The three tours of Doctor Syntax In search of 1. The picturesque, 2. Of consolation, 3. Of a wife. The text complete. [By William Combe] With four illustrations |
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 | The three tours of Doctor Syntax |  |
The dame exclaim'd, “My Grecian boy,
I know not how to tell my joy.
This is the height of my desire:— 'Squire Worthy is a worthy 'Squire.”
“Ha, ha,” said Syntax, “O, the fun!
Why, Dolly, you have made a pun.
But still a pun I do detest, 'Tis such a paltry, humbug jest;
They who've least wit can make them best.
But you may frisk and pun away; I'm sure I cannot teach to-day,
So tell the boys to go and play.
Thank Heaven, that toil and trouble past,
My holidays are come at last!”
At length, the busy school resign'd,
They both rejoic'd to leave behind
A place which little had to give, Than the hard struggle how to live.
For the long journey to prepare, Syntax had bought a one-horse chair,
With harness for the grizzle-mare.
Ralph would not from his master part,
But trudg'd beside the trav'ling cart
That bore the Doctor's books and chattles,
With Madam's clothes and fiddle-faddles:
The cook upon the baggage rode, And added to the weighty load;
For she, kind maid, was fully bent To go wherever Ralpho went.
The Doctor walk'd about to tell
The day when he should say—farewell:
And they who had disdain'd before To pass the threshold of his door,
When Syntax gave his farewell treat,
Sought that same door to drink and eat.
The neighbours now, who never yet
Knew his great worth, his loss regret;
While Madam, on whom no good word
Had been, throughout the town, preferr'd,
Was now a most delightful creature,
Of temper mild,—of winning feature.
The Ringers, who for many a year, Refus'd his natal day to cheer,
Now made the bells, in woeful zeal,
Chime forth the dumb, lamenting peal.
—The time soon came, when, quite light-hearted,
The Doctor and his spouse departed:
And as they journey'd on their way, They did not fail to pass a day
At Oxford, with his early friend, The kind and learned Dicky Bend.
Nor did he think it a delay, The Christian Vicar to repay,
And 'neath his roof a night to stay;
To add, for former kindness shown, His Dolly's greeting to his own.
At York they also form'd the party,
For a whole week, of 'Squire Hearty.
A few days more, and, lo! the Lake
Did, on th'enraptur'd vision break:
When, rising 'mid the tufted trees, Syntax his sacred structure sees,
Whose tow'r appear'd in ancient pride,
With the warm Vic'rage by its side.
“At length, dear wife,” he said, “we're come
To our appointed, tranquil home.”
The courteous people lined the way,
And their rude, untaught homage pay:
The foremost of the assembled crowd,
The fat Exciseman, humbly bow'd:
“Welcome,” he said, “to Sommerden.”
The Clerk stood by, and cried “Amen!”
Grizzle dash'd boldly through the gate,
Where the kind 'Squire and ladies wait,
With kind embrace, with heart and hand,
To cheer them into Cumberland.
The bells rang loud, the boys huzza'd; The bonfire was in order laid;
The villagers their zeal display, And ale and crackers close the day.
I know not how to tell my joy.
This is the height of my desire:— 'Squire Worthy is a worthy 'Squire.”
“Ha, ha,” said Syntax, “O, the fun!
Why, Dolly, you have made a pun.
But still a pun I do detest, 'Tis such a paltry, humbug jest;
They who've least wit can make them best.
But you may frisk and pun away; I'm sure I cannot teach to-day,
So tell the boys to go and play.
Thank Heaven, that toil and trouble past,
My holidays are come at last!”
At length, the busy school resign'd,
They both rejoic'd to leave behind
A place which little had to give, Than the hard struggle how to live.
For the long journey to prepare, Syntax had bought a one-horse chair,
With harness for the grizzle-mare.
Ralph would not from his master part,
But trudg'd beside the trav'ling cart
That bore the Doctor's books and chattles,
With Madam's clothes and fiddle-faddles:
The cook upon the baggage rode, And added to the weighty load;
For she, kind maid, was fully bent To go wherever Ralpho went.
121
The day when he should say—farewell:
And they who had disdain'd before To pass the threshold of his door,
When Syntax gave his farewell treat,
Sought that same door to drink and eat.
The neighbours now, who never yet
Knew his great worth, his loss regret;
While Madam, on whom no good word
Had been, throughout the town, preferr'd,
Was now a most delightful creature,
Of temper mild,—of winning feature.
The Ringers, who for many a year, Refus'd his natal day to cheer,
Now made the bells, in woeful zeal,
Chime forth the dumb, lamenting peal.
—The time soon came, when, quite light-hearted,
The Doctor and his spouse departed:
And as they journey'd on their way, They did not fail to pass a day
At Oxford, with his early friend, The kind and learned Dicky Bend.
Nor did he think it a delay, The Christian Vicar to repay,
And 'neath his roof a night to stay;
To add, for former kindness shown, His Dolly's greeting to his own.
At York they also form'd the party,
For a whole week, of 'Squire Hearty.
A few days more, and, lo! the Lake
Did, on th'enraptur'd vision break:
When, rising 'mid the tufted trees, Syntax his sacred structure sees,
Whose tow'r appear'd in ancient pride,
With the warm Vic'rage by its side.
“At length, dear wife,” he said, “we're come
To our appointed, tranquil home.”
The courteous people lined the way,
And their rude, untaught homage pay:
The foremost of the assembled crowd,
The fat Exciseman, humbly bow'd:
“Welcome,” he said, “to Sommerden.”
The Clerk stood by, and cried “Amen!”
Grizzle dash'd boldly through the gate,
Where the kind 'Squire and ladies wait,
With kind embrace, with heart and hand,
To cheer them into Cumberland.
The bells rang loud, the boys huzza'd; The bonfire was in order laid;
The villagers their zeal display, And ale and crackers close the day.
Syntax, whom all desired to please, Enjoy'd his hours of learned ease;
Nor did he fail to preach and pray, To brighter worlds to point the way;
While his dear spouse was never seen
To shew ill-nature or the spleen;
And faithful Grizzle now no more Or drew a chaise, or rider bore.
Nor did he fail to preach and pray, To brighter worlds to point the way;
While his dear spouse was never seen
To shew ill-nature or the spleen;
And faithful Grizzle now no more Or drew a chaise, or rider bore.
Thus the good Parson, Horse, and Wife Led a most comfortable life.
| The three tours of Doctor Syntax | |