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 |  |
With Syntax and his Idol mio
Who would not wish to form a trio!
When, sometimes grave, and sometimes gay,
The lengthen'd evening pass'd away.
—The Doctor was forewarn'd by pride
Ma'am Briskit's impudence to hide,
And, therefore, he made nothing known
Of folly he had blush'd to own;
But with a tear and half a smile That did his feelings reconcile,
He told the foundling's curious lot, And what a present he had got.
By some it would be thought distressing,
But he—that it would prove a blessing—
A blessing where a power was given
T'obey the first command of Heaven,
And like th'Egyptian princess, save An outcast infant from the grave.
“Yes, yes,” he said, “it shall receive
Each fond attention I can give,
And 'till a parent comes to claim The rights of a parental name,
I will my sense of duty prove, Nor shall it want a parent's love:
And if, my dear and charming friend,
You to its state would condescend,
If your blest charity would share, Or watch, at least, the nurse's care,
'Till it grows into strength to bear
A journey to my tranquil home,
Where you, I trust, will one day come,
I will before Heaven's altar plead, To bless you for the virtuous deed!”
“Fear not,” she said, with moisten'd eye,
“My friendship or my charity;
And, when the spring's returning hours,
Shall clothe with green your peaceful bowers,
The babe in all its cherish'd charms Shall fill its foster-father's arms.”
—The time now came when they must part
With mutual wishes of the heart.
The fair-one, with a modest grace, Receiv'd the Doctor's kind embrace,
With promise to embrace again, Ere he set off for Sommerden.
When, sometimes grave, and sometimes gay,
The lengthen'd evening pass'd away.
—The Doctor was forewarn'd by pride
Ma'am Briskit's impudence to hide,
And, therefore, he made nothing known
Of folly he had blush'd to own;
But with a tear and half a smile That did his feelings reconcile,
He told the foundling's curious lot, And what a present he had got.
355
But he—that it would prove a blessing—
A blessing where a power was given
T'obey the first command of Heaven,
And like th'Egyptian princess, save An outcast infant from the grave.
“Yes, yes,” he said, “it shall receive
Each fond attention I can give,
And 'till a parent comes to claim The rights of a parental name,
I will my sense of duty prove, Nor shall it want a parent's love:
And if, my dear and charming friend,
You to its state would condescend,
If your blest charity would share, Or watch, at least, the nurse's care,
'Till it grows into strength to bear
A journey to my tranquil home,
Where you, I trust, will one day come,
I will before Heaven's altar plead, To bless you for the virtuous deed!”
“Fear not,” she said, with moisten'd eye,
“My friendship or my charity;
And, when the spring's returning hours,
Shall clothe with green your peaceful bowers,
The babe in all its cherish'd charms Shall fill its foster-father's arms.”
—The time now came when they must part
With mutual wishes of the heart.
The fair-one, with a modest grace, Receiv'd the Doctor's kind embrace,
With promise to embrace again, Ere he set off for Sommerden.
| The three tours of Doctor Syntax | |