 | The Whole Works of William Browne
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[It hapned lately at a Fair, or Wake]
It hapned lately at a Fair, or Wake,
(After a pott or two or such mistake)
Two iron-soled Clownes, and bacon-sided,
Grumbled: then left the formes wch they bestrided,
And with their crabb tree cudgels, as appeares,
Threshd (as they vse) at one anothers' eares:
A neighbor nere, both to their house and drinke,
(Who though he slept at sermons) could not winke
At this dissention, with a Spiritt bold
As was the ale that arm'd them, strong & old,
Stept in & parted them; but Fortunes frowne
Was such, that there our neighbor was knockdt downe.
For they, to recompence his paines at full,
Since he had broke their quarrell, broke his Scull.
People came in, & raise[d] him from his swound;
A Chirurgeon then was calld to search the wound,
Who op'ning it, more to endeare his paynes,
Cryde out, Allas, Looke, you may see his Braynes.
Nay, quoth the Wounded man, I tell you free,
Good Mr Surgeon, that can neuer bee;
For I should nere haue medled with ye Brall,
If I had had but any Braynes at all.
| The Whole Works of William Browne
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