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 |  |
Along the varying road of Life, In calm content, in toil or strife;
At morn or noon, by night or day, As time conducts him on his way,
How oft doth man, by care oppress'd, Find in an Inn a place of rest?
Whether intent on worldly views,
He, in deep thought, his way pursues;
Whether by airy pleasure led, Or by Hope's fond delusions fed,
He bids adieu to home and strays
Through unknown paths and distant ways;
Where'er his fancy bids him roam, In ev'ry Inn he finds a home.
—Should Fortune change her fav'ring wind,
Though former friends should prove unkind,
Will not an Inn his cares beguile, Where on each face he sees a smile?
When cold winds blow and tempests lower,
And the rain pours in angry shower,
The dripping traveller looks around, To see what shelter may be found;
Then on he drives through thick and thin,
To the warm shelter of an Inn.
Whoe'er would turn their wand'ring feet,
Assur'd the kindest smiles to meet;
Whoe'er would go and not depart
But with kind wishes from the heart,
O let them quit the world's loud din,
And seek the comforts of an Inn:
And as the Doric Shenstone sung,
With plaintive music on his tongue—
“Whoe'er has travell'd Life's dull round,
Where'er his changeful tour has been,
Will sigh to think how oft he found
His warmest welcome at an Inn.”
At morn or noon, by night or day, As time conducts him on his way,
How oft doth man, by care oppress'd, Find in an Inn a place of rest?
Whether intent on worldly views,
He, in deep thought, his way pursues;
Whether by airy pleasure led, Or by Hope's fond delusions fed,
He bids adieu to home and strays
Through unknown paths and distant ways;
Where'er his fancy bids him roam, In ev'ry Inn he finds a home.
—Should Fortune change her fav'ring wind,
Though former friends should prove unkind,
Will not an Inn his cares beguile, Where on each face he sees a smile?
When cold winds blow and tempests lower,
And the rain pours in angry shower,
The dripping traveller looks around, To see what shelter may be found;
Then on he drives through thick and thin,
To the warm shelter of an Inn.
Whoe'er would turn their wand'ring feet,
Assur'd the kindest smiles to meet;
Whoe'er would go and not depart
But with kind wishes from the heart,
O let them quit the world's loud din,
And seek the comforts of an Inn:
And as the Doric Shenstone sung,
With plaintive music on his tongue—
“Whoe'er has travell'd Life's dull round,
Where'er his changeful tour has been,
Will sigh to think how oft he found
His warmest welcome at an Inn.”
| The three tours of Doctor Syntax | |