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 |
 |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
| XXII. |
| XXIII. |
| XXIV. |
| XXV. |
| XXVI. |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
 | The three tours of Doctor Syntax |  |
On the next morning, when the sun His daily course began to run,
The Doctor took an early flight, In hopes to see his home at night,
Up to the hill he now ascends, Then to the vale his way he bends,
Enjoys his meal at mid-day hour Beneath a cot's inviting bower
O'ershadowed by the mantling vine, And sweet with flow'rs of eglantine.
Pregnant with matrimonial dreams,
And flatt'ring fancy's thousand schemes,
He had beguil'd his sultry way, When, at the misty close of day,
He reach'd the door he call'd his own, But sigh'd to find himself alone.
Old Marg'ret hop'd that he was come
In health and better spirits home;
With kind attention did dispose Her glasses on her peaked nose,
To see what signs his features bare Of calm contentment or of care,
But the good dame saw nothing there;
No cheerful aspect there was shown, To call forth pleasure on her own.
—She told him all the village news, As in his chair he chose to muse;
While he laid out where he had been,
What he had heard, whom he had seen,
And, wheresoe'er his face appear'd,
The welcomes which his bosom cheer'd.
But now the manor-house was left,
And for some months would be bereft
Of those warm friends who never fail'd
When his free spirits were assail'd,
Since Fate, with Happiness at strife,
Had robb'd him of his darling's life,
To pour, by ev'ry friendly art, The balm of comfort in his heart.
Thus while Madge sought his night's regale,
With soothing pipe and sparkling ale,
“O it will never do!” he said, “The social power must be obey'd;
Such joy to hear a female tone, I'll marry—I'll not live alone:
I'd sooner wed the first I see,
Though old and ugly she should be, Than live in taciturnity.
Nay, ere another week is o'er, I will begin th'important tour,
Nor e'er return, if I have life, 'Till I have found another wife!”
The Doctor took an early flight, In hopes to see his home at night,
Up to the hill he now ascends, Then to the vale his way he bends,
Enjoys his meal at mid-day hour Beneath a cot's inviting bower
O'ershadowed by the mantling vine, And sweet with flow'rs of eglantine.
Pregnant with matrimonial dreams,
And flatt'ring fancy's thousand schemes,
He had beguil'd his sultry way, When, at the misty close of day,
He reach'd the door he call'd his own, But sigh'd to find himself alone.
Old Marg'ret hop'd that he was come
In health and better spirits home;
With kind attention did dispose Her glasses on her peaked nose,
To see what signs his features bare Of calm contentment or of care,
But the good dame saw nothing there;
No cheerful aspect there was shown, To call forth pleasure on her own.
—She told him all the village news, As in his chair he chose to muse;
While he laid out where he had been,
What he had heard, whom he had seen,
And, wheresoe'er his face appear'd,
The welcomes which his bosom cheer'd.
But now the manor-house was left,
And for some months would be bereft
285
When his free spirits were assail'd,
Since Fate, with Happiness at strife,
Had robb'd him of his darling's life,
To pour, by ev'ry friendly art, The balm of comfort in his heart.
Thus while Madge sought his night's regale,
With soothing pipe and sparkling ale,
“O it will never do!” he said, “The social power must be obey'd;
Such joy to hear a female tone, I'll marry—I'll not live alone:
I'd sooner wed the first I see,
Though old and ugly she should be, Than live in taciturnity.
Nay, ere another week is o'er, I will begin th'important tour,
Nor e'er return, if I have life, 'Till I have found another wife!”
| The three tours of Doctor Syntax | |