The poetical works of John Nicholson ... Carefully edited from the original editions, with additional notes and a sketch of his life and writings. By W. G. Hird |
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 | The poetical works of John Nicholson |  |
Ignotus was a man who work could get,
Had he not more than working loved his net;
On the brown fallow he the grain could throw,
Could use a flail, a sickle, scythe, or hoe;
To rustic youths he had no cause to yield,
A better workman seldom took the field;
Had not his failing been the death of hares,
Keeping a dog, and making nets and snares.
An old experienced poacher, nearly done,
Who scarce could walk, yet gloried in the fun,
Learnt him to call, and how to temper wire,
With rushes, straw, or shavings set on fire;
Told him what money on a night he made,
When he was young, and fewer of the trade;
An evening long he lengthened out his tale,
Spoke of his feasts on spirits, beef, and ale,
Then praised the persons who had bought his hares,—
Forgot his wants, his mis'ries, and his cares!
Though old, infirm, and racked with many a pain,
He almost wished to pass such nights again!
Had he not more than working loved his net;
On the brown fallow he the grain could throw,
Could use a flail, a sickle, scythe, or hoe;
To rustic youths he had no cause to yield,
A better workman seldom took the field;
Had not his failing been the death of hares,
Keeping a dog, and making nets and snares.
An old experienced poacher, nearly done,
Who scarce could walk, yet gloried in the fun,
Learnt him to call, and how to temper wire,
With rushes, straw, or shavings set on fire;
Told him what money on a night he made,
When he was young, and fewer of the trade;
An evening long he lengthened out his tale,
Spoke of his feasts on spirits, beef, and ale,
Then praised the persons who had bought his hares,—
Forgot his wants, his mis'ries, and his cares!
Though old, infirm, and racked with many a pain,
He almost wished to pass such nights again!
| The poetical works of John Nicholson | |