The Works of Peter Pindar [i.e. John Wolcot] ... With a Copious Index. To which is prefixed Some Account of his Life. In Four Volumes |
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The Works of Peter Pindar [i.e. John Wolcot] | ||
WILLIAM PENN, NATHAN, AND THE BAILIFF; A TALE.
AS well as I can recollect,
It is a story of fam'd William Penn,
By bailiffs oft beset, without effect,
Like numbers of our lords and gentlemen—
It is a story of fam'd William Penn,
By bailiffs oft beset, without effect,
Like numbers of our lords and gentlemen—
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William had got a private hole to spy
The folks who came with writs, or ‘How d'ye do?’
Possessing, too, a penetrating eye,
Friends from his foes the quaker quickly knew.
The folks who came with writs, or ‘How d'ye do?’
Possessing, too, a penetrating eye,
Friends from his foes the quaker quickly knew.
A bailiff in disguise one day,
Though not disguis'd to our friend Will,
Came, to Will's shoulder compliments to pay,
Conceal'd, the catchpole thought, with wondrous skill.
Though not disguis'd to our friend Will,
Came, to Will's shoulder compliments to pay,
Conceal'd, the catchpole thought, with wondrous skill.
Boldly he knock'd at William's door,
Drest like a gentleman from top to toe,
Expecting quick admittance, to be sure—
But no!
Drest like a gentleman from top to toe,
Expecting quick admittance, to be sure—
But no!
Will's servant Nathan, with a strait-hair'd head,
Unto the window gravely stalk'd, not ran—
‘Master at home?’ the bailiff sweetly said—
‘Thou canst not speak to him,’ replied the man.
Unto the window gravely stalk'd, not ran—
‘Master at home?’ the bailiff sweetly said—
‘Thou canst not speak to him,’ replied the man.
‘What,’ quoth the bailiff, ‘won't he see me then?’
‘Nay,’ snuffled Nathan, ‘let it not thus strike thee;
Know, verily, that William Penn
Hath seen thee, but he doth not like thee.’
‘Nay,’ snuffled Nathan, ‘let it not thus strike thee;
Know, verily, that William Penn
Hath seen thee, but he doth not like thee.’
The Works of Peter Pindar [i.e. John Wolcot] | ||