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112
A SONG of SIMILIES.
By the Reverend Dr. Bacon.
I've Thought; the fair Clarissa cries:
What is it like, Sir?—Like your Eyes.
'Tis like a Chair—'Tis like a Key—
'Tis like a Purge—'Tis like a Flea—
'Tis like a Beggar—like the Sun—
'Tis like the Dutch—'Tis like the Moon—
'Tis like a Kilderkin of Ale—
'Tis like a Doctor—like a Whale.
What is it like, Sir?—Like your Eyes.
'Tis like a Chair—'Tis like a Key—
'Tis like a Purge—'Tis like a Flea—
'Tis like a Beggar—like the Sun—
'Tis like the Dutch—'Tis like the Moon—
'Tis like a Kilderkin of Ale—
'Tis like a Doctor—like a Whale.
Why are my Eyes, Sir, like a Sword?
For that's the Thought upon my Word.—
Ah! witness ev'ry Pang I feel;
The Deaths they give their Likeness tell.
For that's the Thought upon my Word.—
Ah! witness ev'ry Pang I feel;
The Deaths they give their Likeness tell.
A Sword is like a Chair, you'll find,
Because 'tis most an end behind.
'Tis like a Key, for 'twill undo one;
'Tis like a Purge, for 'twill run through one.
'Tis like a Flea, and Reason good,
'Tis often drawing human Blood.
Why like a Beggar you shall hear,
'Tis often borne before the Mayor.
'Tis like the Sun because 'tis gilt,
Besides it travels in a Belt.
'Tis like the Dutch we plainly see,
Because that State, whenever we
A Push for our own Int'rest make,
Does instantly our Sides forsake.
The Moon—Why when all's said and done,
A Sword is very like the Moon:
For if his Majesty, (God bless him)
When County Sheriff comes t' address him,
Is pleas'd his Favours to bestow
On him before him kneeling low,
This o'er his Shoulders glitters bright,
And gives the Glory to the Knight.
'Tis like a Kilderkin, no Doubt,
For 'tis not long in drawing out.
'Tis like a Doctor, for who will
Dispute a Doctor's Pow'r to kill?
But why a Sword is like a Whale,
Is no such easy Thing to tell.
But since all Swords are Swords, d'ye see,
Why let it then a Backsword be:
Which, if well us'd, will seldom fail
To raise up somewhat like a Whale.
Because 'tis most an end behind.
'Tis like a Key, for 'twill undo one;
'Tis like a Purge, for 'twill run through one.
'Tis like a Flea, and Reason good,
'Tis often drawing human Blood.
Why like a Beggar you shall hear,
'Tis often borne before the Mayor.
113
Besides it travels in a Belt.
'Tis like the Dutch we plainly see,
Because that State, whenever we
A Push for our own Int'rest make,
Does instantly our Sides forsake.
The Moon—Why when all's said and done,
A Sword is very like the Moon:
For if his Majesty, (God bless him)
When County Sheriff comes t' address him,
Is pleas'd his Favours to bestow
On him before him kneeling low,
This o'er his Shoulders glitters bright,
And gives the Glory to the Knight.
'Tis like a Kilderkin, no Doubt,
For 'tis not long in drawing out.
'Tis like a Doctor, for who will
Dispute a Doctor's Pow'r to kill?
But why a Sword is like a Whale,
Is no such easy Thing to tell.
But since all Swords are Swords, d'ye see,
Why let it then a Backsword be:
Which, if well us'd, will seldom fail
To raise up somewhat like a Whale.
114
The SNIPE.
An HUMOUROUS BALLAD.
By the Same.
I'll tell you a story, a story that's true,
A story that's dismal, and comical too;
It is of a Friar, who some people think,
Tho' as sweet as a nut, might have dy'd of a stink.
Derry down, down, hey derry down.
A story that's dismal, and comical too;
It is of a Friar, who some people think,
Tho' as sweet as a nut, might have dy'd of a stink.
Derry down, down, hey derry down.
This Friar would often go out with his gun,
And tho' no great marksman, he thought himself one;
For tho' he for ever was wont to miss aim,
Still something but never himself was to blame.
Derry down, &c.
And tho' no great marksman, he thought himself one;
For tho' he for ever was wont to miss aim,
Still something but never himself was to blame.
Derry down, &c.
It happen'd young Peter, a friend of the Friar's,
With legs arm'd with leather, for fear of the briars,
Went out with him once, tho' it signifies not
Where he hired his gun, or who tick'd for the shot.
Derry down, &c.
With legs arm'd with leather, for fear of the briars,
Went out with him once, tho' it signifies not
Where he hired his gun, or who tick'd for the shot.
Derry down, &c.
Away these two trudg'd it, o'er hills and o'er dales,
They popt at the partridges, frighten'd the quails;
But, to tell you the truth, no great mischief was done,
Save spoiling the proverb, as sure as a gun.
Derry down, &c.
They popt at the partridges, frighten'd the quails;
But, to tell you the truth, no great mischief was done,
Save spoiling the proverb, as sure as a gun.
Derry down, &c.
115
But at length a poor Snipe flew direct in the way,
In open defiance, as if he would say,
“If only the Friar and Peter are there,
“I'll fly where I list, there's no reason to fear.”
Derry down, &c.
In open defiance, as if he would say,
“If only the Friar and Peter are there,
“I'll fly where I list, there's no reason to fear.”
Derry down, &c.
Tho' little thought he that his death was so nigh,
Yet Peter by chance fetch'd him down from on high;
His shot was ramm'd down with a journal, I wist,
The first Time he charg'd so improper with Mist.
Derry down, &c.
Yet Peter by chance fetch'd him down from on high;
His shot was ramm'd down with a journal, I wist,
The first Time he charg'd so improper with Mist.
Derry down, &c.
Then on both sides the speeches began to be made,
As—I beg your acceptance—O! no sir, indeed—
I beg that you would sir,—for both wisely knew,
That one Snipe could ne'er be a supper for two.
Derry down, &c.
As—I beg your acceptance—O! no sir, indeed—
I beg that you would sir,—for both wisely knew,
That one Snipe could ne'er be a supper for two.
Derry down, &c.
What the Friar declin'd in a most civil sort,
Peter slipt in his pocket; the de'el take him for't!
But were the truth known, 'twould plainly appear,
He oft times had found a longer bill there.
Derry down, &c.
Peter slipt in his pocket; the de'el take him for't!
But were the truth known, 'twould plainly appear,
He oft times had found a longer bill there.
Derry down, &c.
Hid in his pocket the Snipe safely lay,
While a week did pass over his head, and a day,
Till the ropes for a toast too offensive were grown,
And were smelt out by ev'ry nose but his own.
Derry down, &c.
While a week did pass over his head, and a day,
Till the ropes for a toast too offensive were grown,
And were smelt out by ev'ry nose but his own.
Derry down, &c.
116
The Friar look'd wholesome it must be agreed,
So no one could say, whence the stink should proceed;
Where the stink might be laid, tho' no one could say,
'Tis certain he brought it and took it away.
Derry down, &c.
So no one could say, whence the stink should proceed;
Where the stink might be laid, tho' no one could say,
'Tis certain he brought it and took it away.
Derry down, &c.
At sight of the Friar began the perfume,
And scarce he appeared but he scented the room:
Snuff-boxes were held in the highest esteem,
And all the wry Faces were made where he came.
Derry down, &c.
And scarce he appeared but he scented the room:
Snuff-boxes were held in the highest esteem,
And all the wry Faces were made where he came.
Derry down, &c.
As the place he was in it was call'd this and that;
In his room 'twas a close-stool, or else a dead rat;
In the fields where he walk'd for some carrion 'twas guest,
'Twas a fart at the Angel and pass'd for a jest.
Derry down, &c.
In his room 'twas a close-stool, or else a dead rat;
In the fields where he walk'd for some carrion 'twas guest,
'Twas a fart at the Angel and pass'd for a jest.
Derry down, &c.
At length the suspicion fell thick on poor Tray,
Till he took to his heels and with speed ran away;
Thought the Friar poor Tray I'll remember thee soon,
If I live to grow sweet I'll give thee a bone.
Derry down, &c.
Till he took to his heels and with speed ran away;
Thought the Friar poor Tray I'll remember thee soon,
If I live to grow sweet I'll give thee a bone.
Derry down, &c.
For he knew that poor Tray was most highly abus'd,
And if any, himself, thus deserv'd to be us'd:
For 'twas certainly he, whom else could he think;
'Twas certainly he that must make all the stink.
Derry down, &c.
And if any, himself, thus deserv'd to be us'd:
For 'twas certainly he, whom else could he think;
'Twas certainly he that must make all the stink.
Derry down, &c.
117
So when he came home he sat down on his bed,
His elbow at distance supported his head;
His body long while like a pendulum went;
But all he could do did not alter the scent.
Derry down, &c.
His elbow at distance supported his head;
His body long while like a pendulum went;
But all he could do did not alter the scent.
Derry down, &c.
Thus hipp'd he got up and pull'd off his cloaths,
He peep'd in his breeches and smelt to his hose,
And the very next morning fresh cloaths he put on,
All, all but a waistcoat, for he had but one.
Derry down, &c.
He peep'd in his breeches and smelt to his hose,
And the very next morning fresh cloaths he put on,
All, all but a waistcoat, for he had but one.
Derry down, &c.
But changing his cloaths did not alter the case,
And so he stunk on for three weeks and three days;
'Till to send for a doctor he thought it most meet;
For tho' he was not, yet his life it was sweet.
Derry down, &c.
And so he stunk on for three weeks and three days;
'Till to send for a doctor he thought it most meet;
For tho' he was not, yet his life it was sweet.
Derry down, &c.
The doctor he came, felt his pulse in a trice;
Then crept at a distance to give his advice:
But sweating, nor bleeding, nor purging would do,
For instead of one stink this only made two.
Derry down, &c.
Then crept at a distance to give his advice:
But sweating, nor bleeding, nor purging would do,
For instead of one stink this only made two.
Derry down, &c.
The friar oft-times to his glass would repair,
But to death he was frighten'd when e'er he came there;
His eyes were so sunk, and he look'd so aghast,
He verily thought he was stinking his last.
Derry down, &c.
But to death he was frighten'd when e'er he came there;
His eyes were so sunk, and he look'd so aghast,
He verily thought he was stinking his last.
Derry down, &c.
118
So for credit he hastens to burn all his prose,
And into the fire his verses he throws;
When searching his pockets to make up the pile,
He found out the Snipe, that had stunk all the while.
Derry down, &c.
And into the fire his verses he throws;
When searching his pockets to make up the pile,
He found out the Snipe, that had stunk all the while.
Derry down, &c.
So he hopes you will now think him wholsome again,
Since his waistcoat discovers the cause of his pain:
To conclude, the poor Friar intreats you to note,
That you might have been sweet had you been in his coat.
Derry down, &c.
Since his waistcoat discovers the cause of his pain:
To conclude, the poor Friar intreats you to note,
That you might have been sweet had you been in his coat.
Derry down, &c.
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