Quaint Gleanings from Ancient Poetry | Page 7

to the Tune of Lilly-bolero. [11]
XI.?The Tub-preaching Saint was so furious a Blade,?In Jack-boots both Day and Night preacht, slept, and pray'd; To call them to prayers he need no Saint's Bell,?For gingling his Spurs chim'd them all in as well.
XII.
A noble stout Scrivener that now shall be nameless,?That in Day of Battle he might be found blameless,?A War-horse of Wood from Duck Carver buys,?To learn with more safety the Horse Exercise.
XIII.
With one eye on's Honour, the other on's Gain,?He fixes a Desk on Bucephalus Main,?That so by that means he his Prancer bestriding,?Might practise at once both his Writing and Riding.
XIV.
But, oh, the sad news which their Joy now confounds,?To Ireland, their own, like the last Trumpet sounds;?Lord! Lord! how this sets them a Waiting Petitions,?And thinking of nothing but Terms and Conditions.
XV.
Oh, who will March for me? speak any that dare,?A Horse and an Hundred Pounds for him, that's fair;?Dear Courtiers, excuse me from Teagland and Slaughter,?And take which you please, Sir, my Wife or my Daughter."
XVI.?Some feign'd themselves lame, some feign'd themselves clapt, At last finding all themselves by themselves trapt,?The King most unanimously they addrest,?And told him the Truth, 'twas all but a Jest.
XVII.?"A Jest," quoth the King, and with that the King smil'd,?"Come, it ne're shall be said such a Jest shall be spoil'd; Therefore I dismiss you. in Peace all depart,?For it was more your Goodness than my Desert."
XVIII.
Thus happily freed from the dreadful Vexation?Of being Defenders of this, or that Nation,?They kist Royal Fist, and were drunk all for Joy,?And broke all their swords, and cry'd Vive le Roy.
[Footnote 11: The refrain of a celebrated political song.]
A BALLAD ON THE FLEET.
I.
A mighty great Fleet--the like was ne'er seen?Since the Reign of K. William_ and _Mary the Q.--?Design'd the Destruction of France, to have been,
Which nobody can deny, etc.
II.
The Fleet was composed of English_ and _Dutch;?For Men and for Guns there was never seen such,?Nor so little done when expected so much,
Which, etc.
III.
One hundred Ships which we Capital call,?With Frigots and Tenders, and Yatchts that were small,?Went out, and did little or nothing at all,
Which, etc.
IV.
260,500 and six Lusty Men,?Had they chanc'd to have met with the French Fleet, oh, then, As they beat 'em last year, so they'd beat 'em again,
Which, etc.
V.
Six thousand great Guns and seventy-eight more,?As good and as great as ever did roar;?It had been the same thing had they all been ashore,
Which, etc.
VI.
But T---- [12] now must command them no more;?We try'd of what Mettle he was made of before;?It's safer for him on the Land for to whore,
Which, etc.
VII.
For a Bullet perhaps from the loud Cannons Breech,?Which makes no distinction betwixt poor and rich,?Instead of his Dog might have taken his Bitch,
Which, etc.
VIII.
But R---- the C---- C---- R---- is chose?His fine self and his Fleet to the Sea to expose,?But he'll have a care how he meets with his Foes,
Which, etc.
IX.
He had Sea-Colonels of the Nature of Otter,?Which either might serve by Land or by Water,?But of what they have done we have heard no great matter,
Which, etc.
X.
In the month of May last they sail'd on the Main,?And now in September they come back again?With the loss of some ships, but in Battle none slain,
Which, etc.
[Footnote 12: Probably George, Viscount Torrington, First Lord of the Admiralty in 1727.]
ON SEEING MR. FOX AND MR. HASTINGS AT CHELTENHAM.
"En redit Hastingus, pocatis regibus Indi,?Anglorum et posito nomine, et imperio,?Ecce silet vulpes, annosaque fabula Burki,?Faucibus haret, eheu, Dic, age, dic Sheridan."
From Eastern climes, lo, Hastings! late return'd,?His struggles ended, and his fame well earn'd,?Illustrious Stateman! [13] to a distant age?Thy name shall live and grace th'historic page;?There licens'd falsehoods [14] shall no more prevail,?Nor Dodsley publish [15] Edmund's annual tale.?When France, exulting, deem'd our ruin near,?And Hyder's progress struck each Chief with fear;?When hostile nations press'd in league combin'd,?Collected, firm, and dauntless was thy mind;?Inspir'd by Hastings, Coote [16]: the seasons brav'd,?Embark'd his succours, and a kingdom sav'd.?Goddard [17] at his command our standard bore?Through lands to England's sons unknown before;?While Popham's victories rais'd our country's fame?And fix'd in realms remote the British name.?The sued-for peace [18] to Gualior's fall is due.?And Gualior's capture long was Hastings' view.?History shall tell how clos'd the scene of blood,?When to a world oppos'd Britannia stood;?No conquest Gallia claims on India's coast,?No splendid triumphs can the Belgian boast,?For millions wasted, [19] and a navy lost.?The keen Maratta and the fierce Mysore?Their league dissolve, and give the contest o'er;?And peace restor'd, e'en party owns, tho' late, [20]?That Hastings' firmness has preserv'd the State.?Succeeding ages this great truth shall know,?A truth recorded by a generous foe, [21]?That England's genius, in a luckless hour?For Gallic schemes, gave Hastings Sov'reign pow'r.
[Footnote 13: Pitt, who moved the address upon the peace in Lord Shelburne's administration, declared, in the course of his