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 |  |
Thus as they went, a coming storm Did the sky's azure face deform,
Whose menace bade them look around
To where a shelter might be found;
And soon a pleasing cot was seen Amid the hamlet on the green:
The honeysuckle flaunted o'er The porch that stood before the door:
Nor did the ivy fail to crawl, In spreading verdure, o'er the wall:
Away from the world's noisy din, It look'd the seat of peace within.
Thither they did in haste repair And found a smiling welcome there.
All look'd so nice, so clean and warm, Within the comfortable farm,
When she appear'd, the way to show,
Whose household care had made it so.
The Dame with smiles, the Doctor greeted,
Desired his Rev'rence would be seated,
And did, with curtsying grace, prepare The comforts of an easy chair;
Hasten'd his gaiters to untie, And hung them at the fire to dry:
Then humbly hop'd he would receive The entertainment she could give.
“There is a pye in oven baking,
There are hog's puddings of my making,
And no rich 'Squire, throughout the vale, Can give a better cup of ale.”
Nay, Syntax, e'en with well lin'd purse,
Might have gone farther and far'd worse.
“—I here,” he said, “see children four,
Pray, Goody, have you any more?”
“Not yet, Sir, but, as I'm their mother, I hope in time to give another;
Which I, it seems, begin to show, As all who use their eyes may know.”
“Well my good woman,” Syntax said,
“I see one great command obey'd;
With that you piously comply:—
I mean—Increase and Multiply.”
—Himself and the good dame to please,
He took the children on his knees;
Then danc'd the urchins to and fro, And sung as nurses often do.
Whose menace bade them look around
To where a shelter might be found;
And soon a pleasing cot was seen Amid the hamlet on the green:
The honeysuckle flaunted o'er The porch that stood before the door:
Nor did the ivy fail to crawl, In spreading verdure, o'er the wall:
Away from the world's noisy din, It look'd the seat of peace within.
Thither they did in haste repair And found a smiling welcome there.
All look'd so nice, so clean and warm, Within the comfortable farm,
When she appear'd, the way to show,
Whose household care had made it so.
The Dame with smiles, the Doctor greeted,
Desired his Rev'rence would be seated,
And did, with curtsying grace, prepare The comforts of an easy chair;
Hasten'd his gaiters to untie, And hung them at the fire to dry:
Then humbly hop'd he would receive The entertainment she could give.
“There is a pye in oven baking,
There are hog's puddings of my making,
And no rich 'Squire, throughout the vale, Can give a better cup of ale.”
Nay, Syntax, e'en with well lin'd purse,
Might have gone farther and far'd worse.
265
Pray, Goody, have you any more?”
“Not yet, Sir, but, as I'm their mother, I hope in time to give another;
Which I, it seems, begin to show, As all who use their eyes may know.”
“Well my good woman,” Syntax said,
“I see one great command obey'd;
With that you piously comply:—
I mean—Increase and Multiply.”
—Himself and the good dame to please,
He took the children on his knees;
Then danc'd the urchins to and fro, And sung as nurses often do.
| The three tours of Doctor Syntax | |