Ayres and dialogues :: :: University of Virginia Library

As Plutarch doth write, (a man of known credit)
A Serpent there was had a mutinous Tail,
Rebell'd 'gainst the Head, that so oft had fed it,
And would not permit it to lead or prevail:
I'st not fit that by turns we Leaders should be?
Quoth the Tail, Follow me, as I've follow'd thee.

II

Now the Body being grown too strong for the Head,
Quoth the Head, Since it must be, then let it be so;
'Tis for quietness sake I yield to be lead,
Though I fear that from hence some danger will grow:
A thing so unnatural never was read,
As the Head to turn Tail, and the Tail to turn Head.

III

The Tail takes precedence as blindly leads on,
As deaf to the Reason the Head had it given;
It blusters along, and ne'r thinks upon
The straights thorough which, th'poor Head had been driven:
At last by an accident a Scean of woe,
The Head was destroy'd and the Tail perish'd too.

IV

A Monster like this, but of stranger conditions,
Ingender'd there was in the year Thirty nine;
Rebell'd 'gainst the Head, but with fawning Petitions,
To have it its right and its power to resigne:
This Monster, the truth on't to speak, was begot
'Twixt a Mungrel Parson, and that Witch the Scot.

V

So large and so mighty this Tail grew in length,
That where so e'r it came, it swept all before it;
There was no resisting so powerful a strength,
The Head at the last was forc'd to implore it:
All our Castles and Towns this Tail did subdue,
A sad tale to tell, but believe me 'tis true.

VI

Above seven years conflict this Head did indure
With that monsterous Tail, and the spawn it begot;
In which time scarce any mans life was secure,
Their Goods and their Cattle went all to the pot:
At last came a Champion with an Iron Flail,
And ended the strife 'twixt the Head and the Tail.

VII

The Head being departed, the Body began
To consult with the Tail what best was to do;
Saint George (quoth the Body) 'tis said was a man,
But what can this thing be that's called Saint O:
Why? he (quoth the Tail) was one of our rout,
And 'tis wondrous strange, he should turn Tail about!

VIII

But while they thus argu'd, in rush'd brave Saint O,
With courage more keen, then the sword that he wore;
Quoth he, You are vile things, not fit here to grow,
Such Fins in this place were ne'r known heretofore:
The blood and the fat of the Country doth feed you,
And high time it is I guess now to bleed you.

IX

Some say that this Tail wore the mark of a P;
O is a letter in rank known before it;
But it makes no matter, 'tis all one to me,
Save this, I'm sure the O had the more wit:
Their's no man so blind but may easily see,
H' has added unto his smal O, a tall P.

X

My story now ended, come, viva Saint George,
That old true blew Lad and Hospital Saint;
Bring a But of good Sack to fill up my gorge,
At this tale of Head and Tail I almost faint:
How e'r let it pass, if you study upon't
I hope you will neither make Head or Tail on't.