University of Virginia Library

Dialogue between the Ghost of Capt. Kidd, and a Kid-napper.

Kid.
From the Boat of old Charon in the Stygian Ferry,
From my Ship I am come again to my Wherry,
And from thence, my old Friend, with you to be merry:
Which no body can deny.

Nap.
Stand off, thou grand Pirate, I have nothing to do
With such plund'ring Rogues and Robbers as you,
Had I been of your Jury, I had hang'd you too:
Which, &c.

Kid.
How now Brother Napper, why in such a Fury?
It could not have been worse, had you been of my Jury:
But I left you in better Temper I assure you:
Which, &c.

Nap.
But you and the Devil still ow'd me a Shame,
And now with a Vengeance at last it came,
And has quite ruin'd my honest good Name:
Which, &c.

Kid.
But Brother, you know that was pretty well gone;
For tho the Seeds of your Honesty often were sown,
I never yet heard that any were grown:
Which, &c.

Nap.
Thou Son of a Boatswain begot in a Skuller,
Thou Dunce of a Pirate, my Head is not duller;
Tho you got your Wealth faster, my Pocket is fuller:
Which, &c.

Kid.
Be not so haughty and angry, good Brother,
If we two Kidnappers understand one another,
There will be no occasion for all this pother:
Which, &c.

Nap.
A Kinsman, but no Cater Cousin I had;
And of such you know I oft ship'd you a Lad,
But this last and the Law have almost made me mad:
Which, &c.

Kid.
I hope you took warning by my woful Condition,
For that good Advice I gave with Contrition,
To take care how you acted beyond your Commission:
Which, &c.

Nap.
A Commission they told me I had of the Peace,
But not to send People away to the Seas,
Which makes me almost to melt in my Grease:
Which, &c.

Kid.
It is time I confess, now you're taken thus napping,
To take care lest you coach it with me to Wapping,
Since you see me trapan'd, some are as good at trapping:
Which, &c.

Nap.
'Tis true, Brother Kid, that I live in the Strand,
Where Low-water Mark is the nearer at hand,
You are Pirate at Sea, as I Pirate at Land:
Which nobody can deny.