odious chair,
With your grave melancholy air, And join the pastimes of the fair.
See 'midst the bustle what is done,
Look on the sports and view the fun:
Who knows but a good donkey race May plant a smile upon your face.
Of this I'm sure, that when you see The scene of harmless revelry,
And from the happy people hear The untaught joke, the merry jeer,
Their honest pleasures will impart Smiles to your sympathising heart.
You know the joy your flock will share
To view their much-lov'd pastor there;—
And when you see how they receive it,
You'll feel it two-fold, you who give it.
Do as I say—you'll find it right, 'Twill prove a most enliv'ning sight,
And save you from a restless night.
Keep moving—quit your studious labours,
Set off and visit all your neighbours.
A change of scene, a change of place,
Will from your mind these whimsies chase,
And soon I with delight shall see My master from his meagrims free.”
Syntax.—
“Thank you for that, my vet'ran lady,
I'll go and try to get a gay day;
'Twas rare, sound common-sense, that brought
Such good advice into your thought.
To-morrow, I'll clap spurs to horse,
And, in good earnest, take my course
To Billy Bumpkin, who will greet me
With his loud laughs, and kindly treat me:
Yes, with his broad-face mirth he'll try The power of hospitality.”
| The three tours of Doctor Syntax | |