Scotch Poetry Consisting of Songs, Odes, Anthems, and Epigrams. By Alexander Rodger |
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Friendly Advice to Mr. John Bull.
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 | Scotch Poetry |  |
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Friendly Advice to Mr. John Bull.
Dear Johnny, how happens it, tell me, I pray,
That thou art so blind to the merits of those
Who faithfully serve thee by night and by day,
And scarcely allow themselves time for repose?
That thou art so blind to the merits of those
Who faithfully serve thee by night and by day,
And scarcely allow themselves time for repose?
Can pleasure or pastime engross thy whole mind
So much, that thy business thou wilt not look near it?
Nor honour those diligent servants of thine,
With stations proportioned to every one's merit?
So much, that thy business thou wilt not look near it?
Nor honour those diligent servants of thine,
With stations proportioned to every one's merit?
Dost thou think that such shameful neglect on thy part,
Will not beget sloth and remissness on theirs?
And if that ever happen, behold where thou art,
On a huge floating wreck, 'midst an ocean of cares.
Will not beget sloth and remissness on theirs?
And if that ever happen, behold where thou art,
On a huge floating wreck, 'midst an ocean of cares.
For shame, Johnny, rouse, see thy error at last,
Change thy course, if thou wish thy affairs to succeed;
Make ample atonement for negligence past,
And here is the way thou must quickly proceed.
Change thy course, if thou wish thy affairs to succeed;
Make ample atonement for negligence past,
And here is the way thou must quickly proceed.
If a pure ardent zeal for the country's chief good
Deserve elevation, and public applause,
Then elevate — to where C—s once stood,
And the welkin shall rend with the people's huzzas.
Deserve elevation, and public applause,
Then elevate — to where C—s once stood,
And the welkin shall rend with the people's huzzas.
If personal merit and conduct upright
Deserve a high post, where there's room for display,
A good sturdy post, fifty cubits in height,
Will fit to a t, Pat O'Mac-Cast-Ill-Ray.
Deserve a high post, where there's room for display,
A good sturdy post, fifty cubits in height,
Will fit to a t, Pat O'Mac-Cast-Ill-Ray.
If garters and ribbands, of true royal stamp,
Are always bestowed, honest worth to bedeck,
Five fathoms of ribband, the colour of hemp,
Will look vastly neat about Lubber-fool's neck.
Are always bestowed, honest worth to bedeck,
Five fathoms of ribband, the colour of hemp,
Will look vastly neat about Lubber-fool's neck.
If lightening of burdens, in times of distress,
Be justly entitled to hold a good birth,
Then give Van-sit-heart for one hour to possess,
That fine airy space between heaven and earth.
Be justly entitled to hold a good birth,
Then give Van-sit-heart for one hour to possess,
That fine airy space between heaven and earth.
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If purging the State and correcting abuse
Be duties thought worthy of public reward,
Then give Doctor Sadmouth, for his pious use,
A ladder, a night-cap, a beam, and a—cord.
Be duties thought worthy of public reward,
Then give Doctor Sadmouth, for his pious use,
A ladder, a night-cap, a beam, and a—cord.
If mild blushing sweetness, and pure self-denial
Be virtues that should their possessor exalt,
Then give the mild-blushing BRASS CANNON, so loyal,
A poise fifteen feet nearer heaven's blue vault.
Be virtues that should their possessor exalt,
Then give the mild-blushing BRASS CANNON, so loyal,
A poise fifteen feet nearer heaven's blue vault.
But if separate births can't be had without bother,
For each trusty servant of thine, Mr. Bull,
Why Johnny, then class the whole worthies together,
And raise them at once with a long and strong pull.
For each trusty servant of thine, Mr. Bull,
Why Johnny, then class the whole worthies together,
And raise them at once with a long and strong pull.
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