University of Virginia Library

WISHES TO A GODSON.

This Day Twelvemonth, Smiling Boy,
People wish'd your Parents Joy,
With your prety Self, whose Birth
Is th'Occasion of our Mirth.
May we meet on't and be merry,
Drink as much as Guts can carry
Every Year, that thus it may
Still in Pleasure slide away;
May you live to be a Man,
Handsome, Sturdy, Tall, and then,
May you've Linnen fine and Plenty,
Shirts a Dozen, if not Twenty;
And a Laundress kept in Pay,
T'have a clean one every Day;
May your Hose, whate'er you feel
At the Toes, stand buff at Heel;
May your Shoes be neat and easie,
And your Cloaths ne'er tore nor greasie;
May you ne'er as other Wretches,
Wear your Hat to hide your Breeches;
May your Whigs ne'er look like Gold,
Or, to stop a gap, be Sold;
And your self compell'd to wear,
For good husbandry your Hair;
May no Tradesman ever fun ye,
Shoemaker, or Taylor dun ye;
May your Chapmens Wives be kind,
Barbers dumb, and Cuckolds blind;
Footmen clever, Porters Witty,
May you've Credit in the City;
And a hundred Pounds to spare,
May y' at Noon in Hacknies dare,
By the Counter Gates to pass,
Without drawing up the Glass.
Of the handsome Female fry
May you've still variety;
Without feeing of a Bawd,
Some at Home, and some Abroad;
May your Whores be prudent, true,
And Coquets to all but you,
Cleanly, Buxom, Gen'rous taking
And be sure of your own making;
May you never stick to one,
Or, by fondness be undone;
But have Forty at a call,
And be fit to serve them all.
May the silly Creatures love ye,
Never strive to rule above ye;
But if one imperious grows,
Without Arguments, or blows,
May you've always grace enough,
Unconcern'd to turn her off;
Heaven send you pleasant Blades,
Men of Sense and merry Jades
To converse, to drink, and stay with,
And Rich, easie, Fools to play with;
May you've lofty lightsome Rooms,
Free from Smoak, and tight as Drums;
Old Tobacco just in cue,
And your Pipes be Male and new;
May you never drink on tick,
Guzzle Belch to make you sick;
Trust to Punch made out of sight,
Tho' a Priest should swear it's right;
May you ne'er be fill'd with Wine,
But what's sound, unbrew'd and Fine,
And the Dog that draws you bad,
Lose his Nose, and beg his Bread;
May your Cooks ne'er spoil your Meat,
Be good humour'd quick and neat.
May no Drawers stun your Ear,
With their Coming, Coming, Sir;
But be handy, brisk and clean,
Of an unaffected Mien,
Seldom heard but often seen,
Not Conceited, pert or dull,
Mind your P---ss pot, when 'tis full;
Leave you Snuffers, shut the Door,
And be used to call a Whore.
May the well wash'd Flint abound,
And you ne'er in Clubs be found,
Where one greasie Glass goes round;
May y' in Taverns ne'er be thought,
One that's pleas'd with finding fault;
But commanding without Noise,
Kind to Men, and grave to Boys;
May your Count'nance ne'er be sad,
When they tell you what you've had;
But at parting with your Chink,
Always smile, whate'er you Think;
Even where the Bill's too high,
May you never brawlingly,
Fret, or Scold, about the pay,
But discharge, and keep away;
Knowing that who Scores too fast,
Will be broke, or damn'd at last;
May you never when y'are Drunk
Stumble on a rotten Punk;
Give offence to Fighting Blockheads,
Or meet Jades, that pick your Pockets;
But go without more ado,
Quietly to Bed, and Sp---e.
May your Teeth be all your own,
May you've never Gout, or Stone,
Claps or Pains that reach the Bone;
And whate'er your Body lacks,
May you never trust to Quacks;
May you ne'er be counted Loud,
Lying, Positive, or Proud:
Not too Witty, nor too Shallow,
But what's call'd an honest Fellow;
One that to the Chapters end,
Loves his Bottle and his Friend;
These and Thousand Blessings more,
Than I have leisure to run o're,
Light upon my little Godson,
Th---d---re the Son of H---d---son.