Mirth and Metre consisting of Poems, Serious, Humorous, and Satirical; Songs, Sonnets, Ballads & Bagatelles. Written by C. Dibdin, Jun |
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“ROYAL REASONS FOR ROAST BEEF.” |
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 | Mirth and Metre |  |
105
“ROYAL REASONS FOR ROAST BEEF.”
Queen Bess once fed three men, for a year,
On different kinds of food,
To see which might the best appear
To do a Briton good;
The first was fed on Veal, Sir,
The second was fed upon Mutton,
The third was fed upon good Roast Beef,
And gormandiz'd like a glutton.
On different kinds of food,
To see which might the best appear
To do a Briton good;
The first was fed on Veal, Sir,
The second was fed upon Mutton,
The third was fed upon good Roast Beef,
And gormandiz'd like a glutton.
When brought to answer the Queen's appeal,
On what they'd been licensed to guttle,
The first reply'd, “Mem, I've dined upon veal,” (affectedly)
T'other, “Muttle, Sir! Muttle, Sir! Muttle!” (pertly)
Cries the queen, “these for soldiers of Briton won't do;
But I swear by my Majesty's word,
Your Veal eaters will make good Men Milliners,
And your Mutton men, Taylors, good lord!
On what they'd been licensed to guttle,
The first reply'd, “Mem, I've dined upon veal,” (affectedly)
T'other, “Muttle, Sir! Muttle, Sir! Muttle!” (pertly)
Cries the queen, “these for soldiers of Briton won't do;
But I swear by my Majesty's word,
Your Veal eaters will make good Men Milliners,
And your Mutton men, Taylors, good lord!
The third he came to be questioned in kind,
And, as loud as he could bawl,
When ask'd by the usher on what he had din'd,
Cried, “Beef, and be d---n'd to you all.”
Queen Bess she gave him her fist with a smile,
And swore it was her belief,
The Devil himself couldn't conquer this isle,
While Britons were fed upon Beef.
And, as loud as he could bawl,
When ask'd by the usher on what he had din'd,
Cried, “Beef, and be d---n'd to you all.”
Queen Bess she gave him her fist with a smile,
And swore it was her belief,
The Devil himself couldn't conquer this isle,
While Britons were fed upon Beef.
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