 | The Ingoldsby Lyrics |  |
114
The Dark-looking Man.
Hic niger est, hunc tu Romane caveto!
The man's dark-looking, him with caution see to!
The man's dark-looking, him with caution see to!
The cloth was withdrawn, the decanters at hand,
At the “Somerset,” close by St. Mary-le-Strand,
When 'tis painful to think what a discord began
'Twixt a Merchant so brave and a Dark-looking Man.
At the “Somerset,” close by St. Mary-le-Strand,
When 'tis painful to think what a discord began
'Twixt a Merchant so brave and a Dark-looking Man.
The cause of this uproar, and whence it arose,
Oh! nobody mentions, and nobody knows;
But the waiters were scared, and away they all ran,
And “Bring pistols for two!” cried the Dark-looking Man.
Oh! nobody mentions, and nobody knows;
But the waiters were scared, and away they all ran,
And “Bring pistols for two!” cried the Dark-looking Man.
Civil Tom was alarmed; his civility fled,
Every hair of his wig stood on end on his head;
John, William, the Barmaid, Jane, Susan, and Nan,
All fled from the wrath of the Dark-looking Man.
Every hair of his wig stood on end on his head;
John, William, the Barmaid, Jane, Susan, and Nan,
All fled from the wrath of the Dark-looking Man.
115
The guests rose en masse, and abandened the bowl,
And in came the beadle, the watch, and patrol;
While Morris and Blackman cried, “Seize him who can!
In the King's name, lay hands on that Dark-looking Man!”
And in came the beadle, the watch, and patrol;
While Morris and Blackman cried, “Seize him who can!
In the King's name, lay hands on that Dark-looking Man!”
E'en Hercules' self, though the strongest of gods,
Must yield (as the bard sings too truly) to odds;
Alas! 'tis in vain to contend with a clan,
So they bore off to Bow Street that Dark-looking Man.
Must yield (as the bard sings too truly) to odds;
Alas! 'tis in vain to contend with a clan,
So they bore off to Bow Street that Dark-looking Man.
“Oh, come ye in peace here, or come ye in war?”
The Justice exclaimed, as he eyed them afar;
But the Merchant declared he knew nought of the plan,
“I am quite in the dark,” cried that Dark-looking Man.
The Justice exclaimed, as he eyed them afar;
But the Merchant declared he knew nought of the plan,
“I am quite in the dark,” cried that Dark-looking Man.
The gaoler looked grim, and the clerk he looked grave,
As the Magistrate turned to that Merchant so brave:
“I care not,” quoth he, “how this quarrel began,
But I beg you'll shake hands with that Dark-looking Man.
As the Magistrate turned to that Merchant so brave:
“I care not,” quoth he, “how this quarrel began,
But I beg you'll shake hands with that Dark-looking Man.
“Fight duels! Pooh! nonsense! Come, don't be absurd,
Had I let you alone, think what might have occurred;
You might have been shot, and brought home in a van,
While Jack Ketch had finish'd that Dark-looking Man.”
Had I let you alone, think what might have occurred;
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While Jack Ketch had finish'd that Dark-looking Man.”
“Shake hands!” cried the Merchant, and look'd with disdain
O'er his camlet-cloak collar, adorn'd with gilt chain,
“Shake hands with a stranger? 'Tis never my plan.”
“I'll be hang'd if I do!” said that Dark-looking Man.
O'er his camlet-cloak collar, adorn'd with gilt chain,
“Shake hands with a stranger? 'Tis never my plan.”
“I'll be hang'd if I do!” said that Dark-looking Man.
“You won't?” cried his Worship; “then bear them to gaol,
Lock them up till they find satisfactory bail.”
Thus ended the feud with a flash in the pan
Of that Merchant so brave and that Dark-looking Man.
Lock them up till they find satisfactory bail.”
Thus ended the feud with a flash in the pan
Of that Merchant so brave and that Dark-looking Man.
MORAL.
Merchants, East and West India, now list to me, pray,
Attend to the moral I draw from my lay:
Shun strife, nor let port e'er your senses trepan,
Above all, don't fall out with a Dark-looking Man.
Attend to the moral I draw from my lay:
Shun strife, nor let port e'er your senses trepan,
Above all, don't fall out with a Dark-looking Man.
H. Peppercorn, M.D.
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