The Poetical Works of Horace Smith Now First Collected. In Two Volumes |
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THE MILKMAID AND THE BANKER. |
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 | The Poetical Works of Horace Smith |  |
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THE MILKMAID AND THE BANKER.
A Milkmaid, with a very pretty face,
Who lived at Acton,
Had a black Cow, the ugliest in the place,
A crooked-back'd one,
A beast as dangerous, too, as she was frightful,
Vicious and spiteful;
And so confirm'd a truant, that she bounded
Over the hedges daily, and got pounded:
'Twas all in vain to tie her with a tether,
For then both Cow and cord eloped together.
Who lived at Acton,
Had a black Cow, the ugliest in the place,
A crooked-back'd one,
A beast as dangerous, too, as she was frightful,
Vicious and spiteful;
And so confirm'd a truant, that she bounded
Over the hedges daily, and got pounded:
'Twas all in vain to tie her with a tether,
For then both Cow and cord eloped together.
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Arm'd with an oaken bough—(what folly!
It should have been of thorn, or prickly holly,)
Patty one day was driving home the beast,
Which had, as usual, slipp'd its anchor,
When on the road she met a certain Banker,
Who stopp'd to give his eyes a feast,
By gazing on her features crimson'd high
By a long Cow-chase in July.
It should have been of thorn, or prickly holly,)
Patty one day was driving home the beast,
Which had, as usual, slipp'd its anchor,
When on the road she met a certain Banker,
Who stopp'd to give his eyes a feast,
By gazing on her features crimson'd high
By a long Cow-chase in July.
“Are you from Acton, pretty lass?” he cried.
“Yes”—with a curtsey she replied.—
“Why, then you know the laundress, Sally Wrench?”—
“Yes, she's my cousin, Sir, and next-door neighbour.”
“That's lucky—I've a message for the wench,
Which needs dispatch, and you may save my labour.
Give her this kiss, my dear, and say I sent it:
But mind, you owe me one—I've only lent it.”—
“Yes”—with a curtsey she replied.—
“Why, then you know the laundress, Sally Wrench?”—
“Yes, she's my cousin, Sir, and next-door neighbour.”
“That's lucky—I've a message for the wench,
Which needs dispatch, and you may save my labour.
Give her this kiss, my dear, and say I sent it:
But mind, you owe me one—I've only lent it.”—
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“She shall know,” cried the girl, as she brandish'd her bough,
“Of the loving intentions you bore me;
But since you're in haste for the kiss, you'll allow,
That you'd better run forward and give it my Cow,
For she, at the rate she is scampering now,
Will reach Acton some minutes before me.”
“Of the loving intentions you bore me;
But since you're in haste for the kiss, you'll allow,
That you'd better run forward and give it my Cow,
For she, at the rate she is scampering now,
Will reach Acton some minutes before me.”
| The Poetical Works of Horace Smith | |