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The text is graphic, and the portraits drawn, from DOCTOR DICKY BEND downwards, may still find counterparts in society, VELLUM, it may be, excepted; as WILLIAM COMBE, the author of Syntax, seems to have known none such, if the report of his latest biographer be correct, who represents him as having been born to wealth, but as having died in poverty, although claiming to have given to the world one hundred books, contributed to a score of journals, and furnished matter for two thousand columns in the newspapers and magazines of his day 1773 to 1823. A TOUR IN SEARCH OF THE PICTURESQUE, BY THE REVEREND DOCTOR SYNTAX. CANTO I. THE school was done, the bus'ness o'er, When tirM of Greek and Latin lore, Good Syntax sought his easy chair, And sat in calm composure there. His wife was to a neighbour gone, To hear the chit-chat of the town ; And left him the unfrequent power Of brooding through a quiet hour. Thus, while he sat, a busy train Of images besieged his brain. Of Church-preferment he had none ; Nay, all his hope of that was gone : He felt that he content must be With drudging in a Curacy. Indeed, on ev'ry Sabbath-day, Through eight long miles he took his way, To preach, to grumble, and to pray ; To cheer the good, to warn the sinner, And, if he got it, eat a dinner ; To bury these, to christen those, And marry such fond folks as chose To change the tenor of their life, And risk the matrimonial strife. Thus were his weekly journeys made, 'Neath summer suns and wintry shades ; And all his gains, it did appear, Were only thirty pounds a year. Besides, th' augmenting taxes press To aid expense and add distress : Mutton and beef and bread and beer, And ev'rything was grown so dear ; The boys too, always prone to eat, Delighted less in books than meat ; So that when holy Christmas came, His earnings ceas'd to be the same, And now, alas, could do no more, Than keep the wolf without the door. E'en birch, the pedant master's boast, Was so increas'd in worth and cost, That oft, prudential! y beguiPd, To save the rod, he spar'd the child. Thus, if the times reius'd to mend, He to his school must put an end. TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTAX How hard his lot ! how blind his fate J What shall he do to mend his state ? Thus did poor Syntax ruminate. When, as vivid meteors fly, And instant light the gloomy sky, A sudden thought across him came, And told the way to wealth and fame ; And, as th' expanding vision grew Wider and wider to his view, The painted fancy did beguile His woe-worn phiz into a smile. But, while he pac'd the room around, Or stood immers'd in thought profound, The Doctor, 'midst his rumination, Was waken'd by a visitation Which troubles many a poor man's life The visitation of his wife. Good Mrs.. Syntax was a lady Ten years, perhaps, bey ond.her hey-day; But though the blooming charms had flown That grac'd her youth, it still was known The love of power she never lost, As Syntax found it to his cost : For as her words were used to flow, He but replied or yes or no. Whene'er enrag'd by some disaster, She'd shake the boys and cuff the master : Nay, to avenge the slightest wrong, She could employ both arms and tongue, And, if we list to country tales, She sometimes would enforce her nails. Her face was red, her form was fat, A round-about, and rather squat ; And when in angry humour stalking, Was like a dumpling set a-walking. 'Twas not the custom of this spouse To suffer long a quiet house : She was among those busy wives Who hurry-scurry through their lives; And make amends for fading beauty By telling husbands of their duty. 'Twas at this moment, when, inspir'd, And by his new ambition fir'd, The pious man his hands uprear'd, That Mrs. Syntax re-appear'd : Amaz'd she look'd, and loud she shriek'd, Or, rather like a pig she squeak'd, To see her humble husband dare Thus quit his sober ev'ning chair, And pace, with varying steps about, Now in the room and now without. At first she did not find her tongue, (A thing which seldom happen'd long,) But soon that organ grew unquiet, To ask the cause of all this riot The Doctor smil'd, and thus address'd The secrets of his lab'ring breast " Sit down, my love, my dearest dear, Nay, prithee do, and patient hear; Let me, for once, throughout my life, Receive this kindness from my wife ; It will oblige me so : in troth, It will, my dear, oblige us both ; For such a plan has come athwart me, Which some kind sprite from heav'n has brought me, That if you will your counsels join, To aid this golden scheme of mine, New days will come new times appear, And teeming plenty crown the year : We then on dainty bits shall dine, And change our home-brew'd ale for wine : On summer days, to take the air, We'll put our Grizzle to a chair ; AV SEARCH OF THE PICTURESQUE. ^ While you, in silks and muslins fine, The grocer's wife shall far outshine, And neighb'ring folks be forc'd to own, In this fair town you give the ton." " Oh ! tell me," cried the smiling dame, " Tell me this golden road to fame : You charm my heart, you quite delight it." " fll make a TOUR and then Pll WRITE IT. You well know what my pen can do, And I'll employ my pencil too : I'll ride and write, and sketch Z.T\& print, And thus create a real mint ; I'll prose it here, I'll -verse it there, And picturesque it ev'rywhere : I'll do what all have done before ; I think I shall and somewhat more. At Doctor Pompous give a look ; He made his fortune by a book ; And if my volume does not beat it, When I return, I'll fry and eat it Next week the boys will all go home, And I shall have a month to come. My clothes, my cash, my all prepare j While Ralph looks to the grizzle mare. Tho' wond'ring folks may laugh and scoff, By this day fortnight I'll be off ; And when old Time a month has run, Our bus'ness, Lovey, will be done. I will in search of fortune roam, While you enjoy yourself at home. The story told, the Doctor eas'd Of his grand plan, and Madam pleas'd, No pains were spar'd by night or day To set him forward on his way : She trimm'd his coat she mended all His various clothing, great and small; And better still, a purse was found With twenty notes of each a pound. Thus furnish'd, and in full condition To prosper in his expedition ; At length the ling"ring moment came That gave the dawn of wealth and fame. Incurious Ralph, exact at four, Led Grizzle, saddled, to the door; And soon, with more than common state, The Doctor stood before the gate. Behind him was his faithful wife ; " One more embrace, my dearest life !" Then his grey palfry he bestrode, And gave a nod, and off he rode. " Good luck ! good luck !" she loudly cried, " Vale / O Vale .'" he replied CANTO II. THE farewell ceremony o'er, Madam went in and bang'd the door : No woeful tear bedew'd her eye, Nor did she heave a single sigh ; But soon began her daily trade, To chide the man and scold the maid; While Syntax, with his scheme besotted, Along the village gently trotted. The folks on daily labour bent, Whistled and carolTd as they went ; But as the Doctor pass'd along, Bow'd down their heads, and ceas'd their sung. TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTAX He gravely nodded to the people ; Then looking upwards to the steeple, He thus, in mutt'ring tones express'd The disappointments of his breast. " That thankless parent, Mother Church, Has ever left me in the lurch ; And while so many fools are seen To strut a Rector or a Dean, Who live in ease, and find good cheer On ev'ry day of ev'ry year, So small her share of true discerning, She turn'd her back on all my learning. I've in my vineyard labour'd hard, And what has been my lean reward ? I've dug the ground, while some rich Vicar Press'd the ripe grape, and drank the liquor ; I've fed the flock, while others eat The mutton's nice delicious meat ; I've kept the hive, and made the honey, While the drones pocketed the money. But now, on better things intent, On far more grateful labour bent, New prospects open to my view : So, thankless Mother Church, adieu !" Thus, having said his angry say, Syntax proceeded on his way. The morning lark ascends on high, And with its music greets the sky : The blackbird whistles, and the thrush Warbles his wild notes in the bush ; While ev'ry hedge and ev'ry tree Resound with vocal minstrelsy. But Syntax, wrapt in thought profound, Is deaf to each enliv'ning sound : Revolving many a golden scheme, And yielding to the pleasing dream, The reins hung loosely from his hand ; While Grizzle, senseless of command, Unguided, pac'd the road along, Nor knew if it were right or wrong. Through the deep vale, and up the hill, By rapid stream or tinkling rill, Grizzle her thoughtful master bore, Who, counting future treasure o'er, And, on his weighty projects bent, Observ'd not whither Grizzle went. Thus did kind Fancy's soothing power Cheat him of many a fleeting hour ; Nor did he know the pacing Sun Had half his daily circuit run. Sweet, airy sprite, that can bestow A pleasing respite to our woe, That can corroding care beguile, And make the woe-worn face to smile ! But, ah ! too soon the vision passes, Confounded by a pack of asses ! The donkeys bray'd ; and lo ! the sound Awak'd him from his thought profound ; And as he star'd, and look'd around, He said or else he seem'd to say " I find that I have lost my way. Oh what a wide expanse I see, Without a wood, without a tree ; No one at hand, no house is near, To tell the way, or give good cheer ; For now a sign would be a treat, To tell us we might drink and eat ; But sure there is not in my sight The sign of any living wight ; And all around upon this common I see not either man or woman ; Nor dogs to bark, nor cocks to crow, Nor sheep to bleat, nor herds to low : Nay, if these asses did not bray, And thus some signs of life betray, I well might think that I were hurl'd Into some sad, unpeopled world. IN SEARCH OF THE PICTURESQUE. 9 How could I come, misguided wretch ! To where I cannot make a sketch ?" Thus as he ponder'd what to do, A guide post rose within his view : And, when the pleasing shape he spied, He prick'd his steed and thither hied ; But some unheeding, senseless wight, Who to fair learning ow'd a spite, Had ev'ry letter'd mark defac'd, Which once its several pointers grac'd. The mangled post thus long had stood, An uninforming piece of wood ; Like other guides, as some folks say, Who neither lead, nor tell the way. The Sun, as hot as he was bright, Had got to his meridian height : 'Twas sultry noon for not a breath Of cooling zephyr fann'd the heath ; When Syntax cried " 'Tis all in vain To find my way across the plain ; So here my fortune I will try, And wait till some one passes by : Upon that bank awhile I'll sit, And let poor Grizzle graze a bit ; But, as my time shall not be lost, I'll make a drawing of the post ; And, tho' a flimsy taste may flout it, There's something picturesqtie about it *, 'Tis rude and rough, without a gloss, And is well cover'd o'er with moss ; And I've a right (who dares deny it ?) To place yon group of asses by it. Aye ! this will do : and now I'm thinking, That self-same pond where Grizzle's drinkin< If hither brought 'twould better seem, And faith I'll turn it to a stream : I'll make this flat a shaggy ridge, And o'er the water throw a bridge : I'll do as other sketchers do Put any thing into the view ; And any object recollect, To add a grace, and give effect. Thus, though from truth I haply err, The scene preserves its character. What man of taste my right will doubt, To put things in. or leave them out ? 'Tis more than right, it is a duty, If we consider landscape beauty : He ne'er will as an artist shine, Who copies Nature line by line : Whoe'er from Nature takes a view, Must copy and improve it too. To heighten every work of art, Fancy should take an active part : Thus I (which few I think can boast) Have made a Landscape of a Post. " So far, so good but no one passes, No living creature but these asses ; And, should I sit and hear them bray, I were as great a beast as they : So I'll be off ; from yonder down I may, perhaps, descry a town ; Or some tall spire among the trees, May give my way-worn spirits ease." Grizzle again he soon bestrode, And wav'd his whip and off he rode : But all around was dingy green, No spire arose, no town was seen *O TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTAX At length he reach'd a beaten road : How great a joy the sight bestow'd ! So on he went in pleasant mood, And shortly gain'd a stately wood, Where the refreshing zephyrs play'd And cool'd the air beneath the shade. Oh ! what a change, how great the treat, To fanning breeze from sultry heat ! But ah ! how false is human joy ! When least we think it, ills annoy : For now, with fierce impetuous rush, Three ruffians issued from a bush ; One Grizzle stopp'd and seiz'd the reins, While they all threat the Doctor's brains. Poor Syntax, trembling with affright, Resists not such superior might, But yields him to their savage pleasure, And gives his purse with all its treasure. Fearing, howe'er, the Doctor's view Might be to follow and pursue ; The cunning robbers wisely counted That he, of course, should be dismounted ; And still that it would safer be, If he were fastened to a tree. Thus to a tree they quickly bound him ; The cruel cords went round and round him ; And, having of all power bereft him, They tied him fast and then they left him. CANTO III. BY the road side, within the wood, In this sad state poor Syntax stood ; His bosom heav'd with many a sigh, And the tears stood in either eye. What could he do ? he durst not bawl ; His noise the robbers might recall ; The villains might again surround him, And hang him up where they had bound him. Sure never was an hapless wight In more uncomfortable plight : Nor was this all ; his pate was bare, Unshelter'd by one lock of hair ; For when the sturdy robbers took him, His hat and peruke both forsook him. The insect world were on the wing, Whose talent is to buz and sting ; And soon his bare-worn head they sought, By instinct led, by nature taught ; And dug their little forks within The tender texture of his skin. He rag'd and roar'd, but all in vain, No means he found to ease his pain : The cords, which to the tree had tied him, All help from either hand denied him : He shook his head, he writh'd his face With painful look, with sad grimace, And thus he spoke his hapless case ! " Ah ! miserable man," he cried, " What perils do my course betide ; In this sad melancholy state, Must I, alas, impatient wait, IN SEARCH OF THE PICTURESQUE. 1 1 Till some kind soul shall haply find me, And with his friendly hands unbind me ? Nay, I throughout the night may stay, 'Tis such an unfrequented way : Tho' what with hunger, thirst and fright, I ne'er shall last throughout the night ; And could I e'en these ills survive The flies will eat me up alive. What mad ambition made me roam ! Ah ! wherefore did I quit my home ! For there I liv'd remote from harm ; My meals were good, my house was warm ; And, though I was not free from strife With other ills that trouble life, Yet I had learn'd full well to bear The nightly scold, the daily care ; And, after many a season past, I should have found repose at last : Fate would have signed my long release, And Syntax would have died in peace ; Nor thus been robb'd, and tied and beaten, And all alive by insects eaten." But while he thus at Fate was railing, And fortune's angry frown bewailing, A dog's approaching bark he hears ; 'Twas sweet as music to his ears ; And soon a sure relief appears. For, tho' it bore that gen'ral form, Which oft at home, foretold a storm, It now appear'd an angel's shape That promis'd him a quick escape : Nor did La Mancha's val'rous Knight, Feel greater pleasure at the sight, When ovenvhelm'd with love and awe, His Dulcinea first he saw For on two trotting palfreys came, And each one bore a comely dame They started as his form they view ; The horses also started too The dog with insult seem'd to treat him, And look'd as if he long'd to eat him. In piteous tones he humbly pray'd They'd turn aside, and give him aid ; When each leap'd quickly from her steed, To join in charitable deed. They drew their knives to cut the noose, And let the mournful pris'ner loose ; With kindest words his fate bewail, While grateful Syntax tells his tale. The rustic matrons sooth his grief, Nor offer, but afford relief; And, turning from the beaten road, Their well-lin'd panniers they unload ; When soon upon the bank appear'd A sight his fainting spirits cheer'd : They spread the fare with cheerful grace^ And gave a banquet to the place. Most haply, too, as they untied him, He saw his hat and wig beside him : So, thus bewigg'd and thus behatted, Down on the grass the Doctor squatted ; When he uplifted either eye, With grateful accents to the sky. I 2 TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTAX " 'Tis thus," he humbly said, " we read In sacred books of heavenly deed : And thus, I find, in my distress, The Manna of the Wilderness : 'Tis Hermit's fare ; but thanks to Heaven, And those kind souls, by whom 'tis given." 'Tis true that bread, and curds, and fruit, Do with the pious Hermits suit ; But Syntax surely was mistaken To think their meals partake of bacon ; Or that those reverend men regale, As our good Doctors do-r-withale ; And these kind dames, in nothing loth, Took care that he partook of both. At length 'twas time to bid adieu, And each their diff'rent way pursue : A kind farewell, a kiss as kind, He gave them both with heart and mind ; Then off he trudg'd, and, as he walk'd, Thus to himself the Parson talk'd. " 'Tis well, I think, it is no worse, For I have only lost my purse : With all their cruelty and pains, The rogues have got but trifling gains ; Poor four-and-four-pence is the measure Of all their mighty pilfer'd treasure ; For haply there was no divining I'd a snug pocket in my lining ; And, thanks to Spousy, every note Was well sew'd up within my coat. But where is Grizzle ? Never mind her ; I'll have her cried, and soon shall find her." Thus he pursued the winding way, Big with the evils of the day : Though the good Doctor kept in view The favour of his blessings too. Nor had he pac'd it half an hour Before he saw a parish tow'i, And soon, with sore fatigue opprest, An Inn receiv'd him as its guest. But still his mind with anxious care, Ponder'd upon his wand'ring mare ; He therefore sent the Bell-man round, To see if Grizzle might be found. Grizzle, ungrateful to her master, And careless of his foul disaster, Left him tied up, and took her way, In hopes to meet with corn or hay ; But, as that did not come to pass, She sought a meadow full of grass ; The farmer in the meadow found her, And order'd John, his man, to pound her. Now John was one of those droll folk Who oft take mischief for a joke; And thought 'twould make the master stare, When he again beheld his mare, (Perhaps the Gem'man might be shockt) To find her ready cropt and dockt : At all events, he play'd his fun : No sooner was it said than done. But Grizzle was a patient beast, And minded nought if she could feast: Like many others, prone to think The best of life was meat and drink, Who feel to-day nor care nor sorrow, If they are sure to feast to-morrow : Thus Grizzle, as she pac'd around The purlieu of the barren pound, In hungry mood might seem to neigh " If I had water, corn, and hay, I should not thus my fate bewail, Nor mourn the loss of ears or tail" In the mean time, securely hous'd, The Doctor booz'd it, and carous'd, IN SEARCH OF THE PICT URESQ l. 1 3 The Hostess spread her fairest cheer, Her best beef-steak, her strongest beer ; And sooth'd him with her winning chat, Of " Pray eat this and now take that. Your Rev'rence, after all your fright, Wants meat and drink to set you right." His Rev'rence prais'd the golden rule, Nor did he let his victuals cool : And, having drank his liquor out, He took a turn to look about ; When, to the folks about the door, He told the dismal story o'er. The country-people on him gaz'd, And heard his perils all amaz'd : How the thieves twin'd the cords around him : How to a tree the villains bound him ! What angels came to his relief To loose his bonds, and sooth his grief ! His loss of cash, and whatwas worse, His saddle, saddle-bags, and horse. Thus as their rude attention hung Upon the wonders of his tongue, Lo ! Grizzle's alter'd form appears, With half its tail, and half its- ears ! "Is there no law?" the Doctor cries : " Plenty," a Lawyer strait replies : " Employ me, and those thieves shall swing On gallows-tree, in hempen-string : And, for the rogue, the law shall flea him, Who maim'd your horse, as now you see him." " No," quoth the Don, " your pardon pray ; I've had enough of thieves to-day : I've lost four shillings and a groat, But you would strip me of my coat ; And ears and tail won't fatten you, You'll want the head and carcase too." He chuckled as he made the stroke, And all around enjoy'd the joke : But still it was a sorry sight To see the beast in such a plight . Yet what could angry Syntax do ? 'Twas all in vain to fret and stew : His well stuff'd bags, with all their hoard Of sketching-tools, were safe restart! ; The saddle too, which he had sought, For small reward was quickly brought j He therefore thought it far more sage To stop his threats and check his rage ; So to the ostler's faithful care He gave his mutilated mare : And while poor Grizzle, free from danger, Cropp'd the full rack and clean'd the manger, Syntax, to ease his aching head, Smok'd out his pipe, and went to bed. CANTO IV. BLESS'D be the man, said he of yore Who Quixote's lance and target bore ! Bless'd be the man who first taught sleep Throughout our wearied frames to creep, And kindly gave to human woes The oblivious mantle of repose ! Hail ! balmy power ! that canst repair The constant waste of human care ; To the sad heart afford relief, And give a respite to its grief; 14 TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTAX Canst calm, through night's composing hours, The threat'ning storm that daily low'rs ; On the rude flint the wretched cheer, And to a smile transform the tear ! Thus wrapt in slumber Syntax lay Forgot the troubles of the day; So sound his sleep, so sweet his rest, By no disturbing dreams distrest ; That, all at ease, he lay entranc'd, Till the fair morn was far advanc'd. At length the hostess thought it wrong He should be left to sleep so long ; So bid the maid to let him know That breakfast was prepar'd below. Betty then op'd the chamber door And tripping onwards 'cross the floor, Undrew the curtains, one by one ; When in a most ear-piercing tone, Such as would grace the London cries, She told him it was time to rise. The noise his peaceful slumbers broke ; He gave a snort or two and 'woke. Now, as the Doctor turn'd his head, Beity was court'sying by the bed : " What brought you here, fair maid, I pray ?' " To tell you, Sir, how wears the day ; And that it is my special care To get your Worship's morning fare. The kettle boils, and I can boast No small renown for making toast. There's coffee, Sir, and tea and meat, And surely you must want to eat; For ten long hours have pass'd away Since down upon this bed you lay !" The Doctor rubb'd his op'ning eyes, Then stretch'd his arms, and 'gan to rise : But Betty still demurely stands, To hear him utter his commands. " Be gone," he cried, " get something nice, And I'll be with you in a trice." Behold him then, renew'd by rest, His chin well shav'd, his peruke dress'd, Conning with solemn air the news, His welcome breakfast to amuse, And when the well-fed meal was o'er, Grizzle was order'd to the door : Betty was also told to say, The mighty sum there was to pay : Betty, obedient to his will, Her court'sy makes, and brings the bilJ. Down the long page he cast his eye, Then shook his head, and heav'd a sigh, " What ! am I doom'd, where'er I go, In all I meet to find a foe ? Where'er I wander to be cheated, To be bamboozled and ill-treated !" Thus, as he read each item o'er, The hostess op'd the parlour door ; When Syntax 'rose in solemn state, And thus began the fierce debate. SYNTAX. " Good woman ; here, your bill retake, And prithee, some abatement make ; I could not such demands afford, Were I a Bishop or a Lord : And though I hold myself as good As any of my brotherhood, Howe'er, by bounteous Fortune crown'd, In wealth and honours they abound : It is not in my power to pay Such long drawn bills as well as they. The paper fills me with affright ; I surely do not read it right : For at the bottom here, I see Th' enormous total one pound, three!" HOSTESS. "The charges all are fairly made j If you will eat, I must be paid. My bills have never found reproaches From Lords and Ladies in their coaches. IN SEARCH OF THE PICTURESQUE. 1$ This house that's call'd the Royal Crown, Is the first Inn throughout the town : The best of gentry, ev'ry day, Become my guests and freely pay : Besides, I took you in at night, Half-dead with hunger and affright, Just 'scap'd from robbers." SYNTAX. " That's most true," And now I'm to be robb'd by you." HOSTESS. " Sir, you mistake ; and did not I Disdain rude words, I'd say you lie. I took you in last-night, I say." SYNTAX. " 'Tis true ; and if this bill I pay You'll take me in again to-day." HOSTESS. " I gave you all my choicest cheer, The best of meat, the best of beer ; And then you snor'd yourself to rest In the best bed I say the best. You've had such tea as few can boast, With a whole loaf turn'd into toast." SYNTAX. " And for your beef, and beer, and tea, You kindly charge me one pound three !" HOSTESS. " 'Tis cheap as dirt for well I know How things with country Curates go : And I profess that I am loth To deal unkindly with the cloth : Nay, oft and oft, as I'm a sinner, I've given hungry Clerks a dinner." SYNTAX. " And there's a proverb, as they say, That for the Clerks the Parsons pay ; Which you, I trow, can well fulfil, Whene'er you make a Parson's bill. Why one pound three, the truth I speak, Would keep my household for a week. Dear Mrs. Syntax, how she'd vapour Where she to read this curious paper ! w HOSTESS. " If that's your living, on my life, You starve your servants, and your wife." SYNTAX. " I wish my wife were here to meet you, In your own fashion she would greet you : With looks as fierce, and voice as shrill, She'd make you, mistress, change your bill." HOSTESS. " Think you besides, there's nought to pay For all your horse's corn and hay? And ointments too, to cure the ail Of her cropp'd ears and mangled tail ?" SYNTAX. " I wish the wight would bring the shears Which dock'd that tail and cropp'd those ears, And just exert the self-same skill To crop and dock your monstrous bill ! But, I'm in haste to get away, Though one pound three I will not pay : So, if you'll take one one-half th' amount, We'll quickly settle the account. There is your money, do you see ? And let us part in Charity." HOSTESS. " Well, as a charitable deed, I'll e'en consent so mount your steed, And on your journey strait proceed : But well you know, where'er you roam, That Charity begins at home." l TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTAX CANTO V. THE Doctor smil'd, the bill was paid, The hostess left him to the maid ; When Betty stood in humble guise, With expectation in her eyes, That he was surely so good-hearted, To give her something e'er they parted. Now, Nature, in her wanton freaks, Had given Betty rosy cheeks ; And caus'd her raven locks to break In native ringlets on her neck ; The roving bee might wish to sip The sweetness of her pouting lip So red, so tempting to the view, 'Twas what the Doctor long'd to do. ** You're a nice girl," he smiling said. " Am I ?' replied the simp'ring maid. " I swear you are, and if you're willing To give a kiss, I'll give a shilling." " If 'tis the same thing, Sir, to you, Make the gift two-fold, and take two." He grimly grinn'd, with inward pleasure, And instant seiz'd the purchas'd treasure. " Your lips, my dear, are sweet as honey : So one smack more and there's your money." This charming ceremony o'er, The Parson strutted to the door ; Where his poor wounded mare appears In cruel state of tail and ears. The neighbours all impatient wait To see him issue through the gate ; For country-town or village-green, Had seldom such a figure seen. Labour stood still to see him pass, While ev'ry lad and ev'ry lass Ran forward to enjoy the feast, To jeer the Sage, and mourn the beast But one and all aloud declare 'Twas a fit sight for country-fair ; Far better than a dancing bear. At length, escap'd from all the noise Of women, men, and girls and boys, In the recesses of a lane He thus gave utt'rance to his pain, " It seems to be my luckless case At ev'ry point, in ev'ry place, To meet with trouble and disgrace. But yesterday I left my home, In search of fancied wealth to roam ; And nought, I think, but ills betide me : Sure some foul spirit runs beside me ; Some blasting demon from the east, A deadly foe to man and beast, That loves to riot in disaster, And plague alike both horse and master. Grizzle, who full five years, and more, A trumpeter in triumph bore ; Who had in hard-fought battle been, And many a bloody conflict seen ; Who, having 'scap'd with scarce a scar, 'Mid all the angry threats of war ; When her best days are almost past, Feels these ignoble wounds at last. Ah ! what can thy fond master do, He's cut and slash'd as well as you ! But, though no more with housing gay, And prancing step you take your way ; rx SEARCH 0> O-E PICTURESQUE. 17 O>, \vith your stately rider, lead The armed troop to warlike deed ; While you've a leg you ne'er shall cease To bear the minister of peace. Long have you borne him nor e'er grumbled, Nor ever started, kick'd or stumbled." But mildest natures sometimes err From the strict rules of character : The tim'rous bird defends its young, And beasts will kick when they are stung. 'Twas burning hot, and host of flies, With venom'd stings, around them rise : They seiz'd on Grizzle's wounded part, Who straight began to snort and start ; Kick'd up behind, rear'd up before, And play'd a dozen antics more ; The Doctor coax'd, but all in vain, She snorted, kick'd, and rear'd again: " Alas !" said Syntax, " could I pop Just now, upon a blacksmith's shop, Whose cooling unguent would avail To save poor Grizzle's ears and tail !" When scarce had he his wishes spoke, Than he beheld a cloud of smoke, That from a forge appeared to rise, And for a moment veil'd the skies, While the rude hammers to his ear, Proclaim'd the aid he wish'd was near. By the way-side the cottage rose, Around it many a willow grows, Where Syntax, in a tone of grief, Shew'd Grizzle's wounds and pray'd relief. The sooty Galen soon appear'd, And with fair hopes the Doctor cheer'd. " Trust me, good Sir, I've got a plaster, Will cure the beast of her disaster ; And, while the dressing I prepare, With all becoming skill and care, You in that arbor may regale With a cool pipe and jug of ale : I've long a two-fold trade profess'd And med'cine sell for man and beast, Syntax now sought the cooling shade, While Galen's dame the banquet made : She well knew how her guests to please, And added meat, and bread, and cheese : Besides, she told the village-tale Who came to drink her home-brew'd ale ; How that the laughter-loving Vicar Would sometimes walk to taste their liquor ; That their gay landlord was renown'd, For hunting fox, with horn and hound ; That he'd a daughter passing fair ; Who was his Honour's only heir ; But she was proud, nor could a 'Squire Approach to tell his am'rous fire ; A Lord alone, as it was said, She would receive into her bed. Throughout the village, ev'ry name Became a subject for Uie dame ; And thus she play'd her chatt'ring part, Till Syntax thought it time to start. And now poor Grizzle re-appears, With plaster'd tail and plaster'd ears, Which thus cas'd up, might well defy The sharpest sting of gnat or fly. The Doctor having had his fill, Without a word discharg'd his bill 1 8 TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTAX But, as it was the close of day, He trotted briskly on his way j And, e'er the sun withdrew his light, An Inn receiv'd him for the uig'.vi. His frame fatigu'd, his mind oppress'd, He tiff'd his punch, and went to rest. The morning came, when he arose In spirits from his calm repose ; And while the maid prepar'd the tea, He look'd around the room to see What story did the walls disclose, Of human joys, of human woes. The window quickly caught his eye, On whose clear panes he could descry The motley works of many a Muse : There was enough to pick and choose ; And, " Faith," said he, " I'll strive to hook Some of these lines into my book : For here there are both grave and witty, And some, I see, are rather pretty. From a small pocket in his coat He drew his tablets, when he wrote Whate'er the pregnant panes possess'd ; And these choice lays among the rest. " If my fond breast were made of glass, And you could see what there doth pass, Kitty, my ever charming fair ! You'd see your own sweet image there." " I once came here a free-booting, And on this fine manor went shooting, And if the 'Squire this truth denies, This glass shall tell the 'Squire he lies." " Dolly's as fat as any sow, And, if I'm not mistaken, Dolly is well dispos'd, I trow, To trim her husband's bacon." "Dear Jenny, while your name I hear, No transient glow my bosom heats ; And when I meet your eye, my dear, My flutt'ring heart no longer beats. I dream, but I no longer find Your form still present to my view ; I wake, but now my vacant mind No longer waking dreams of you. I can find maids, in ev'ry rout, With smiles as false and forms as fine ; But you must hunt the world throughout, To find a heart as true as mine." " I hither came down From fair London town With Lucy so mild and so kind ; But Lucy grew cool, And call'd me a fool, So I started and left her behind." But as he copied, quite delighted, All that the Muse had thus indited, A hungry dog, and prone to steal, Ran off with half his breakfast meal ; While Dolly, ent'ring with a kettle, Was follow'd by a man of mettle, Who swore he'd have the promis'd kiss ; And, as he seiz'd the melting bliss, From the hot, ill-pois'd kettle's spout, The boiling stream came pouring out, Which drove the Doctor from the Muse By quickly filling both his shoes. IN SEARCH OF THE PICTURESQUE. 19 CANTO VI. WHAT various evils man await, In this strange sublunary state ! No sooner is he cheer'd by joy, Than sorrows come, and pains annoy ; And scarce his lips were op'd to bless The transient gleam of happiness, Than some dark cloud obscures the sky, And grief's sad moisture fills the eye. Thus, while the Doctor smiling stole From the clear glass each witty scroll, He felt, to interrupt the treat, The scalding torment in his feet : And thus awaken'd from his trance, Began to skip, and jump, and dance. " Take off my shoes," he raving cried, " And let my gaiters be untied." When Dolly with a nimble hand, Instant obeyed the loud command ; And, as he lolled upon the chair, His feet and ancles soon were bare. Away th' impatient damsel run, To cure the mischief she had done ; And quick return'd with liquid store, To rub his feet and ancles o'er; Nor was the tender office vain ; It soon assuag'd the burning pain. A tear was seen on Dolly's cheek : Who sigh'd as if her heart would break. " Be not, my girl, with care oppress'd ; I'm now," says Syntax, " quite at rest : My anger's vanish'd with the pain ; No more, my dear, shall I complain, Since to get rid of my disaster. So fair a maid presents the plaister." Thus did he Dolly's care beguile, And turn'd her tears into a smile But, while she cool'd the raging part, She somehow warm'd the Doctor's heart ; And, as she rubb'd the ointment in, He pinch'd her cheeks and chuck'd her chin ; And, when she had redress'd his shanks, He with a kiss bestow'd his thanks ; While gentle Dolly, nothing loth, Consenting smil'd, and took them both. " I think," said she, " you'd better stay, Nor travel further on to-day :" And though she said it with a smile, His steady purpose to beguile, The Doctor clos'd the kind debate, By ord'ring Grizzle to the gate. Now, undisturb'd, he took his way, Andtravell'd till the close of day ; When, to delight his weary eyes, Before him Oxford's tow'rs arise. " O, Alma Mater !" Syntax cried, " My present boast, my early pride; To whose protecting care I owe All I've forgot, and all I know : Deign from your nursling to receive The homage that his heart can give 1 Hail ! sacred, ever-honoured shades Where oft I woo'd th' immortal maids ; Where strolling oft, at break of day, My feet have brush'd the dews away ! By Isis and by Cherwell stream, How oft I wove the classic dream, Or sought the Cloisters dim, to meet Pale science in her lone retreat ! The sight of you again inspires My bosom with its former fires : I feel again the genial glow That makes me half forget the woe And all my aching heart could tell, Since last 1 bid these scenes farewell." 2 2 20 TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTAX Thus Syntax moved in sober pace, Beset with academic grace ; While Grizzle bore him up the town, And at the Mitre set him down. The night was pass'd in sound repose, And as the clock struck nine he 'rose. The barber now applies his art, To shave him clean, and make him smart : From him he learn'd that Dickey Bend, His early academic friend, As a reward for all his knowledge, Was made the Provost of his College ; And fame declar'd that he had clear At least twelve hundred pounds a year. " O ho !" says Syntax, " if that's true, I cannot surely better do Than further progress to delay, And with Friend Dickey pass a day." Away he hied, and soon he found him, With all his many comforts round him. The Provost hail'd the happy meeting, And after kind and mutual greeting, To make enquiries he began ; And thus the conversation ran. PROVOST. " Good Doctor Syntax, I rejoice Once more to hear your well-known voice ; To dine with us I hope you'll stay, And share a College feast to-day. Full many a year is gone and past Since we beheld each other last ; Fortune has kindly dealt with me, As you, my friend, may plainly see ; And pray how has she dealt with thee ?" SYNTAX." Alas ! alas ! I've played the fool ; I took a wife, and keep a school ; And while on dainties you are fed, I scarce get butter to my bread.'* PROVOST. " For my part, I have never married, And grieve to hear your plans miscarried : I hope then my old worthy friend, Your visit here your fate will mend. My services you may command ; I offer them with heart and hand ; And while you think it right to stay, You'll make this house your home I pray." SYNTAX. " I'm going further, on a scheme, Which you may think an idle dream ; At the tam'd Lakes to take a look, And of my Journey make a Book." PROVOST. "I know full well that you have store Of modern as of classic lore : And, surely, with your weight of learning, And all your critical discerning, You might produce a work of name, To fill your purse and give you fame, How oft have we together sought Whate'er the ancient sages taught !" SYNTAX. " I now perceive that all your knowledge Is pent, my friend, within your college ! Learning's become a very bore That fashion long since has been o'er. A Bookseller may keep his carriage, And ask ten thousand pounds in marriage ; May have his mansion in a square, And build a house for countryair ; And yet 'tis odds the fellow knows If Horace wrote in verse or prose. IN SEARCH Of THE PICTURESQUE. 2 1 Could Dr. Grey in chariot ride, And take each day his wine beside, If he did not contrive to cook, Each year, his Tour into a book ; A flippant, flashy, flow'ry style, A lazy morning to beguile ; With every other leaf, a print Of some fine view in aqua tin? ? Such is the book I mean to make And I've no doubt the work will take . For though your wisdom may decry it, The simple folk will surely buy it. I will allow it is but trash, But then it furnishes the cash." PROVOST. " Why things are not the same, I fear, As when we both were scholars here ; But still I doubt not your success, And wish you ev'ry happiness ; Myself, and my whqle College tribe, Depend upon it will subscribe." At length the bell began to call To dinner, in the college-hall ; Nor did the guests delay to meet, Lur'd by the bounty of the treat. The formal salutations over, Each drew his chair and seized his cover ; The Provost, in collegiate pride, Plac'd Doctor Syntax by his side ; And soon they heard the hurrying feet Of those that bore the smoking meat Behold the dishes due appear Fish in the van, beef in the rear ; But he who the procession led, By some false step or awkward tread, Or curs'd by some malignant pow'r, Fell headlong on the marble floor , Ah, heedless wight ! ah, hapless dish ! Ah ! all the luxury of fish ! Thus in a moment spoil'd and wasted ; Ah ! never, never to be tasted ! But one false step begets another, So they all tumbled one o'er t'other; And now the pavement was bestrew'd With roast and boil'd, and fried and stew'd. The waiters squalPd, their backs bespatter'd With scalding sauce ; the dishes clatter'd In various discord ; while the brawl Re-echo'd through th' astonish'd hall. " Well," said a Don, " as I'm a sinner, We must go elsewhere for a dinner." " 'Tis no such thing," the Head replied, " You all shall soon be satisfied : We are but ten : and sure there's plenty ; I order'd full enough for twenty. I see, my friends, the haunch unspoil'd, With chickens roast, and turkey boil'd ; The ven'son pasty is secure, The marrow puddings safe and sure ; With ham, and many good things more, And tarts, and custards, full a score. Sure, here's enough to cut and carve ; To-day, I think, we shall not starve : But still I'll make the boobies pay For the good things they've thrown away." Thus ev'ry eye was quickly cheer'd With all the plenty that appear'd ; They eat, and drank, they smok'd, they talk'd, And round the college-garden walk'd : But the time came (for time will fly) When Syntax was to say " good bye." 22 TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTAX His tongue could scarce his feeling tell, Could scarce pronounce the word, " farewell !" The Provost too, whose gen'rous heart In those same feelings bore a part, Told him, when he should want a friend, To write, or come, to Dickey Bend. Next morning, at an early hour, Syntax proceeded on his Tour ; And, as he saunter'd on his way, The scene of many a youthful day, He thought 'twould give his book an air, If Oxford were well painted there ; And, as he curious look'd around, He saw a spot of rising ground, From whence the turrets of the city Would make a picture very pretty ; Where Radcliff's dome would intervene, And Magd'len tower crown the scene. So Grizzle to a hedge he tied, And onward then impatient hied : But, as he sought to chuse a part Where he might best display his art, A wicked bull no sooner view'd him, Than loud he roar'd, and straight pursu'd him. The Doctor finding danger near, Flew swiftly on the wings of fear, And nimbly clamber'd up a tree, That gave him full security ; But as he ran to save his bacon, By hat and wig he was forsaken ; His sketch-book too, he left behind, A prey to the unlucky wind : While Grizzle, startled by the rout, Broke from the hedge, and pranc'd about. Syntax, still trembling with affright, Clung to the tree with all his might ; He call'd for help and help was near, For dogs, and men, and boys appear ; So that his foe was forc'd to yield, And leave him master of the field. No more of roaring bulls afraid, He left the tree's protecting shade ; And as he pac'd the meadow round, His hat, his wig, his book he found. " Come, my old girl," the Doctor said ; The faithful steed the call obey'd, So Grizzle once more he bestrode, Nor look'd behind but off he rode. CANTO VII. Fix'D in cogitation deep, Adown the hill and up the steep, Along the moor and through the wood, Syntax his pensive way pursu'd : And now his thoughts began to roam To the good woman left at home ; How she employ'd the passing day When her fond mate was far away ; For they possess'd, with all their pother, A sneaking kindness for each other. Proud of her husband's stock of learning, His classic skill and deep discerning, No tongue she suffered to dethrone His fond importance but her own. Besides, she was a very bee In bustle and in indi strv IN SEARCH OF THE PICTURESQUE. 23 And though a pointed sting she bore, That sometimes made the Doctor sore, She help'd to make the household thrive, And brought home honey to the hive. He too had not forgot her charms, When first he took her to his arms ; For, if report relates the truth, She was a beauty in her youth : The charming Dolly was well known To be the toast of all the town ; And, though full many a year was gone Since this good dame was twenty-one, She still retain'd the air and mien Of the nice girl she once had been. For these, and other charms beside, She was indeed the Doctor's pride ; Nay, he would sometimes on her gaze With the fond looks of former days, And whatsoe'er she did or said, He kept his silence and obey'd. Besides his mind he thus consol'd ; " 'Tis classical to be a scold ; For, as the ancient tomes record, Zantippe's tongue was like a sword : She was about my Dolly's age, And the known help-mate of a sage. Thus Socrates, in days of yore, The self-same persecution bore : N or shall I blush to share the fate Of one so good of one so great." 'Twas now five days since they had parted, And he was ever tender-hearted : Whene'er he heard the wretched sigh, He felt a Christian sympathy ; For though he play'd the demi-god Among his boys, with rule and rod ; What ! though he spoke in pompous phrase, And kept the vulgar in amaze ; Though self-important he would stride Along the street with priestly pride ; Though his strange figure would provoke The passing smile, the passing joke ; Among the high, or with the low, Syntax had never made a foe ; And, though the jest of all he knew, Yet, while they laugh'd they lov'd him too : No wonder then, so far from home, His head would shake, the sigh would come. Thus he went gently on his way, Till the sun mark'd declining day. But Thought as well as'grief is dry, And, lo ! a friendly cot was nigh, Whose sign, high dangling in the air, Invites the trav'ller to repair, Where he in comfort may regale, With cooling pipe and foaming ale. The Doctor gave the loud command, And sees the Host beside him stand ; Then quits his steed with usual state, And passes through the wicket-gate ; The Hostess opes the willing door, And then recounts the humble store Which her poor cottage could afford, To place upon the frugal board. The home-spun napkin soon was laid, The table all its ware displa/d ; The well-broil'd rasher then appear'd, And with fresh eggs his stomach cheer'd ; The crusty pye, with apples lin'd, Sweeten'd the feast on which he din'd, 24 TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTAX And liquor, that was brew'd at home, Among the rest was seen to foam. The Doctor drank the Doctor eat, Well pleas'd to find so fair a treat ; Then to his pipe he kindly took, And with a condescending look, Call'd on the Hostess to relate What was the village name and state ; And to whose office it was given To teach them all the way to Heav'n. HOSTESS. " The land belongs to 'Squire Bounty, No better man lives in the county. I wish the Rector were the same ; One Doctor Squees'em is his name ; But we ne'er see him more's the shame ! And while in wealth he cuts and carves, The worthy Curate prays and starves." SYNTAX." I truly wish that he were here To take a pipe and share my beer ; I know what 'tis as well as he, To serve a man I never see." Just as he spoke, the Curate came : " This, this is he !" exclaim'd the dame. Syntax his brother Parson greeted, And begg'd him to be quickly seated ; " Come take a pipe, and taste the liquor, Tis good enough for any Vicar." CURATE. " Alas ! Sir, I'm. no Vicar ; I, Bound to an humble Curacy, With all my care can scarce contrive To keep my family alive. While the fat Rector can afford To eat and drink like any Lord : But know, Sir, I'm a man of letters, And ne'er speak evil of my betters." SYNTAX. " That's good ; but when we suffer pain, 'Tis Nature's office to complain ; And when the strong oppress the weak, Justice, though blind, will always speak. Tell me, have you explain'd your case, With due humility and grace ?" The great and wealthy must be flatter'd They love with praise to be bespatter'd : Indeed, I cannot see the harm, If thus you can their favour charm ; If by fine phrases you can bend The pride of Power to be your friend. CURATE. " I wrote, I'm sure, in humblest style, And prais'd his goodness all the while : I begg'd, as things had grown so dear, He'd raise my pay ten pounds a year ; And, as I now had children five, The finest little bairns alive, While their poor, fond and faithful mother Would soon present me with another ; And, as the living brought him, clear, At least a thousand pounds a year, He'd grant the favour I implore, Nor let me starve upon threescore.* SYNTAX. " Now I should like without delay, To hear what this rich man could say ; For I can well perceive, my friend, That you did not obtain your end." CJRATE. "The postman soon a letter brought, Which cost me six-pence and a groat ; IN SEARCH OF THE PICTURESQUE, 2$ Nor can your friendly heart suggest The rudeness which the page express'd. ' Such suits as yours may well miscarry, For beggars should not dare to marry ; At least, for I will not deceive you, I never, never will iclieve you ; And if you trouble me, be sure You shall be ousted from the Cure.' But I shall now, good Sir, refrain, Because I know 'twould give you pain, From telling all that in his spite, The arch old scoundrel chose to write ; For know, Sir, I'm a man of letters, And never will abuse my betters." SYNTAX. " Zounds ! 'tis enough to make one swear, Nor can I such a monster bear : But, think, my friend, on that great day Of strict account, when he must pay For all his cruelty and lies : Then he shall sink, and you will rise." CURATE. " The terms, I own, are not quite civil, But he's the offspring of the devil ; And, when the day of life is past, He'll with his father dwell at last : But know, Sir, I'm a man of letters, And ne'er wish evil to my betters." 'Twas thus they talk'd and drank their ale, Till the dim shades of eve prevail ; When Syntax settled each demand : And, while he held the Curate's hand, Bid him be stout, and not despair, "The poor are God's peculiar care 1 You're not the only one, my friend, Who has with evil to contend ! Resign yourself to what is given : Be good, and leave the rest to Heaven." Syntax, we've said, was tender hearted ; He dropp'd a tear, and then departed. The evening lower'd, a drizzly rain Had spread a mist o'er all the plain ; Besides, the hoine-brew'd beer began To prey upon the inward man ; And Syntax, muddled, did not know Or where he was, or where to go. An active horseman by him trotted, And Syntax was not so besotted But he could hiccup out " My friend, Do tell me, if this way will tend, To bring me to some place of rest?" " Yes," 'twas replied " the very best Of all our inns within a mile, Will soon yoor weariness beguile." Who should this be but 'Squire Bounty, So much belov'd throughout the county, And he resolv'd, by way of jest, To have the Parson for his guest ; So on he gallopp'd, to prepare His people for the friendly snare. The Doctor came in tipsy state ; The .'Squire receiv'd him at the gate, And to a parlour led him straight ; Then plac'd him in an easy chair And ask'd to know his pleasure there. SYNTAX." Landlord, I'm sadly splash'd with mire And chilPd with rain, so light a fire ; And tell the Ostler to take care Of that good beast, my Grizzle mare ; And what your larder can afford, Pray place it quickly on the board." 'SQUIRE. "We've butcher's meat, of ev'ry kind ; Butj if that is not to your mind 26 TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTAX There's poultry, Sir, and if you please, Our cook excels in fricassees." SYNTAX. " 'Tell me, my honest friend, I pray, What kind of fowl or fish are they ? Besides, my very civil Host, I wish to know what they will cost; For a poor Parson can't afford To live on dainties like a lord." 'SQUIRE. " The Clergy, Sir, when here they stay, Are never, never ask'd to pay : I love the Church, and, for its sake, I ne'er make bills or reck'nings take ; Proud if its ministers receive The little that I have to give." SYNTAX. " Why, then, my friend, you're never dull ; Your inn, I trow, is always full : 'Tis a good rule, must be confest, But, though I blink, I see a jest." 'SQUIRE. " No, Sir ; you see the cloth is laid, And not a farthing to be paid." SYNTAX. " I find my head's not very clear ; My eyes see double too, I fear ; For all these things can never be Prepar'd for such a guest as me : A banquet, it must be allow'd, Of which Olympus might be proud." Thus Syntax eat and drank his fill, Regardless of his morrow's bill ; He rang the bell, and call'd the waiters, To rid him of his shoes and gaiters. " Go tell the maid to shew the bed, Where I may lay my aching head ; Here, take my wig and bring a cap ; My eye-lids languish for a nap : No court'sying, pray ; I want no fawning, For I shall break my jaws with yawning." Now Kitty, to adorn his crown, Brought him a night-cap of her own ; And, having put it on, she bound it With a pink ribbon round and round it. In this fine guise was Syntax led Up the best stairs, and put to bed. Though mirth prevail'd the house throughout, Though it was all one revel rout, He heard it not, nor did he know The merriment he caus'd below ; For, with fatigue and wine oppress'd, He grunted, groan'd, and went to rest. But when the sun in Thetis' lap Had taken out his usual nap, Syntax awoke, and looking 'round, The sight his senses quite confound. He saw that he had laid his head Within a fine-wrought silken bed : A gaudy carpet grac'd the floor And gilded mouldings deck'd the door, Nor did the mirror fail to show His own sweet form from top to toe. " If I," said he, " remember right, I was most lordly drunk last night : And, as the Tinker in the play Was taken, when dead drunk he lay, And made a Lord for half a day ; I think that some one has made free To play the self same trick with me : But I'll contrive to be possest Of this same secret when I am drest ; To find it out I'll ring the bell ; The chamber-maid the truth may tell." She soon appeared, and court'sying low : Requested his commands to know. " When and how did I come here ? You'll be so good to say, my dear." " You came last night, not very late, About the time the clock struck eight ; IN SEARCH OF THE PICTURESQUE. 2J And I have heard the servants say, They thought that you had lost your way." " Inform me, also, how you call This noble inn ?" " 'Tis Welcome Hall." " And pray who have you in your house?" "We've 'Squire Bounty and his spouse ; With Lady and Sir William Hearty, And, you, good Sir, may join the party : Indeed, I'm order'd to request That you will be their morning guest." To question more he did not stay, But bid the damsel shew the way. O ! 'twas a verypleasant meeting : The Landlord gave a hearty greeting, And plac'd the Doctor in a chair, Between two Ladies, young and fair.' Syntax, well-pleas'd began to prate, And all his history to relate While mirth and laughter loud prevail, As he let forth the curious tale' At length the 'Squire explain'd the joke ; When thus the Doctor quaintly spoke : " I beg, Sir, no excuse you'll make, Your merriment I kindly take ; And only wish the gods would give Such jesting ev'ry day I live." The Ladies press'd his longer stay, But Syntax said he must away, So Grizzle soon her master bore, Some new adventure to explore. CANTO VIII. " IN ev'ry way, in ev'ry sense, Man is the care of Providence ; And whensoe'er he goeth wrong, The errors to himself belong : Nor do we alway judge aright Of Fortune's favours, or her spite. How oft with pleasure we pursue Some glitt'ring phantom in our view- Not rightly seen or understood, We chace it as a real good : At length the air-born vision flies And each fond expectation dies ! Sometimes the clouds appear to low'r, And threat misfortune's direful hour : We tremble at the approaching blast : Each hope is fled we look aghast ; When lo ! the darkness disappears, The glowing sun all nature cheers ; The drooping heart again acquires Its former joys, its former fires. Last night I wander'd o'er the plain Through unknown ways and beating rain, Nor thought 'twould be my lot to fall On such an inn as Welcome Hall : Indeed with truth I cannot say When there I came I lost my way, For all was good, and nought to pay." Thus Syntax, with reflection fraught, Soliloquiz'd the moral thought ; While Grizzle, all alive and gay, Ambled along the ready way. Last night she found it no disaster To share the fortune of her master ; She, 'mong the finest hunters stood, And shar'd with them the choicest food : In a fine roomy stable plac'd, With ev'ry well-trimm'd clothing grac'd, Poor Grizzle was as fair a joke To all the merry stable-folk, As the good Doctor's self had been, To the kind gentry of the Inn. Enrapt in Contemplation's pow'r, Syntax forgot the fleeting hour ; Till looking round, he saw the sun Had past his bright meridian run. 28 TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTAX A shepherd-boy he now espied, Strolling along the highway side ; And, on his wand'ring flock intent, The stripling whistled as he went. " My honest lad, perhaps you know, What distance I shall have to go, Before my eager eyes may greet Some place where I may drink and eat." " Continue, Master, o'er the Down, And soon you'll reach the neighb'ring town : In less, I think, than half an hour, You'll pass by yonder lofty tow'r : Keep onward by the church-yard wall, When you will see an house of call ; The sign's a Dragon there you'll find Eating and drinking to your mind." Across the Down the Doctor went, And towards the Church his way he bent. " Thus," Syntax said, " when man is hurFd Upwards and downwards in the world ; When some strong impulse makes him stray And he, perhaps, has lost his way, The Church, Religion's holy seat, Will guide to peace his wand'ring feet ! But, hark ! the death-bell's solemn toll Tells the departure of a soul ; The Sexton, too, I see prepares The place where ends all human cares. And, lo, a crowd of tombs appear ! I may find something curious here ; For oft poetic flowers are found To flourish in sepulchral ground. I'll just walk in to take a look, And pick up matter for my book : The living, some wise man has said, Delight in reading of the dead. What golden gains my book would boast, If I could meet a chatty ghost, Who would some news communicate Of its unknown and present state : Some pallid figure in a shroud, Or sitting on a murky cloud ; Or kicking up a new-made grave, And screaming forth some horrid stave ; Or bursting from the hollow tomb, To tell of bloody deeds to come ; Or adverse skeletons embattling, With ghastly grins and bones a rattling ; Something to make the misses stare, And force upright their curly hair ; To cause their pretty forms to shake, To make them doubt if they're awake : And thus to tonish folks present, The Picturesque of Sentiment > But 'tis, I fear, some hours too soon Ghosts slumber all the afternoon : I'll ask the Sexton if, at night, I may perchance pick up a sprite." The Doctor in canonic state, Now op'd at once the church-yard gate; While Grizzle too thought fit to pass, Who knew the taste of church-yard grass. " Sir," cried the Sexton, " let me say That you must take your mare away, Or else, believe me, I am bound To lead her quickly to the pound." " You do mistake my honest friend 'Tis a foul wrong that you intend : A Parson's mare wilt claim a right In a church-yard to take a bite ; IN SEARCH OP THE PICTURESQUE. 2<) And, as I come to meditate Among these signs of human fate, I beg you will not make a riot, But let the poor beast feed in quret." No more the conscious Sexton said, But urg'd his labours for the dead ; While Syntax cull'd, with critic care, What the sad muse had written there. EPITAPHS. Here lies poor Thomas and his wife, Who led a pretty jarring life ; But all is ended do you see ? He holds his tongue, and so does she. If drugs and physic could but save Us mortals from the dreary grave, 'Tis known that I took full enough, Of the Apothecary's stuff, To have prolong'd life's busy feast To a full century at least ; But, spite of all the Doctor's skill, Of daily draught and nightly pill, Reader, as sure as you're alive, I was sent here at twenty-five. Within this tomb a lover lies, Who fell an early sacrifice To Dolly's unrelenting eyes. For Dolly's charms poor Damon burn'd, Disdain the cruel maid return'd : But, as she danc'd in May-day pride, Dolly fell down and Dolly died, And now she lays by Damon's side. Be not hard-hearted then, ye fair ! Of Dolly's hapless fate beware ! For sure, you'd better go to bed, To one alive, than one who's dead. Beneath the sod the soldier sleeps, Whom cruel war refus'd to spare : Beside his grave the maiden weeps, And Glory plants the laurel there. Honour is the warrior's meed, Or spar'd to live, or doom'd to die ; Whether 'tis his lot to bleed, Or join the shout of Victory ; Alike the laurel to the truly brave ; That binds the brow, or consecrates the grave. Beneath this stone her ashes rest, Whose memory fills my aching breast ! She sleeps unconscious of the tear That tells the tale of sorrow here ; But still the hope allays my pain That we may live and love again : Love with a pure seraphic fire, That never, never shall expire. Syntax the Sexton now address'd, As on his spade he lean'd to rest SYNTAX. " We both, my friend, pursue one trade ; I for the living, you the dead. For whom that grave do you prepare With such keen haste, and cheerful air ?' SEXTON. " An' please your Reverence Lawyer Thrust, Thank heav'n, will moulder here to dust : Never before did I take measure Of any grave with half the pleasure : And when within this hole he's laid, I'll ram the earth down with my spade : I'll take good care he shall not rise, Till summon'd to the last assize ; And, when he sues for Heaven's grace, I would not wish to take his place. He once on cruel deed intent, Seiz'd on my goods for want of rent ; Nay, I declare, as I'm a sinner, He took away the children's dinner : For, as they sat around the table, Eating as fast as they were able, He seiz'd the dishes, great and small, The children's bread and milk, and all I The urchins cried, the mother pray'd, 3O TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTAX I beggM his rigour might be stay'd Till I could on our Parson call, Who would engage to pay it all ; But he disdain'd a Parson's word, And mock'd the suit which I preferr'd. He knew a better way to thrive ; To pay two pounds by taking five. Bursting with rage, I knocked him down, And broke the cruel rascal's crown ; For which in county-gaol I lay, Half-starving, many a bitter day ; But our good Parson brought relief, And kindly sooth'd a mother's grief. He, while in prison I remain'd, My little family sustain'd ; And when I was from durance free, Made me his Sexton, as you see. But Doctor Worthy, he is gone ; You'll read his virtues on the stone That's plac'd aloft upon the wall, Where you may see the ivy crawl : Oh while his ashes rest below, He's gone where all the righteous go. I dug his grave with many a moan, And almost wish'd it were my own. I daily view the earthly bed, Where Death has laid his rev'rend head ; And when I see a weed appear, I pluck it up, and shed a tear. The parish griev'd, for not an eye In all its large extent was dry, Save one : but such a kindly grace Ne'er deck'd the Lawyers iron face. The aged wept a friend long known, The young a parent's loss bemoan : While we alas ! shall long deplore The bounteous patron of the poor." The Doctor heard, with tearful eye, The Sexton's grateful eulogy : Then sought the stone with gentle tread, As fearing to disturb the dead, And thus, in measured tones, he read : " For fifty years the Pastor trod The way commanded by his God ; For fifty years his flock he fed With that divine celestial bread Which nourishes the better part And fortifies man's failing heart. His wide, his hospitable door, Was ever open to the poor ; While he was sought, for counsel sage, By ev'ry rank and ev'ry age. That counsel sage he always gave, To warn, to strengthen, and to save : He sought the sheep that went astray, And pointed out the better way : But while he with his smiles approv'd The virtue he so dearly lov'd, He did not spare the harsher part, To probe the ulcer to the heart ; He sternly gave the wholesome pain That brought it back to health again. Thus, the commands of Heav'n his guide, He liv'd, and then in peace he died." SYNTAX. " Pray tell me, friend, who now succeeds This Pastor, fam'd for virtuous deeds ?" SEXTON. " A very worthy, pious man, Who does us all the good he can ; But he, good Sir, has got'a wife ;" SYNTAX. " Who may perhaps disturb his life ; A tongue sometimes engenders strife." SEXTON. " No : she's a worthy woman too ; But then they've children not a few ; I think it is the will of Heav'n That they are bless'd with six or seven ; And then you will agree with me, That home's the scene of charity." IN SEARCH OF THE PICTURESQUE 31 SYNTAX. " 'Tis true ; nor can your Parson preach A sounder doctrine than you teach. And now, good Sexton, let me ask, While you perform your mortal task, As day and night you frequent tread The dreary mansions of the dead, If you, in very truth, can boast, That you have ever seen a ghost ?" SEXTON. " Your Rev'rence, no ; tho' some folks say That such things have been seen as they. Old women talk, in idle chat, Of ghosts and goblins, and all that, While, round the glimm'ring fire at night, They fill their hearers with affright. 'Tis said that Doctor Worthy walks, And up and down the church-yard stalks ; That often when the moon shines bright, His form appears all clad in white : But to his soul it is not given To walk on earth for that's in Heaven. All hours I have cross'd this place, And ne'er beheld a spirit's face. Once, I remember, late at night, I something saw, both large and white, Which made me stop, and made me stare, But 'twas the Parson's grizzle mare. Such things as these, I do believe, The foolish people oft deceive ; And then the parish gossips talk How witches dance, and spectres walk." SYNTAX. " Your reasoning I much commend j So fare you well, my honest friend. If we act right we need not dread Either the living or the dead : The spirit that disturbs our rest Is a bad conscience in our breast ; With that a man is doubly curst :" SEXTON. "That spirit haunted Lawyer Thrust." SYNTAX. " His race is run, his work is o'er The wicked man can sin no more ; He's gone where justice will be done To all who live beneath the sun : And though he wronged you when alive, Let not your vengeance thus survive : Forgive him, now he's laid so low Nor trample on a fallen foe. Once more farewell ! But ere we part, There's something that will cheer your heart." SEXTON. " Your rev'rence, 'twill be some time yet Ere I forgive ; but to forget No, no, for though I may forgive, I can't forget him while I live. For your good gift, kind Heaven I bless, And wish you health and happiness : I thank my God, each coming day, For what he gives and takes away ; And now I thank Him, good and just, That he has taken Lawyer Thrust" Syntax along the village pass'd, And to the Dragon came at last ; Where, as the shepherd-boy had said, There seem'd to be a busy trade ; And, seated in an easy chair, He found that all he wish'd was there. TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTAX CANTO IX. ALONG the varying road of Life, In calm content, in toil or strife ; At morn or noon, by night or day, As time conducts him on his way, How oft doth man, by care oppress'd, Find in an Inn a place of rest ? Whether intent on worldly views, He, in deep thought, his way pursues ; Whether by airy pleasure led, Or by Hope's fond delusions fed, He bids adieu to home and strays Through unknown paths and distant ways ; Where'er his fancy bids him roam, In ev'ry Inn he finds a home. Should Fortune change her fav'ring wind, Though former friends should prove unkind, Will not an Inn his cares beguile, Where on each face he sees a smile ? When cold winds blow and tempests lower, And the rain pours in angry shower, The dripping traveller looks around, To see what shelter may be found ; Then on he drives through thick and thin, To the warm shelter of an Inn. Whoe'er would turn their wand'ring feet, Assur'd the kindest smiles to meet ; Whoe'er would go and not depart But with kind wishes from the heart, O let them quit the world's loud din, And seek the comforts of an Inn : And as the Doric SHENSTONE sung, With plaintive music on his tongue " Whoe'er has travell'd Life's dull round, Where'er his changeful tour has been, Will sigh to think how oft he found His warmest welcome at an Inn." Twas at an Inn, in calm repose, Heedless of human joys 01 woes, That Syntax pass'd a quiet night In pleasing dreams and slumbers light ; But in the morn the thunder roar'd, The clouds their streaming torrents pour'd ; The angry winds impetuous blew, The rattling casement open flew ; Scared at the noise, he rear'd his head ; Then starting quickly from the bed, " Is it," he cried, " the day of doom ?" As he bestrode the trembling room. The houses' tops with water stream'd, The village-street a river seerr.'d ; While, at the tempest all amaz'd, The rustics from their windows gaz'd. " I'm not," he said " dispos'd to fear, But 'tis not time to loiter here ; I'll change the scene and quick retire From flaming flash to kitchen me> Nay, while rude Nature's threats prevail, I'll lose the storm in toast and ale." Half-dress'd he made a quick retreat, And in the kitchen took his seat, Where an old woman told the host What by the lightning she had lost : IN SEARCH OF THE PICTURESQUE. ... How a blue flash her sow had struck, Had kill'd a cock and lam'd a duck ! With open mouth another came, To tell a rick was in a flame, And then declared that on the spire He saw the weathercock on tire : Nay, that so loud the winds were singing They'd set the peal of bells a-ringing ! A dripping tailor enter'd next And preach'd upon the self-same text : He swore that sitting on his board, While the wind blew and thunder roaHd, A kind of fiery flame came pop, And bounc'd and ran about his shop ; Now here, now there, so quick and nimble, It sing'd his finger through his thimble ; That all about his needles ran, If there was any truth in man : While buttons, at least half a score, Were driven through the kitchen door ! The Sexton, with important mien, Gave his opinion on the scene ; And, to the Doctor drawing near, Thus gently whisper'd in his ear : " The Devil himself his cell has burst, To fly away with Lawyer Thrust." Now having with due patience heard The story which each wight preferr'd, Syntax was to the parlour shown, Where he might breakfast all alone. " I see," said he, " I here must stay And at the Dragon pass the day : And this same Dragon, on my life, Just hints that I have got a wife : Nor can I pass the morning better Than to indite this wife a letter." He paus'd and sigh'd e'er he began. When thus the fond epistle ran. " My dearest Doll, full many a day From you and home I've been away ; But, though we thus are doom'd to part You're ever present in my heart : Whene'er my pray'rs to Heav*n arise, At morn or evening sacrifice. Whenever for Heaven's care they sue-_ I ask it for my Dolly too. My Journey, like Life's common road, Has had its evils and its good ; But I've no reason to complain, When pleasure has out weighed the pain. With flat? ring Fortune in my view, Glad I the toilsome way pursue ; For I've no fear to make a book, In which the world will like to look, Nor do I doubt will prove a Mine For my own comfort, and for thine! But should all fail, I've found a friend In my old school-mate DlCKEY BLND ; Who, kind and wealthy, will repay, If hope should cheat me on the way, My ev'ry loss I may sustain, And ease ill-fortune of its pain. He has engaged to glad our home, With promise of much good to come. Particulars of what I've seen, What I have done where I have been I shall reserve for my return, When as the crackling faggots burn, I will in all domestic glory, Smoke out my pipe, and tell my story But be assured fm free from danger; To the world's tricks I'm not a stranger : Whatever risks Pmforc'd to run, I shall take care of number one , While you at home will keep in view, The self-same care of number two. To my kind neighbours I commend The wishes of thdr distant friend ; 3 _4 TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTAX Within ten (fays, perhaps a week, I shall YORK.'sfam0us city seek. Where at the post, I hope to find A line from Dolly, ever kind. And, if you will the pleasure crown, Tell me the prattle of our town ; Of all that's passing and has past, Since your dear Hub beheld it last : And know the truth which I impart, The offspring of my honest hearty That wheresoever Pm doomed to roam, I still shall find that Home is Home : That true to love and miptial vows, I shall remain your loving spouse, Such are the tender truths I tell j Conjux carissima -farewell /" Thus he his kindest thoughts reveal'd But scarce had he the letter seal'd, When straight appear'd the trembling Host Looking as pale as any ghost : " A man's just come into the town, Who says the castle's tumbled down : And that with one tremendous blow, The lightning's force has laid it low." " What castle, friend ?" the Doctor cried. " The castle by the river side ; A famous place, where as folks say, Some great king liv'd in former day : But this fine building long has been A sad and ruinated scene, Where owls, and bats, and starlings dwell, And where, alas, as people tell, At the dark hour when midnight reigns, Ghosts walk, all arm'd, and rattle chains." " Peace, peace," said Syntax, " Peace, my friend, Nor to such tales attention lend. But this new thought I must pursue : A castle and a ruin too ; I'll hasten there and take a view." The storm was past and many a ray Of Phoebus now reviv'd the day, When Grizzle to the door was brought And this fam'd spot the Doctor sought. Upon a rock the castle stood, Three sides environ'd by a flood, Where confluent streams uniting lave The craggy rift with foaming wave. Around the moss-clad walls he walk'd, Then through the inner chambers stalk'd, And thus exclaim'd with look profound, The echoes giving back the sound. * Let me expatiate here awhile : I think this antiquated pile Is, doubtless, in the Saxon style. This was a noble spacious hall, But why the chapel made so small? I fear our fathers took more care Of festive hall than house of prayer. I find these Barons fierce and bold, Who proudly liv'd in days of old, To pra/r preferr'd a sumptuous treat, Nor went to pray when they could eat Here all along the banners hung ; And here the welcome minstrels sung : The walls with glitt'ring arms beclight Display'd an animating sight : IX SEARCH OF THE PICTURESQUE. 35 Beneath that arch-way, once a gate, With helmed crest, in warlike state The bands march'd forth, nor fear'd the toil, Of bloody war that gave the spoil. But now alas ! no more remains Than will reward the painter's pains : The palace of the feudal victor Now serves for nought but for a picture. Plenty of water here I see, But what's a view without a tree ? There's something grand in yonder tower, But not a shrub to make a bower ; Howe'er I'll try to take the view, As well as my best art can do." An heap of stones the Doctor found, Which loosely lay upon the ground, To form a seat, where he might trace The antique beauty of the place : But, while his eye observ'd the line That was to limit the design, The stones gave way, and sad to tell, Down from the bank he headlong fell. The slush, collected for an age, Receiv'd the venerable Sage ; For, at the time, the ebbing flood Was just retreating from the mud : But, after floundering about, Syntax contriv'd to waddle out, Half-stunn'd, amaz'd, and cover'd o'er As seldom wight had been before. O'erwhelm'd with filth, and stink, and grief, He saw no house to give relief ; And, thus amid the village din, He ran the gauntlet to the inn. A.n angler threw his hook so pat, He caught at once the Doctor's hat : A bathing boy, who naked stood, Dash'd boldly in the eddying flood, And, swimming onward like a grig, Soon overtook the Doctor's wig. Grizzle had trac'd the barren spot, Where not a blade of grass was got : And, finding noughtto tempt her stay, She to the Dragon took her way. The ostler cried : " Here's some disaster The mare's return'd without her master !" But soon he came amid the noise Of men and women, girls and boys : Glad in the inn to find retreat From the rude insult of the street. Undress'd, well wash'd and put to bed, With mind disturb'd, and aching head, In vain poor Syntax sought repose, But lay and counted all his woes. The friendly Host, with anxious care, Now hastes the posset to prepare : The cordial draught he kindly gives; Which Syntax with a smile receives : Then seeks, in sleep, a pause from sorrow, In hopes of better fate to-morrow. CANTO X. POOR mortal man in ev'ry state What troubles and what ills await J His transient joy is chas'd by sorrow, To-day he's blest ; a wretch to-morrow. When in the world he first appears, He hails the light with cries and tears : A school-boy next, he fears the nod Of pedant pow'r, and feels the rod : 3 6 TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTAX When to an active stripling grown The Passions seize him as their own ; Now lead him here, now drive him there, The alternate sport of Joy and Care ; Allure him with their glitt'ring treasure, Or give the brimming cup of pleasure ; While one eludes his eager haste, The other palls upon the taste. The pointed darts from Cupid's quiver, Wound his warm heart, and pierce his liver ; While charm'd by fair Belinda's eyes, He dines on groans, and sups on sighs. If from this gay and giddy round He should escape both safe and sound, Perhaps, if all things else miscarry, He takes it in his head to marry ; And in this lottery of life, If he should draw a scolding wife, With a few children, eight or ten (For such things happen now and then), Poor hapless man ! he knows not where To look around without a care. Ambition in its airy flight, May tempt him to some giddy height ; But, ere the point he can attain, He tumbles, ne'er to rise again. Pale Av'rice may his heart possess, The bane of human happiness, Which never feels for others' woe, Nor ever does a smile bestow : A wretched, meagre, griping elf, A foe to all, and to himself. Then comes Disease, with baneful train, And the pale family of Pain : Till death appears in awful state, And calls him to the realms of Fate. How oft is Virtue seen to feel The woeful turn of Fortune's wheel, While she with golden stores awaits, The wicked in their very gates. But Virtue still the value knows Of honest deeds, and can repose Upon the flint her naked head ; While Vice lays restless on the bed Of softest down, and courts in vain The opiate to relieve its pain. It was not Vice that e'er could keep Dear Syntax from refreshing sleep ; For no foul thought, no wicked art, In his pure life e'er bore a part Some ailment dire his slumbers broke, And, e'er the sun 'rose he awoke ; When such a tremor o'er him pass'd ; He thought that hour would prove his last His limbs were all besieg'd by pain ; He now grew hot, then cold again : His tongue was parch'd, his lips were dry, And, heaving the unbidden sigh, He rang the bell, and calPd for aid, Then groan'd so loud th' affrighted maid Spread the alarm throughout the house, When straight the landlord and his spouse Made all dispatch to do their best And ease the sufferings of their guest " Have you a Doctor ?" Syntax said ; " If not, I shortly shall be dead." " O yes ; a very famous man ; He'll cure you, Sir, if physic can ! I'll fetch him quick ; a man renown'd For his great skill the country round." IN SEARCH OF THE PICTURESQUE. 37 The Landlord soon the Doctor brought, Whose words were grave, whose looks were thought : By the bed-side he took his stand, And felt the patient's burning hand; Then, with a scientific face, He told the symptoms of the case " His frame's assail'd with fev'rish heats ; His pulse with rapid movement beats ; And now, I think, 'twould do him good, Were he to lose a little blood : Some other useful matters too, To ease his pain, I have in view. I'll just step home, and in a trice, Will bring the fruits of my advice ; In the mean time, his thirst assuage With tea that's made of balm or sage." He soon return'd, his skill applied, From the vein flow'd the crimson tide, And, as the folk behind him stand, He thus declar'd his stern command ; " At nine these powders let him take ; At ten this draught, the phial shake ; And you'll remember at eleven, Three of these pills must then be given ; This course you'll carefully pursue, And give, at twelve, the bohis too: If he should wander, in a crack Clap this broad blister on his back ; And, after he has had the blister, Within an hour apply the clyster. 1 must be gone ; at three or four I shall return with something more." Now Syntax and his fev'rish state Became the subject of debate. The mistress said she was afraid No medicine would give him aid ; For she had heard the screech-owl scream, And had besides a horrid dream. Last night the candle burn'd so blue ; While from the fire a coffin flew; And, as she sleepless lay in bed, She heard a death-watch at her head. The maid and ostler too declar'd That noises strange they both had heard. "Aye," cried the Sexton, " these portend To the sick man a speedy end ; And, when that I have drank my liquor, I'll e'en go straight and fetch the Vicar." The Vicar came, a worthy man, And like a good Samaritan Approach'd in haste the stranger's bed, Where Syntax lay with aching head ; And, without any fuss or pother, He offer'd to his rev'rend brother His purse, his house, and all the care Which a kind heart could give him there. Says Syntax, in a languid voice, "You make my very soul rejoice ; For if within this house I stay, My flesh will soon be turn'd to clay : For the good Doctor means to pop Into my stomach all his shop. I think, dear Sir, that I could eat, And physic's but a nauseous treat : If all that stuff's to be endur'd, I shall be kill'd in being cur'd. " O," said the Vicar, " never fear ; We'll leave the apparatus heie. Come, quit your bed I pray you, come, This arm shall bear you to my home, Where I, and my dear mate will find Med'cine more suited to your mind." 3 8 TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTAX Syntax now rose, but feeble stood, From want of food and loss of blood ; But still he ventur'd to repair To the good Vicar's house and care ; And found at dinner pretty picking, In pudding boil'd and roasted chicken. Again, 'twas honest Grizzle's fate To take her way through church-yard gate ; And, undisturb'd, once more to riot In the green feast of church-yard diet. The Vicar was at Oxford bred, And had much learning in his head ; But, what was far the better part, He had much goodness in his heart : He also had a charming wife The pride and pleasure of his life ; A loving, kind and friendly creature, As blest in virtue as in feature, Who, without blisters, drugs, or pills, Her patient cured of all his ills. Three days he stay'd a welcome guest, And eat and drank of what was best ; When, on the fourth, in health renew'd, His anxious journey he pursued. In two days more before his eyes The stately towers of York arise. " But what," said he, " can all this mean ! What is yon crowded busy scene ? Ten thousand souls, I do maintain, Are scatter'd over yonder plain." " Aye, more than that," a man replied, Who trotted briskly by his side, "And if you choose, I'll be your guide : For sure you will not pass this way, And miss the pleasure of the day : These are the races, to whose sport Nobles and gentry all resort." Thought Syntax I'll just take a look ; 'Twill give a subject to my book. So on they went ; the highway friend His services did thus commend. " I will attend you to the course, And tell the name of ev'ry horse ; But first we'll go and take a whet, And then I'll teach you how to bet ; I'll name the horse that's doom'd to win We'll take the knowing fellows in." just as he spoke, the sports began ; The jockies whipp'd, the horses ran ; And, when the coursers reach'd the post, The man scream'd out Your horse has lost : I've had the luck I've won the day, And you have twenty pounds to pay." Syntax look'd wild the man said " Zounds ! You know you betted twenty pounds ; So pay them down, or you'll fare worse, For I will flog you off the course." The Doctor rav'd, and disavow'd The bold assertion to the crowd. Vhat would have been his hapless fate, In this most unexpected state, May well be guess'd : But, lo ! a friend Fortune was kind enough to send. An honest 'Squire, who smok'd the trick, Appear'd well-arm'd with oaken stick, And placing many a sturdy blow Upon the shoulders of the foe, " It is with all my soul I beat This vile, this most notorious cheat." 77V SEA R CH OF THE PIC TURESQ UE. 3 9 The 'Squire exclaim'd ; " and you, good folk, Who sometimes love a pleasant joke, As I am partly tired of thumping, Should treat the scoundrel with a pumping." The crowd with their commission pleas'd Rudely the trembling Black-leg seiz'd, Who, to their justice forc'd to yield, Soon ran off dripping from the field. Syntax his simple story told, The 'Squire, as kind as he was bold, His full protection now affords, And cheer'd him both with wine and words. " I love the Clergy from my heart, And always take a Parson's part. My father, Doctor, wore the gown A better man was never known : But an old uncle, a poor elf, Who to save riches, starv'd himself, By his last will bequeath'd me clear At least two thousand pounds a year, And sav'd me all the pains at college, To pore o'er books and aim at knowledge : Thus free from care, I live at ease ; Go where I will, do what I please, Pursue my sports, enjoy my pleasure, Nor envy Lords their splendid treasure. I have an house at York beside, Where you shall go and straight reside, And ev'ry kindness shall be shown, Both for my Dad's sake, and your own : For know, good Sir, I'm never loth To mark my friendship for the Cloth. Hearty's my name, and you shall find A welcome, Doctor, to your mind : And I've a wife so blithe and gay, Who ne'er says yes when I say nay." Syntax observ'd, " that was a blessing A man might boast of in possessing." At length arriv'd, a lady fair Received them with a winning air. " Ah," said the 'Squire, " I always come, My dearest girl, with pleasure home : You see a rev'rend Doctor here, So give him of your choicest cheer :" " Yes" she replied, " O yes, my dear." " Nor fail all kindness to bestow :" " O no, my dear," she said, " O no." Thus happy Syntax join'd the party Of Madam and of 'Squire Hearty. CANTO XI. IN this sad, variegated life, Evil and good, in daily strife, Contend, we find, wh'ch shall be master : Now Fortune smiles then sad disaster Assumes in turn its frowning power, And gives to man his chequer'd hour. With chequer'd hours good Syntax thought, And well he might, his journey fraught ; 4 TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTAX But still he hop'd, when all was past, That he should comfort find at last. Thus, with unlook'd-for kindness blest, No fears alarm his tranquil breast ; He eats, and drinks, and goes to rest ; And when the welcome 'morrow came, The 'Squire and Madam were the same. Just as the Minster-clock struck nine, Coffee and tea, and fowl and chine, Appear'd in all their due array, To give the breakfast of the day. The 'Squire then the talk began, And thus the conversation ran. 'SQUIRE HEARTY. " Doctor, you truly may believe The pleasure which I now receive In seeing you, as you sit there, On what was once my father's chair. I pray you think this house your home, Aye, though it were three months to come. Here you will find yourself at ease May read or write just as you please. At nine we breakfast, as you see Dinner is always here at three ; At six my wife will give you tea." MRS. HEARTY. " And should you find the evening long, I'll play a tune and sing a song." 'SQUIRE HEARTY. " Besides, you'll range the country round, Some curious things may there be found : Your genius too may chance to trace, Within this celebrated place, Some ancient building worth a look, That may perhaps enrich your book. I'm a true Briton, as you see : I love good cheer, and liberty ; And what I love myself, I'll give To others, while I'm doomed to live. This morning I intend to go To see the military show. The light dragoons now quarter'd here Will all in grand review appear : They are a regiment of renown, And some great Gen'ral is come down To see them all, in bright array, Act the fierce battle of the day. If you should like such sights as these, If warlike feats your fancy please, We'll to the common take a ride, And I myself will be your guide : So, if you please, within an hour Our nags shall be before the door." SYNTAX. " I will be ready to attend The summons of my worthy friend. The laurell'd Hero's my delight, With plumed crest and helmet bright : E'en when a boy, at early age, I read in Homer's lofty page How the stout Greeks, in times of yore, Brought havoc to the Phrygian shore : I revell'd in that ancient story, And burn'd with ardent love of glory. Whene'er I trac'd the Fields of Troy My heart beat high with martial joy. 'Tis true, I pray that war may cease, And Europe hail returning Peace ; Yet still I feel my bosom glow When British heroes meet the foe ; When our arm'd legions make him fly, And yield the palm of Victory ; Or when our naval thunders roar, And terrify the Gallic shore. IN SEARCH OF THE PICTURESQUE. 41 This grand review will give me pleasure, And I shall wait upon your leisure." But, as no time was to be lost, Syntax now hasten'd to the post : The post obey'd his loud command, And gave a letter to his hand. With eager haste the seal he broke, And thus the fond epistle spoke. " My dearest husband, on my life I thought you had forgot your wife, While she, to her affection true, Was always thinking, Love, on you. By this time, I presume, you've made No small advancement in your trade : I mean, my dear, that this same book, To which I with impatience look, Is full of promise ; and I'm bold To hope for a return in gold. I have no doubt that ample gains Will well reward your learned pains, And with a bounteous store, repay Your anxious toil of many a day ; For well, my dearest friend, I know, Where'er you are compelled to go, You still must sigh that you should be So long away from Love and me. I truly say my heart doth burn With ardent wish for your retTtrn ; And that I may my Syntax greet With all due honour when we meet ; The milliner is uow preparing A dress that wilt be worth the wearing, Just such an one as I have seen In ACKERMAN'S LAST MAGAZINE, Where, by the skilful painter's aid, Each fashion is so well displayed. A robe of crape with satin boddice, Will make me look like any goddess : A mantle too is all the ton, And therefore I have ordered one : I've also got a lilac bonnet, And plac'd a yellow feather on it : Thus I shall be so very smart, ' Twill vex Miss Raisin to the heart ! Oh / it will make me burst with laughter, To plague the purse-proud grocer's daughter ; While through the town as you shall see No one will be so fine as me. Oh ! with what pleasure and delight I shall present me to your sight ; How shall I hug you, dearest honey, When you return brimfull of money? Syntax exclaim'd, in accents sad, " The woman's surely gone stark mad ! To ruin, all her airs will tend ; But I'll read on, and see the end." " As to the news, why you must know, Things in their usual order go: Jobson the Tanner's run away, And has not left a doit to pay : Bet Bumkin was last Thursday married, A nd Mrs. Stillborn has miscarried. ht the High-street, the other day, Good Mrs. Squeamish swootfdaway, And was so ill, as it is said, That she was borne away for dead; But Mother Gossip, who knows all The neighbours round, both great and small, Has hinted to me, as she thinks, That pious Mrs. Squeamish drinks. There is a Lady just come down, A dashing, frisky dame from town. To visit Madam Stapletonj She's said to be a London toast, But has no mighty charms to boast ; For it is clear to my keen sight, That she lays on doth red and white. She drives about, in chaise and pair, And, I have heard can curse and swear : But I mind not these things, not I, I never deal in calumny, So fare you well, my dearest life. And I remain, yout loving 42 TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTAX P.S. " But if you fear that you shall come Without a bag of money home, 'Twere better far that you should take A leap at once into the Lake : 2'd rather hear that you were drown' d, Than that you should my hopes confound /" These tender lines did not impart Much comfort to the Doctor's heart ; He therefore thought it would be better, To lay aside this pretty letter; Nor suffer its contents to sour The pleasure of the present hour. The 'Squire now became his guide, So off they trotted, side by side ; And, e'er they pass'd a mile or two, Beheld the scene of the review. The troops drawn up in proud array, An animating sight display ; The well-form'd squadrons wheel around, The standards wave, the trumpets sound, When Grizzle, long inur'd to war, And not without an honour'd scar, Found all her former spirits glow As when she used to meet the foe : No ears she prick'd, for she had none : Nor cock'd her tail, for that was gone : But still she snorted, foam'd, and flounc'd ; Then up she rear'd and off she bounc'd ; And, having playM these pretty pranks, Dash'd all at once into the ranks! While Syntax, though unus'd to fear, Suspected that his end was near. But, though his courage 'gan to addle, He still stuck close upon his saddle ; While to the trumpets on the hill, Grizzle sped fast, and then stood still : With them she clos'd her warlike race, And took with pride her ancient place ; For Grizzle, as we've told before, Once to the wars a trumpet bore. At length recover'd from his fright, The Doctor stay'd and view'd the sight ; And then with heart as light as cork, He with his friends jogg'd back to York, Where was renew'd the friendly fare, And ev'ry comfort promis'd there. The time in chit-chat pass'd away, Till the chimes told the closing day: "And now," says pleasant Madam Hearty, " What think you if our little party Should each to sing a song agree ? 'Twill give a sweet variety. Thus let the passing moments roll, Till Thomas brings the ev'ning bowl ; The Doctor, sure, will do his best And kindly grant my poor request." The Doctor, though by nature grave, And rather form'd to tune a stave, Whene'er he got a little mellow, Was a most merry pleasant fellow ; Would sing a song, or tell a riddle, Or play a hornpipe on the fiddle ; And, being now a little gay, Declar'd his wishes to obey. " Then I'll begin," Squire Hearty said, " But though by land my tours are made, Whene'er I tune a song or elee, I quit the land, and go to sea." THE 'SQUIRE'S SONG. The signal given, we seek the main, Where tempests rage, and billows roar ; Nor know we if we e'er again Shall anchor on our native shore. TN SEARCH OF THE PICTURESQUE. 43 But, as through surging waves we sail, And distant seas and isles explore, Hope whispers that some future gale Will waft us to our native shore When battle rages all amain, And hostile arms their vengeance pour, We British sailors will maintain The honour of our native shore. But, should we find a wat'ry grave, A nation will our loss deplore ; And tears will mingle with the wave That breaks upon our native shore. And after many a battle won, When ev'ry toil and danger's o'er, How great the joy, each duty done, To anchor on our native shore ! MRS. HEARTY'S SONG. CUPID, away ! thy work is o'er : Go seek Idalia's flow'ry grove ! Your pointed darts will pain no more ; HYMEN has heal'd the wounds of Love. HYMEN is here, and all is rest ; To distant flight thy pinions move : No anxious doubts, no fears molest ; HYMEN has sooth'd the pangs of Love. CUPID, away ! the deed is done ! Away, 'mid other scenes to rove : For Ralph and Isabel are one, And HYMEN guards the home of Love. The Doctor now his rev'rence made, And Madam's smiling nod obey'd. " Your songs," said he, l ' have giv'n me pleasure As well in subject as in measure ; But, in some modern songs, the taste Is far, I'm sure, from being chaste : They do not make the least pretence To poetry or common sense. Some coarse conceits, a lively air, With a da capo, here and there, Of uncouth words, which ne'er were found In any language above ground ; And these set off with some strange phrase, Compose our sing-song now-a-days. The dancing-master of my school In this way oft will play the fool And make one laugh one knows not why, But we had better laugh than cry. The song, which you're about to hear Will of this character appear ; From London it was sent him down, As a great fav'rite through the town." DOCTOR SYNTAX'S SONG. I've got a scold of a wife, The plague and storm of my life \ O ! were she in coal-pit bottom, And all such jades, 'od rot 'em f My cares would then be over, And I should live in clover ^ With harum scarum, horum scorum, Stew'd prunes for ever ! Stew'd prunes for ever ! Brother Tom's in the codlin-tree, As blithe as blithe can be : While Dorothy sits below, Where the daffodillies grow : And many a slender rush, And blackberries all on a bush : With harum scarum, &c. &c. We'll all to the castle go Like grenadiers all of a row, While the horn and trump shall sound As we pace the ramparts round, Where many a lady fair Comes forth to take the air. With harum scarum, &c. &c. The vessel spreads her sails To catch the rising gales, And dances o'er the wave ; While many a love lorn slave 44 TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTAX To his mistress tells his tale, Far off in the distant vale ; With harum scarum, &c. &c. When the dew is on the rose, And the wanton zephyr blows ; When lilies raise their head, And harebells fragrance shed, Then I to the rocks will hie, And sing a lullaby : With harum scarum, &c. &c. By fam'd Ilyssus' stream How oft I fondly dream, When I read in classic pages Of all the ancient sages ; But they were born to die ! And so were you and I ; With harum scarum, riorum scorum, Stew'd prunes for ever ? Stew'd prunes for ever ! Thus with many a pleasant lay, The party clos'd th' exhausted day. CANTO XII. LIFE is a journey, on we go Through many a scene of joy and woe : Time flits along and will not stay, Nor let us linger on the way : Like as a stream, whose varying course Now rushes with impetuous force ; Now in successive eddies plays, Or in meanders gently strays. It still moves on, till spreading wide, It mingles with the briny tide ; And, when it meets the ocean's roar, The limpid waves are seen no more. Such, such is Life's uncertain way ; Now the sun wakes th' enliv'ning day : The scene around enchants the sight ; To cool retreat the shades invite ; The blossoms balmy fragrance shed ; The meads a verdant carpet spread ; While the clear rill reflects below The flowers that on its margin grow, And the sweet songsters of the grove Attune to harmony and love. But lo ! the clouds obscure the sky, And tell the bursting tempest nigh, The vivid flash, the pelting storm Fair Nature's ev'ry grace deform ; While their assailing powers annoy The pensive pilgrim's tranquil joy : But, though no tempests should molest The bower where he stops to rest, Care will not let him long remain, But sets him on his way again. Thus Syntax, whom the 'Squire had press'd For three whole months to take his rest ; Sigh'd when he found he could not stay To loiter through another day : " No," he exclaim'd, " I must away : I have a splendid book to make, To form a Tour, to paint a Lake ; And, by that well projected Tome, To carry fame and money home : And should I fail, my loving wife Will lead me such a precious life, That I had better never more Approach my then forbidden door." Twas thus he ponder'd as he lay, When the sun told another day, Nor long the downy couch he press'd, Where busy thought disturb'd his rest ; But quick prepar'd with grateful heart, From this warm mansion to depart. AV SEARCH OF THE PICTURESQUE. 45 The 'Squire to his professions true, Thus spoke at once his kind adieu. 'SQUIRE. " I'm sorry, Sir, with all my heart, That you and I so soon must part : Your virtues my regard engage ; I venerate the rev'rend sage ; And, though I've not the mind to toil In Learning's way, by midnight oil, Yet still I feel the rev'rence due To all such learned men as you : Nor can I urge your longer stay, When Science calls you far away : But still I hope you'll not refuse My friendly tribute to the Muse ; And when again you this way come, Again you'll find this house a home. Besides, I mean to recommend Your labours to a noble friend Who well is known to rank as high In learning as in quality ; Who can your merits well review ; A statesman and a poet too : He will your genius truly scan, And though a Lord, a learned man. For C****** is an honour'd name, Whose virtue and unsully'd fame Will decorate the historic page, And live through ev'ry future age. That courteous Lord doth condescend To know me for a faithful friend ; And, when you to his Lordship give The letter which you now receive, Expect, on his right noble part, A welcome that will cheer your heart. To then repair, And Honour will attend you there. Nor fear, my friend, that gilded state Will frown upon your humble fate ; My Lord is good as he is great." SYNTAX. " Your kindness, surely, knows no end ; You are in truth a real friend ; Nor can my feeble tongue express This unexpected happiness : For if this noble Lord should deign My feeble labours to sustain, With the all-cheering, splendid rays Of his benign, protecting praise, My fortune will at once be made, And I shall bless the author's trade." Thus, as he spoke, 'Squire Hearty gave The letter Syntax long'd to have ; And with it a soft silky note, On which two coal-black words were wrote ; The sight of which his sense confounds, For these said words were Sftocnto ^OotinBs. " Check," said the 'Squire, " your wond'ring look ; 'Tis my subscription to your book ; And when 'tis printed, you will send A copy to your Yorkshire friend ; "Jesides, I'll try to sell a score Among my neighbours here, or more." The Doctor's tongue made no reply, But his heart heav'd a grateful sigh : lor, as he sits can we do better Than to repeat the promis'd letter. MY LORD, This liberty I take, For laughter and for merit' s sake ; And when the bearer shall appear In your fine mansion's atmosphere, His figure will your spirits cheer. You need no other topic seek; He'll furnish laughter for a week. But still I say, and tell you true, You'll love him for his merit too. You'll see at once in this Divine, Quixote and Parson Adams shine : 4 TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTAX An hero well combin'dyott'll view For FIELDING and CERVANTES too : Besides, my Lord, if I can judge, In classic lore he's ^ts'd to drudge. O do but hear his simple story j Let him but lay it all before you j And yoit will thank me for my letter, And say that you are HEARTY'S debtor : Nay, when yo^^.r sides are tir'd with mirth t Yoitr heart will feel his real worth. I know your kindness will receive him, And to your favour thus I leave him. So I remain with zeal most fervent, Your Lordships true and hearty servant. YORK, Thursday. R. H." The Doctor now prepar'd to go, With heart of joy and look of woe He silent squeez'd the 'Squire's hands. And ask'd of Madam her commands. The 'Squire exclaim'd, " why so remiss? She bids you take a hearty kiss ; And if you think that one won't do, I beg, dear Sir, you'll give her two :" " Nay then,' 1 says Syntax, " you shall see ;" And straight he gave the Lady three ; Nor did he linger to exclaim, " He ne'er had kiss'd a fairer dame." The Lady blushing thank'd him too, And in soft accents, said "Adieu !" Syntax, since first he left his home, Had no such view of good to come, As now before his fancy rose To bid him laugh at future woes. " Fortune," he cried, " is kind at last, And I forgive her malice past ; Clad in C 's benignant form, Her power no more will wake the storm, Nor e'er again her anger shed In frequent showers upon my head ?" Now after a short morning's ride, In eager Hope and Fancy's pride, The Doctor views with conscious smile, Fair 's splendid pile. Not Versailles makes a finer show, As, passing o'er the lofty brow, The stately scene is viewed below. The Lord received him with a grace Which mark'd the sov'reign of the place ; Nor was poor Syntax made to feel The pride which fools so oft reveal ; Who think it a fine state decorum, When humble merit stands before 'em : But here was birth from folly free, Here was the true nobility, Where human kindness gilds the crest ; The first of virtues and the best. An hour in pleasant chit-chat past, The welcome dinner came at last ; And now the hungry Syntax eats Of high regouts and dainty meats , Nor was the good man found to shrink Whenever he was ask'd to drink. MY LORD. " What think you, Doctor, of the show Of pictures that around you glow ?" SYNTAX. " I'll by-and-by enjoy the treat ; But now, my Lord, I'd rather eat." IN SEARCH OF THE PICTURESQUE. ^ may Heaven forgive The wicked age in which we live ! ,\\ go and tell my honest spouse The snake he harbours in his house : 11 give such hypocrites their due, I'll warrant it ;" and off she flew The Host arnv'd, but by that time, The false alarm, th' imputed crime, Nancy had ventur'd to unfold, And mother now had ceas'd to scold ; While, the rude anger turn'd to mirth, They all confess the Doctor's worth. ?-i nner W ? S S0on upon the table > And Grizzle feeding in the stable While joyful Syntax, once again, Forgot past accidents and pain ; And when aight came repos'd his head In peace, upon the welcome bed ' IN SEARCH OF THE PICTURESQUE. ^ I But ne'er did he to sleep consign His weary limbs, till to the shrine Of Heaven, he had address'd the prayer Which ever finds admittance there. CANTO XIX. The Sun arose in all its pride : *' Hail the bright orb," the Doctor cried, " That makes the distant mountains glow, And clears the misty vales below ! O ! let me bless the power divine That bade its splendid fires to shim, Invigorating warmth to give To all that grow and all that live Which in the bowels of the earth, Brings the rich metal into birth ; Or, piercing through the secret mine, Makes rubies blush and diamonds shine : While man, the first, the head of all That breathes upon this earthly ball As freely feels its force as they Of insect tribe who in its ray, Pass their short hour and pass away. O, what a picture greets my sight ! How my heart revels in delight, While I behold the advancing day O'er the wide scene its power display J While, as I gaze, th' enchanted eye Drinks in the rich variety ! How the gleam brightens yonder tower ! How deep the shade within the bower ! The spreading oak and elm between, How fine those blushes intervene ! Those brilliant lights ! they would demand Claude's pencil or a Titian's hand ! E'en while the distant hills I view, Their orient colours change to blue. The stream, within whose silver wave, Poets might see the Naiads lave, Now, lost in shade, no more is seen To flow among the alders green ; But, let the eye its course pursue, Again it brightens in the view ; Reflecting as its current flows, Each flower that on the margin blows ! " Hail favourM casement ! where the sight Is courted to enjoy delight, T' ascend the hill and trace the plain, Where lavish Nature's proud to reign ! Unlike those pictures that impart The windows of Palladian art, From whence no other object's seen But gravel-walk, or shaven green ; Plann'd by the artist on his desk ; Pictures that are not picturesqiie. But I should not perform my duty Did I relinquish all this beauty ; Nor snatch, from this expansive view, Some pretty little scene or two. " The cot that's all bewhitened o'er, With children playing at the door; A peasant hanging o'er the hatch, And the vine mantling on the thatch ; While the thick coppice, down the hill, Throws its green umbrage o'er the rill, Whose stream drives on the busy mill, In pleasing group their forms combine, And suit a pencil such as mine. Nor shall I miss the branchy screen Of those fine elms that hide the green, O'er which the tap'ring spire is seen. I'll add no more for to my mind, The scene's complete and well design'd. 72 TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTAX There are, indeed, who would insert Those pigs which wallow in the dirt; And though I hold a pig is good Upon a dish, prepaid for food, I do not fear to say the brute Does not my taste in painting suit ; For I most solemnly aver, That he from genuine taste must err, Who flouts at grace or character ; And there's as much in my old wig As can be found about a pig. For, to say truth, I don't inherit This self-same picturesquish spirit, That looks to nought but what is rough, And ne'er thinks Nature coarse enough. Their system does my genius shock, Who see such graces in a dock ; Whose eye the picturesque admires In straggling brambles, and in briers ; Nay, can a real beauty see In a decay'd and rotten tree. I hate with them the trim of Art ; But from this rule I'll ne'er depart ; In grandame Nature's vast collection, To make a fair and fit selection, Which, when in happy contrast join'd, Delights th' inform'd, well-judging mind/' But lo ! the Farmer, at the gate, Proclaim'd aloud, the hour of eight ; And Syntax now in haste descends To join his kind, expecting friends. " Well," said his Host, " another day I trust your Reverence will stay." " I thank you for the offer made, But that can't be," the Doctor said ; " I have a weary way to go, And much to see, and more to know ; Indeed so far I've got to roam, A fortnight scarce will take me home ; And thanking you for all your care, I must beg leave to seek my mare." Grizzle was quickly to be found ; And, as the good folks stood around, Syntax thought proper to discourse Upon the Virtues of his horse ; Nor did he fail at large to tell That she had serv'd him passing well, While he forgot not to bewail Her loss of ears and loss of tail. For though, among the passing folk, His beast created many a joke, And though the foul and sad disaster Oft forc'd a laugh against the master, They should not part while he was able To keep himself and keep a stable ; Nay, to the last, he'd cut and carve, That his poor Grizzle might not starve. Thus, as his hist'ry he recounted Into the saddle up he mounted, And there for sometime having sat, He clos'd at length his farewell chat. He thought it best t' avoid caressing ; So gave no kiss, but gave his blessing. On home, on book, on fame, intent, The Doctor ponder'd as he went: At night he look'd his paper o'er, And added to the learned store : at the next morn, another scene, The vast expanse of liquid green, The ocean's self broke on his eye. In inexpressive majesty, here, as he look'd, full many a sail Gave its white canvas to the gale. And many a freighted vessel bore Its treasure to the British shore. When, as he trac'd the winding coast, In praise and admiration lost, Up-rising in the distant view, Half-seen through the ethereal blue A P*rs stately form appeared ; Upon the shore the mass was rea'-'d, U ith glistening spires, while below Masts like a forest seem'd to o- rO w 5 Liverpool, that splendid mart, Imperial London's counterpart, IN SEARCH OF THE PICTURESQUE. 73 Where wand'ring Mersey's rapid streams Rival the honours of the Thames, And bear on each returning tide, Whate'er by commerce is supplied, Whate'er the winds can hurry o'er From ev'ry clime and distant shore. Thus Syntax pac'd along the strand, Through this fine scene of sea and land : But nearer now the town appears, The hum of men salutes his ears ; And soon, amid the noisy din, He found the comforts of an Inn. He eat, he drank, his pipe he smok'd, And with the Landlord quaintly jok'd ; But e'er he slept, he pass'd an hour In adding something to his Tour; Then sought his couch, in hopes the morn Would with new thoughts the page adorn. The morning came he sallied out To breathe the air, and look about. Where'er he turn'd, his ev'ry sense Grasp'd one vast scene of opulence; In all he saw there was display'd The proud magnificence of trade. Syntax an humble scholar bred, With nought but learning in his head ; Profound, indeed, in classic art, And goodness reigning in his heart, Yet forty pounds a year was all He could his fix'd revenue call j For which on ev'ry Sabbath-day, He went eight miles to preach and pray. His school too, brought but little gains, And scarce repaid him for his pains ; It gave, 'tis true, to drink and eat, It furnish'd him with bread and meat, And kept the wolf without the door, But Syntax still was very poor. His wife, indeed, had got the art, To keep herself a little smart, Yet he, good man, was always seen With scanty coat and figure mean; Though still he never threw aside The pedant's air the pedant's pride. Thus, through the streets of this rich place, He strutted with his usual grace ; And thus he walk'd about the town, As if its wealth had been his own ; But of his wealth he could not vapour Twelve guineas and a piece of paper (The present of a noble Lord,) Was all his pockets did afford : Though still the lining of his coat Secreted 'Squire Hearty's note, And now he thought 'twould not be rash To turn the paper into cash. Thus, at his breakfast, while he sat, And social join'd the common chat, He took occasion to enquire Who would comply with his desire, Who would his anxious wish fulfil, And give him money for his bill. An arch young sprig, a banker's clerk, Resolv'd to hoax the rev'rend spark, And counsell'd him to take a range Among the Merchants on the 'Change. " Some one, perhaps, may want to send, A payment to a London friend ; He'll in your wishes gladly join, And take the draft and pay the coin." The Barber now the Doctor sheared, And soon whipp'd off his three-days' beard, His wig, which had not felt a comb, Not once since he had quitted home, Was destin'd now, with friz and whirl, To be tormented into curl : 74 TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTAX His coat, which long had ta'en the rust, Was soon depriv'd cf all its dust; His gaiters too, were fresh japann'd ; Such were the Doctor's stern command ; And now with spirits fresh and gay, To the Exchange he took his way, To try in this commercial town A little commerce of his own. Th' Exchange soot met his wond'ring sight ; The structure fill'd him with delight. " Such are the fruits of trading knowledge ! Learning," he cried, " builds no such college ! Indeed, I entertain a notion, (I speak the thought with true devotion,) Though we in Holy Scripture read That Tyre and Sidon did exceed In wealth, the cities of the world, Where ships their wand'ring sails unfurl'd, That e'en her merchants bore the bell In eating and in drinking well ; Were richer than the lordly great, And vy'd with princes in their state; Yet, with all their power and rule, I think that they ne'er went to school In such a 'Change as Liverpool." He enter'd now and heard within The crowded mart a buzzing din, A sound confus'd, the serenade Of ardent gain, and busy trade : At length his penetrating eye Was thrown about him, to descry Some one in whose sleek, smiling face, He could the lines of kindness trace : And soon a person he address'd, Whose paunch projected from his breast ; Who looking with good-humour fraught, Appear'd the very man he sought ; When, with an unassuming grace, To him he thus disclos'd his case. " You will this paper, Sir, peruse : And then, perhaps, you'll not refuse The favour which I ask to grant, And give the money that I want ; The draft is good and, on my word, It was a present from a Lord." MERCHANT." That may be true : but Lords, I fear, Will meet but little credit here : Tis a fair draft upon the view Yes, he's a Lord but who are you ?" SYNTAX. " Look, and an honest man you'll see, A Doctorin Divinity, Whose word's his bond ; nor e'er was known To do a deed he would not own." MERCHANT." I've nought to say all this may be- But have you no security ; Pray, Doctor, can't you find a friend To answer for what you pretend ?" SYNTAX. " No, I have none ! I am not known Within the precincts of this town." MERCHANT." And do you come to Liverpool To find a poor good-natur'd fool ? With all your learning and your worth, Pray have you travell'd so far north, To think we have so little wit, As by such biters to be bit ? lo learning we make no pretence : But, Doctor, we have common sense. t or learned men we do not seek : And if I may with freedom speak, I take you for a very Greek." SYNTAX." To know the Greek I do profess Tis my delight and happiness ; IN SEARCH OF THE PICTURESQUE. 75 And Homer's page I oft have read, Through the long night, with aching head, When my wife wanted me in bed." MERCHANT. " Then go to Homer, if you will, And see if he'll discount your bill. But the clock strikes. Good bye, old Sinner ! 'Tis time for me to go to dinner." " You want the monies \" said another, A bearded, Israelitish brother. "'Tis a suspected bill I find ; But you look poor and I am kind. Well, we must take the chance of trade ; For twenty pounds the draft is made ; It is too much, as I'm alive, But give it me and, here, take five." " Patience, good Heaven !" the Doctor said ; " Is this the boast and pride of trade ! Each man, they do not know, to treat As an incorrigible cheat ; And, when he does his want prefer To play the base extortioner ? Commerce, I envy not thy gains, Thy hard-earn'd wealth, thy golden pains, (For that's hard-earn'd, though gain'd with ease, Where Honour's sacred functions cease.) The dangers which thy vot'ries run, Or to undo, or be undone ; Whose hungry maws are daily bent On the fine feast of cent, per cent.; Whose virtue, talents, knowledge, health, Are all combin'd in that word wealth. 'Tis a proud scene ofmoney'd strife Forms this magnificence of life ; But poor and rich with all they have, Will find at length a common grave. Continue, bounteous Heav'n ! to me, A feeling heart, and poverty. These wights despise me, 'cause I'm poor ! But yet the wretched seek my door : I fear no Duns, I'm not in debt, I tremble not at the Gazette : 'Twould to my profit be, and fame, Did but its page display my name ; Can these proud merchants say the same ?" More he had said but now his bell The beadle rang aloud, to tell That the good folks should vanish straight, As he must shut the pond'rous gate. But Syntax did not seem to hear So the man rang it in his ear. SYNTAX. " I pray, my friend, what's all this rout With your fierce bell ?" BEADLE. " To ring you out." SYNTAX. " I've been us'd to hear the din Of bells that always rang me in." BEADLE. " All I've to say, for you to know, I'll shut the gate if you don't go : I sure shall leave you in the lurch, For now, good Sir, you're not at church." SYNTAX. " Indeed, my friend, you speak most true : I know all that as well as you. This is no temple ; for 'tis clear I find no money-changers here ; Nor will I say my mind conceives It may be call'd a den of thieves. -6 TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTAX Thanks to my stars, I've got enough Of that same yellow, useful stuff, . As will my ev'ry want befriend, And bear me to my journeys end ArVrv'd S townf my noble Lord Will welcome me to bed and board ; Wnen it wiU mkke^is Lordship sport, As I these trading tricks report ; How near I was the being cheated ; And how his ancient name was treated. CANTO XX. THUS as he spoke, there pass'd along, Among the crowding, grinning throng, One who was in full fashion drest, In coat of blue and corded vest, And seem'd superior to the rest His small-clothes sat so close and tight ; His boots, like jet, were black and bright ; While the gilt spur, well-arm'd with steel, Was seen to shine on either heel. Loaded with seals, and all bespangled, A watch-chain from his pocket dangled ; His hat a smiling face o'erspread, And almost hid his well-cropp'd head : He swung his whip about to greet His friends who hurried through the street ; When as he pass'd, all big with rage Syntax appear'd upon the stage, And still continued talking loud For the amusement of the crowd. The well-dress'd man now stopp'd, to know What work'd the angry Doctor so ; And, in a pleasant friendly way, Demanded where his grievance lay ; When, Syntax bowing, on they walk'd, And thus the social strangers talk'd. SYNTAX." These traders, Sir, I can't admire : You, I presume, Sir, are a 'Squire." MR. - " I have (and here there pass'd an oath), To say the truth, a spice of both : Tor now you have within your view A trader and a 'Squire too. Here I can some importance claim, And ---- is my well known name, Nay, there are few within this town Of more substantial renown. My house of trade is in this street ; A few miles off my country seat : Where I most frequently reside 'Mid all the charms of rural pride ; And I'll be - if e'er you see A lord who better lives than me." SYNTAX. " Fie, fie, good Sir, I cannot bear To hear a fellow-christian swear ; You' must well know such profanation Is a foul trick in ev'ry station : And will draw down celestial ire, Or on a trader, or a 'Squire . Nay, 'tis the duty of my cloth, Whene'er I hear, to check an oath. I'm a poor parson very poor I keep a school, and hold a cure ; But when I'm in the parish church, Or when at home I wield the birch, nV SEARCH OF THE PICTURESQUE. 77 [ know the dignities that wait Upon the power of either state ; I keep them always in my view Aye, Sir, and I maintain them too : Nay, in your 'Change, where, riches reign, I did that dignity maintain ; In that proud place, where, I am told, There sometimes pour down showers of gold ; But not like that we read of Jove, For that, you know, was pour'd for love ; And nothing like it did I see ; No love, nor e'en civility : I only ask'd a common grace, When the man mock'd me to my face : Had I an arrant swindler been, He could not with more scornful mien Have my polite proposal greeted : Indeed, I was most foully treated ; And by a dolt was made a joke Among the rude, surrounding folk Thus was I work'd into a stew, By Turk, by Gentile, and by Jew : How bless'd am I to meet with you ! For know, Sir, I've the art to scan The well-bred, finish'd gentleman ; And, therefore, I shall lay before you Some items of my honest story. The object of the Tour I make Is chiefly for the profit sake ; At the same time, I trust, my name May find some literary fame : You, if you please, may take a look At what I've finish'd of my Book : A noble Peer doth condescend To be my patron, and my friend ; I saw him late in York's fair county, And was the object of his bounty. This draft, with most becoming grace, The smile of goodness in his face, He soft convey'd unto my touch, He said, indeed, it was not much ; But, could I visit him in town, He'd make his further friendship known : And here, alas ! 1 was so rash To try to get it chang'd for cash ; For which, myself and this great Peer, Of these rude raffs, became the jeer. Permit me, Sir, to show the paper That made these purse-proud tradesmen vapour ; To its full value you'll accord ; Perhaps, Sir, you may know my Lord." MR. " I know him well, 'tis his hand-writing It is his Lordship's own inditing : I'll give the coin ; Why, blood and 'ounds ; I wish 'twere for five hundred pounds ! He is a Lord of great discerning ; His friendship proves your store of learning ; He's not more known for ancient birth, Than for the charm of private worth ; For all that elegance and grace Which decorate a noble race : Come here with me, and you shall find At least one trader to your mind." Syntax now smooth'd his angry look, And straight prepar'd to show his Book. In a fine room he soon was seated ; With all attention he was treated ; And while they at their luncheon sat, Ten minutes pass'd in friendly chat. At length the bus'ness was arrang'd ; The deed was done, the draft was chang'd ; And, as the Doctor plac'd his note In a small pouch within his coat, g TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTAX 11 There," said the 'Squire, " there's another ; I've match'd it with its very brother, The Bank of England is their mother ; And when they're offer'd to her eye, She'll own them as her progeny. So tell my Lord, that I, for one, Am proud to do as he has done : Nor is this all, my learned friend ; Here our acquaintance must not end ; My phaeton and servants wait, All in due order at the gate : So you shall go along and see My rural hospitality. For a few days we will contrive To keep our spirits all alive : I'll send the groom to fetch your mare, So laugh at thought and banish care." Thus off they went and four-in-hand, Dash'd briskly tow'rds the promis'd land : Syntax first told his simple story, And then the 'Squire detail'd his glory. MR. " Now we're away in chaise-and-four, I am a Merchant, Sir, no more, At least, whene'er I thus retire, To flourish as a country 'Squire ; And you will see how I prepare An opiate for mercantile care. In learned labours some proceed, But I prefer the racing steed : Some to Ambition's heights ascend ; I to the Racing-course attend : In study, I ne'er wander far ; Mine is the Racing- Calendar, While with keen eye the Heralds see The long trac'd line of ancestry, Give me a Horse's pedigree. Others some pow'rful station boast ; But let me gain the winning-post. It may be sweet with babes to play, But I prefer the Filly's neigh. You talk of men of wit and parts, Of the deep sciences and arts ; Give me the science that will teach The knowing one to over-reach : And, as for pictures and such things, Which Taste from foreign countries brings ; A brood-mare, in maternal pride, With a colt trotting by her side, Is to my eye more pleasing far Than Hero in triumphant car, Or sea-born Venus weeping o'er Adonis, wounded by a boar." SYNTAX " These points, good Sir, I can't discuss : I know no steed but Pegasus." MR. " Cut off his wings, I've got a horse Shall run him o'er the Beacon Course ; And, though Apollo should bestride him, I'll back my horse for I will ride him." Thus as he spoke, a row of trees, Which a full age had felt the breeze, And half that time, at least, had made A long cathedral aisle of shade, Appear'd in view, and mark'd the road Which led to this brave 'Squire's abode, Whose stately chambers soon possest The Doctor as a welcome guest. The dinner came a sumptuous treat ; Nor did the parson fail to eat In the same way he us'd to do As much as any other two. The cakes he munch'd the wine he quaffd, His tale he told the Ladies laugh'd ; And thus the merry moments pass'd, Till cap and slippers came at last. At length his balmy slumbers o'er, Morn smil'd, as it had smil'd before, And as, without our care or pain, It will not fail to smile again ; IN SEARCH OF THE PICTURESQUE. 79 When Syntax, having prov'd as able At breakfast, as at dinner table, Begg'd leave, with due respect, to say He must pursue his anxious way. " Well," said the 'Squire, " before you go, I shall my stud of racers show." So off they went ; from stall to stall He shew'd the steeds, and nam'd them all ; Describ'd their beauty and their birth ; Their well-earn'd fame and golden worth ; The various feats they all had done, With plates which they had lost and won. At length the astonish'd 'Squire saw Poor Grizzle to her girths in straw. " That, Sir," said Syntax, " is my steed ; But though I can't detail her breed, I sure can tell what she has won Those scars by Frenchman's sabre done. I cannot brag what she has cost ; But you may see what she has lost." " Where," said the 'Squire, " are her ears ?' Quoth Syntax, " You must ask the shears ; And now, perhaps, her switchy tail, Hangs on a barn-door, from a nail !" The Doctor then began to state Poor Grizzle's character and fate. " W T ho was her dam, or who her sire, I care not," says the merry 'Squire : " But well I know, and you shall see, Who will her noble husband be ; Yon fam'd grey horse, of Arab birth, A princely steed, of nameless worth." " The match is very grand indeed," Says Syntax, " but it won't succeed ; Our household is not form'd to breed. My dearest Dorothy and I Have never had a progeny : Our fortune has more wisely carv'd ; Had she borne babes they must have starVd : What should we do with such dear elves, Who scarce know how to keep ourselves !" " I'll hear no more," the 'Squire replied ; " The scheme shall be this moment tried, Grizzle shall be young Matchem's bride. You are a very worthy man And may the depths of learning scan ; But in these things you're quite a dolt ; You'll get a hundred for the colt I'll have my whim it shall be carried :" So Grizzle was that morning married. And now the 'Squire invites the stay Of Syntax for another day. " Your mare," he said, " we'll onward send, Ty'd to the London waggon's end ; When she's got forty miles, or more, We'll follow in a chaise-and-four : At the Dun Caw, upon the road, Grizzle shall safely be bestow'd ; And there, my friend, or soon or late, Her master's coming may await : You'll neither lose nor time nor space Your way I'm going to a race, Where I've a famous horse to run ; And if you do not like the fun, Why you may then proceed to town With my best wishes that renown And profit may your labours crown. go TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTAX To-morrow, by the close of day, We shall find Grizzle on the way.* " Just as you please," the Doctor said ; " Your kind commands shall be obey'd : I think myself supremely bless'd By noble minds to be caress'd : The kind protection you impart Pours oil of gladness on my heart." The Ladies now desir'd to see His journey's pictured history : The book he show'd, which prov'd a bribe For those kind fair-ones to subscribe ; And, while they felt the gen'rous pleasure Of adding to his growing treasure, The 'Squire, to keep the joke alive, Had bade his stable folk contrive, Ere the good Doctor's Grizzle-mare Was yielded to the carrier's care ; Ere on her voyage she set sail, To furnish her with ears and tail. Grizzle was soon a crop no more, As she had been some weeks before, Nor was it long before her stump Felt all the honours of the rump : And thus equipp'd with specious art, She pac'd behind the carrier's cart. Their breakfast done, the following day, The 'Squire and Syntax bounc'd away ; And, ere the sun had set at eve, The Dun Cow did the sage receive ; Where Grizzle, her day's journey o'er, Had a short time arriv'd before. Syntax now felt a strong desire, To smoke his pipe by kitchen fire, Where many a country neighbour sat, Nor did he fail to join the chat ; When having supp'd and drank his ale And silence seeming to prevail, He slowly from his pocket took, His traveling memorandum book ; And, as he turn'd the pages o'er, Revolving on their curious lore, Th' exciseman, a right village sage, (For he could cast accounts and gage) Spoke for the rest who would be proud To hear his rev'rence read aloud. He bow'd assent and straight began To state what beauty is in man ; Or on the surface of the earth, Or what finds, in its entrails, birth ; With all things in their due degrees, That live in air, or love the seas ; In all the trees and plants that grow, In all the various flowers that blow ; Of all things in the realm of nature, Or senseless forms, or living creature : In short, he thus profess'd to show Through all the vast expanse below, From what concenter'd state of things The varying form of beauty springs. But as he read, though full of grace, Though strong expression mark'd his face, Though his feet struck the sounding floor, And his voice thunder'd through the door, Each hearer, as th' infection crept O'er the numb'd sense, unconscious slept ! One dropp'd his pipe another snor'd, His bed of down an oaken board ; ine cobler yawn'd then sunk to rest, His chin reclining on his breast : All slept at length but Tom and Sue, For they had something else to do. IN SEARCH OF THE PICTURESQUE. 8 J Syntax heard nought ; the enraptur'd elf Saw and heard nothing but himself : But when a swineherd's bugle sounded, The Doctor, then, amaz'd confounded, Beheld the death-like scene about him ; And thinking it was form'd to flout him, He frown'd disdain then struck his head;. Caught up a light, and rush'd to bed. CANTO XXI. SLEEP, to the virtuous ever kind, Soon hush'd the Doctor's turbid mind, And, when the morning shed its dew, He 'rose his journey to pursue Of tea and toast he took his fill, Then told the Host to bring the bill . But when it came it made him stare To see some curious items there ! " Go tell your Ostler to appear ; I wish to see the fellow here." The Ostler now before him stands, Then bows his head, and rubs his hands. " In this same bill, my friend, I see You're witty on my mare and me : For all your corn, and beans, and hay, 'Tis a fair charge which I shall pay ; But here a strange demand appears ' for cleaning down her tail and ears /' Now know, my lad, if this is done On me to play your vulgar fun, (For ears and tail my mare has none,) I'll make this angry horse-whip crack In all directions on your back." The man deny'd an ill-intent ; He knew not what his Rev'rence meant So thought it best l.o say no more, But bring up Grizzle to the door. Of painted canvas were her ears ; Upon her stump a tail appears ; So chang'd she was, so gay, so smart, Deck'd out with so much curious art, That even Syntax hardly dare To claim his metamorphos'd mare. He said no more but kenn'd the joke Was not the sport of vulgar folk; So trotted off and kindly lent His smile to aid the merriment. Now, as his journey he pursu'd He thus broke forth in solemn mood " Though time draws on when those at home Expect that I should cease to roam, (Though I have objects in my view Which are of great importance too,) Yet, as this is the day of rest Appointed both for man and beast, To the first church I will repair, And pay my solemn duties there ' Thus as he spoke, a village chime Denoted it was service time And soon a ruddy Curate came, To whom he gravely told his name, His rank and literary fame ; And said, as he'd been us'd to teaching, He'd give him half an hour's preaching. This was accepted with a smile, And they both strutted up When, in due time, and with due grace, Syntax display'd his preaching face. And in grave tones, though somewhat hoarse, He gave the following discourse. , 8 2 TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTAX " The subject I shall now rehearse, Is JOB theJVZ*, the seventh verse. '' < ^j sparks rise upwards to the sky, So man ts born to misery^. " This is a truth we all can tell ; In evVy state we know it well. The infant in his cradle lies, And marks his trouble as he cries ; From his young eyes the waters flow, The emblems of his future woe : His cheeks the varying scenes display That mark a changeful April day : Symbols of joy and hope appear, And now a smile, and then a tear. The years of puling childhood o'er, The nurse's care he knows no more : The Learning's discipline assign'd, The Tutor forms his early mind ; And hopes and fears alternate rise In all their strange varieties. How oft, disdainful of restraint, His voice lifts up the loud complaint, While stern correction's pow'rful law Keeps the young urchin-mind in awe, And some dark cloud for ever low'rs, To shade his bright and playful hours. Nor, when fair Reason's steady ray Begins to light Life's early day ; Though the thick mist it instant clears, It dries not up the source of tears ; Nay, 'tis its office, as we know, Sometimes to make those tears to flow. For now the Passions will impart Their impulse to th' unconscious heart, Will mingle in Youth's ardent hours, And plant the thorns amid the flow'rs ; While Fancy, in its various guise, With plumage of a thousand dies, Flits round the mind in wanton play, To bear each serious thought away. The Pleasures seldom tempt in vain To join their gay, deluding train ; Courting the easy hearts to stray From Reason's path and Wisdom's way : And oh ! how oft the senses cloy With what is call'd the height of Joy ! While pale Repentance comes at last, To execrate the Pleasure past ! At length to finish'd manhood grown, The world receives him as its own. Life's active busy scenes engage Each moment of maturer age : Here Pleasure courts him to her bow'rs, Where serpents lurk beneath the flow'rs. Ambition tempts him to explore The height where daring spirits soar, While wealth presents the glitt'ring ore, Which mingles in each mortal plan, And is the great concern of man. Thus Pleasure, Wealth, or love of pow' Employ man's short or lengthen'd hour. "In youth or manhood's early day, Pleasure first meets him on the way. The Syren sings, his eager ear Drinks in the sound so sweet to hear ; To the delicious song a slave, He leaves his vessel to the wave : The helm forsaken, on it goes, The lightnings flash, the whirlwind blows ; When, by the furious tempest toss'd, The gay, the gilded bark is lost! IN SEARCH OF TffE PICTVRESQ UE, 83 But should he, 'mid the ocean's roar, Be cast upon some distant shore ; Then wand'ring on the lonely coast,He sighs to think what he has lost ; Health, ease, and ev'ryjoy that heav'n Had to his early wishes given. Life still is his but life alone Cannot for follies past atone, Then pain assails, and Hope is flown. He feels no more the sunny rays, Of smiling hours and prosp'rous days : The world turns from him, nor will know The man of sorrow and of woe ; But bids him to some cell repair, In hope to find Contrition there. " Nor is Ambition more secure, Nor less the ills which they endure Within whose breast is seen to dwell The vice by which the Angels fell. The love of rule, the thirst of pow'r, Ne'er give a peaceful, tranquil hour ; 'Tis the fierce fever of the soul That maddens for supreme controul ; Whose burning thirst continual grows : Whose pride no lasting pleasure knows ; While Hatred, Envy, jealous Fear, Wait on the proud and bold careen Contention ev'ry act attends ; Now friends are foes now foes are friends : Enjoyment quickens new desire, And Hope for ever fans the fire. Whene'er the nearer height is gain'd, A loftier still must be attain'd , And then the eye looks keenly round In hope another's to be found ; One such is the aspiring soul Whose tow'ring height shall crown the whole. But oft, as the aspirant gains The object of his toil and pains, The giddy view each sense appals In vainfor some kind help he calls; The faithless friend, th' insulting foe, Rejoice as to the gulph below He headlong falls a prey to he Of grinning Scorn and Infamy. " Now Riches next demand our thought : But gold may be too dearly bought, As in each clime and ev'ry soil, It wakes the universal toil. For this, defying health and ease, The Sailor ploughs the distant seas: This shares the Soldier's daring aim, Who fights for wealth as well as fame : But, though all wish its pow'rs to wear, It proves the source of many a care. Of all the vices that infest The purlieus of the human breast, The love of Mammon is the worst, The most detested and accurst. Pleasure's gay moments may impart Some gladness to the human heart ; Ambition, too, we often find The inmate of a noble mind ; But love of riches ever bears The token of the lowest cares. We see one base unvarying vice In the pale form of Avarice : It only lifts its pray'r to Heav'n T' increase the store already given ; Nor does it e'er the gift repay, By shedding one kind cheering ray Upon the. weather-beaten shed, Where Want scarce finds the scanty bread, By wiping from the widow's eye The flowing tears of misery ; Or giving to the naked form The vestment that will keep it warnl, For gold it courts the sleepless night, And toils through day's returning light : 84 TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTAX Nor these alone ; the cool deceit The treach'rous heart the hidden cheat The ready lie the hard demand And Law's oppressive griping hand; These daemons never fail to wait At Mammon's dark and dreary gate. What does he love ! can it be told ? Yes, I can tell : he loves his gold : In that one term he comprehends His kindred, neighbourhood, and friends. But e'en should Fortune daily pour Her treasures to increase his store, Say, is he happy ? Does he feel A pleasure which he dare reveal ? Ah, no ! his throbbing anxious breast Continued doubts and fears molest. See how he trembles with affright When Justice claims the widow's right, And bids him at the bar appear, To answer to the Orphan's tear, By restoration to atone For many a wrong that he has done ! Nay, a still far severer doom May aggravate the time to come : The scourge without, the scourge within May lash the unavailing sin ? And, after all his toil and care, 'Tis well if he escape Despair. " But e'en when Pleasure is not cross'd With ruin'd health and fortune lost, Yet still it leaves a void behind And dulness stupifies the mind. The season of enjoyment o'er, The phantom then can please no more: Brief is its time, it soon is past ; A vernal bloom not made to last. Say, what presents its longest doom ? A flower, a fever, and a tomb ! " What, though Ambition holds its pow'r To Life's extreme, but certain hour, Is not its most exalted joy Encumber'd with some base alloy f And, on its proudest, loftiest height, Say, does it always find delight ? Say, could it ever guard its heart From Fear's assault, and Envy's dart! It cannot shut th' averted eye From passing life's mortality : E'en from its most aspiring brow, It must behold a grave below. " Though Wealth should haply be attain'd By fair pursuits, with honour gain'd, Yet in its train how oft we see The pallid forms of misery. Intemp'rancc yields its foul delight And feeds the obnoxious appetite ; While Luxury in a thousand ways To sensual carelessness betrays, And lights up in the mortal frame Disease's slow corroding flame. Fortune in fickle mood may frown. The firmest base may tumble down; While it appears in strength secure, It falls and leaves its owner poor. The largest heaps of treasur'd wealth Cannot restore declining health ; They cannot bribe the sun to stay, And mitigate his burning ray ; Nor will the North's imperious cold Dissolve to genial warmth for gold : Time will not one short moment stay, Though millions lay athwart his way ; Nor all the wealth that Crcesus bore Can add to Life one moment more. The regal palace and the cot Are subject to one common lot ; The rich and poor, and small and great, Alike must feel the stroke of fate : Virtue alone, we ought to know, Is real happiness below ; IN SEA R CH OF THE PIC TURESQ UE. 8 5 And yet how oft her kindness proves, By toil and pain, the child she loves. Honour, of noble minds the flow'r, Is oft betray'd by Treachery's povv'r : And Charity, we often sec, The dupe of base Hypocrisy. " Who then will venture to declare That man's mistitled sorrow's heir? But, Brethren, let us not complain, That Heaven's unjust, when we sustain Th' allotted term of Care and Pain. Our life in such a mould is cast, 'Tis plain it is not made to last ; 'Tis but a state of trial here, To fit us for a purer sphere ; A scene of contest for a prize, That in another region lies, In better worlds and brighter skies : Here doom'd a painful lot to bear, Our Happiness is treasur'd there. To struggle with the woes of life, To wage with evil, constant strife ; T' oppose the Passions as they rise, And check their wild propensities ; T' improve our nature, and to bear With patience, the allotted share Of human woes and thus fulfil The wise and the eternal will, That forms the grand, mysterious plan For Mortal and Immortal man. " Man is, indeed, by Heaven's decree, As happy as he ought to be ; As suited to his state and nature, A restless, frail, and finite creature : His work well done his labour o'er Evil and sorrow are no more ; And, having pass'd the vale of death, He claims the never-fading wreath ; Glory's Eternal Crown to share, Which Cherubs sing, and Angels wear : Then is complete th' amazing plan, And Mortal is Immortal man." Here Syntax thought it fit to close : Th' admiring congregation rose ; And after certain hems and ha's, The 'Squire nodded his applause : Nay, such attention he had given To the sage Minister of Heaven, That neither did he sleep nor snore A wonder never known before. Then quickly issuing from his pew, He came to thank the Doctor too. " Sir, your discourse so good and fine, Proves you to be a great Divine, While I, alas ! am but a sinner ; So you'll go home with me to dinner ; And, shortly after ev'ning pray'r, The Curate, too, will meet you there." The Doctor found the house well stor'd ; A chatt'ring wife, and plenteous board : The dinner was a pleasing sight, For preaching gets an appetite : And Syntax could perform them both As well as any of the cloth. At length the eatables remov'd, The 'Squire began the talk he lov'd. 'SQUIRE. " Have you much game, Sir, where you live ?" SYNTAX. "An answer, Sir, I scarce can give : I never hunt, nor bear a gun ; I have no time, nor like the fun. Learning's the game which I pursue : I have no other sport in view : But I have heard the country round With hares and partridge does abound ; Though on my table it is rare To see or one or t'other there. Oft when I rise at early morn, And hear the cheerful, echoing horn, I'm forc'd from the inspiring noise, To hunt a pack of idle boys ; And when they babble, in their din, I am a special whipper-in : Nay, if they should be found at fault, I crack my whip, Sir, as I ought." Syntax now told his story o'er, A story told so oft before; 86 TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTAX When soon tlie 'Squire began to feel A slumber o'er his senses steal : The Curate, too, bemus'd in beer, Was more disposed to sleep than hear. Says Syntax, " See the effect of drink ! _ Heav'n spare the souls which cannot think ! But I will not their sleep molest ; The Sabbath is a day of rest." In short his words no more prevail ; There now were none to hear his tale : He strove another pipe to smoke, But there were none to hear his joke : So on his elbow he reclin'd, And thus the sleeping party join'd. The clock struck ten ere they awoke, When a shrill voice their slumbers broke ; In such a tone it seem'd to come, That Syntax thought himself at home : So, having yawn'd and shook their heads, They vvish'd good-night, and sought their beds. CANTO XXII. THE clock struck five when Syntax woke : The sounding door his slumbers broke : When a soft female voice related That breakfast and her master waited : Up rose the Doctor, down he went, With joyful look and heart content. " Well," said the 'Squire, " I hope you'll stay And pass with me another day ; The sporting season's coming on, And something now is to be done ; For I must breath my dogs a-bit, And try my gun at some torn-tit. You'll take a stroll around the fields, And see what game my manor yields." Says Syntax, " J Tis not in my power To pass with you another hour ; While you perform your sporting feats, I must be tramping London streets : You, therefore, will my thanks receive, For now, Sir, I must take my leave." The 'Squire reply'd " All I can say Another time a longer stay." He then walk'd off with dog and gun, While Syntax travell'd slowly on ; And, o'er the hill, or on the plain, Indulg'd the contemplative strain. " I cannot, while I Nature view, Cloth'd in her robe of verdant hue, Or when the changeful veil is thrown, Of Summer's gold or Autumn's brown, Or midst the scenes of snow and frost, When her gay colouring is lost ; I cannot but the Pow'r admire That gives such charms to her attire : Nor do her wond'rous shapes, that rise In countless forms to meet the eyes, Mark with less force th' unerring soul, Which with such beauty decks the whole. The mountain's top that seems to meet The height of Heaven's Imperial seat ; The rocks, the valley's guardian pride, Or bound'ries of the ocean's tide, \ oft, in grand confusion hurl'd, Seem like the fragments of *. world ; IN SEARCH OF THE PICTURESQUE. 87 While the low hill and vale between, Appear to variegate the scene. But lesser forms invite to trace Fair Nature's ever varying face : The humble shrub, the spreading tree, In this same principle agree. Along the ground the brambles crawl, And the low hyssop tops the wall ; The bull-rush rises from the sedge, The wild-rose blossoms in the hedge ; While flowers of ev'ry colour shed A fragrance from their native bed, The streamlet, winding through the glade, The hanging wood, the forest shade ; The river's bold and flowing wave, Doth many a peopled margin lave, Till, with increasing course, 'tis seen To blend its white waves with the green. Nor these alone ; how various they Who cleave the air or skim the sea, Or range the plain or, from the brow, Look down upon the vale below ! The cygnet's snow, the pea-cock's dyes, The pigeon's neck, the eagle's eyes ; Nor in less beauty do they rove, Who form the music of the grove. The elephant's resistless force ; The strength and spirit of the horse ; The ermine's softness and the boar, With rising bristles cover'd o'er. Thus, throughout Nature's various state, Of living or inanimate, In ev'ry diff'rent class we see How boundless the variety ! What playful change in all we know Of the mysterious world below ; In all where instinct motion gives, In what by vegetation lives : But these are trivial when we look, Through the first page of Nature's book, When, half-inspir'd, we're taught to scan The vast varieties of man." Thus, in deep metaphysic mood, Syntax his shorten'd way pursued, And many a system had been brought To ripen in his learned thought ; But none arose which did not tend Poor human nature to befriend ; None were but aptly form'd to prove The firm support of social love. Thus all bemus'd he took his way, Unconscious of the passing day ; And, thus employ'd in cogitating, No wonder he ne'er thought of baiting; No wonder that it came to pass When Grizzle saw a little grass, That he, contemplating the view Of knotty questions, never knew She stopp'd to take a bite or two : Or, when they pass'd a limpid brook, That she a plenteous beverage took ; Or if, by chance upon the road, They found a cart with hay well-stow'd, She lagg'd behind to crop the fare, And levy contributions there. But now a Trumpet's warlike sound 'Woke Syntax from his dream profound ; While Grizzle frisk'd, and mov'd on straight, With many a prancing to the gate, W'here in a gorgeous cap of fur, Stood the proclaiming trumpeter, With face as the old Lion red Which dangling hung above his head. " Oh !" he exclaimed, " I now could swear I see again the Grizzle mare ; I know her well by that same scar Which she got with me in the war ; For she received that angry hack While I was sounding on her back ; A furious Hussar at me came, And struck at me but miss'd his aim ; gg TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTAX When my poor mare receiv'd the blow, And straight the blood began to flow ; Nay, the same sword had crack'd my crown, But my brave comrade Stephen Brown, Came up and cut the Frenchman down. I have been borne by that same grey Through many a rough and bloody day : Her ears well know the martial strain ; I'm glad to see her once again." " That well may be : but for her ears A wicked clown's infernal shears Have robb'd her," Syntax smiling said, " Of the fair honours of her head; Nor did one tender thought prevail, From the same fate to save her tail." He then proceeded to relate Her past mishap and present state ; And ask'd the Trumpeter to share A flowing bowl and ev'ning fare. Now Syntax sat and heard the story The soldier told of England's glory ; How British columns fought their way. And drove the foe and won the day : How oft he did his breath enlarge, To call to arms and sound the charge ; But, though he rous'd to many a feat, He never sounded a retreat. Still he declin'd in modest tone For England's glory was his own. " Oft have I seen in bright array, (Sure promise of a glorious day) The martial bands alive to meet Their foes, and lay them at their feet ; And, when my breathing trumpet told 'em To go and conquer to behold 'em, At once their beaming blades display, And rush on their victorious way, I felt the inexpressive joy Which grim-fac'd danger could not cloy. If that same Grizzle Steed you rode Could speak, she'd tell the ground she trod Was oft, alas ! all cover'd o'er With soldiers slain and clotted gore. Full many a hair-breadth 'scape I've seen ; In many a peril I have been ; And soon again the time may come, When,order'd from our native home, We shall seek foreign climes, to share The dangers and the din of war ; So be it, I'm prepar'd to go, Wherever I may meet the foe ; And should it be my lot to die, I have no wife or babes to cry : And 'mid what blood-shed I may fall, There'll be an end of Thomas Hall." Said Syntax, " It is well my friend, To be prepar'd to meet our end : To do that well, I'm call'd to preach ; 'Tis a prime duty which I teach ; But thoughts of a far dirf'rent kind Just now employ my anxious mind : The present busy hours must claim Attention to my purse and fame : And, as I think 'twould prove a joke To show my mare to London folk, It has just come into my mind To leave poor Grizzle here behind, And let some stage or mail convey My bags and me my onward way. Perhaps, for old acquaintance sake, Of my poor beast the care you'll take." IN SEARCH OF THE PICTURESQUE. 89 If so," the trumpeter replied " 'Twill be my honour and my pride, God bless your Rev'rence, never fear- Your mare shall have protection here; When you return her looks will tell That her Old Friend has us'd her well." A horn now told the near approach Of some convenient, rapid coach; And soon a vehicle and four Appear'd at the Red Lion door ; Into his place the Doctor pounc'd ; The coachman smack'd, and off they bounc'd. The scene around was quite composing, For his companions all were dosing; So he, forsooth, conceiv'd it best To close his lids and try to rest. When the morn dawn'd he turn'd an eye Upon his slumb'ring company : A red-fac'd man, who snor'd and snorted, A lady with both eyes distorted, And a young miss of pleasing mien, With all the life of gay sixteen. A sudden jolt their slumbers broke ; They started all, and all awoke ; When Surly-boots yawn'd wide, and spoke. " We move," said he, " confounded slow :" " La, Sir," cried Miss, " how fast we go !" While madam, with a smirking face, Declar'd it was a middling pace. " Pray., what think you, Sir ?" " I agree," Said simp'ring Syntax, " with all three : Up hill, our course is rather slow ; Down hill, how merrily we go ; But when 'tis neither up nor down, It is a middling pace I own." " O la !" cried miss, " the thought's so pretty !" " Oh yes !" growl'd Red-face, " very witty !" The lady said, " If I can scan The temper of the gentleman, He's one of those, I have no doubt, Who loves to let his humour out, Nor fails his thread-bare wit to play On all who come within his way; But we who in these stages roam, And leave our coach-and-four at home, Deserve our lot when thus we talk With those who were ordain'd to walk ! And now my niece, you see how wrong It is to use your flippant tongue, And chatter as you're apt to do With any one the Lord knows who." Surly turn'd round, and friendly sleep Soon o'er his senses 'gan to creep : So Syntax thought he'd overlook The embryo of his future Book : Thus all was silence till they came To the great town we London name. Our sage thought wisely that the din Which he could hear about an Inn, Would not assist his studious hours, Nor aid his intellectual powers, To make his volume fit to show The Dons of Paternoster Row; And as his Patron of the North, The Lord renown'd for sense and worth, Had bid him make his house his home Whenever he to town should come, He was resolved to try his fate In knocking at his Lordship's gate. At that same gate he soon appear'd : My Lord, with smiles the Doctor cheer'd. C)O TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTAX " You have done well, my learned friend, Hither your early steps to bend ; Bus'ness has brought me up to town, And thus you'll find me all alone : Here pitch your tent and pass your hour I n working up your pleasant Tour ; And, when 'tis done I'll aid your scheme- It shall not prove an idle dream." Syntax receiv'd his Lordship's grace With moisten'd eye, but smiling face, And for ten days, at morn and night, He toil'd to bring his book to light; While the few intervening hours Were render"d gay with wine and flow'rs. My Lord, by gen'rous friendship mov'd, Now read his Volume, and approv'd. " Think not," said he, " I fondly give Opinions, tending to deceive : That I'm sincere, my friend you'll see, When I declare that you are free To dedicate your Book to me : Nor is this all I'll recommend My very pleasant, learned friend To one who has as lib'ral feeling As any in this kind of dealing : And when my letter you present, He'll take the work, and give content. Thus, my good Sir, I've done my best : You'll see him and explain the rest." The Doctor now received his papers In spirits almost to cut capers ; Nor did he then delay to go, Not to the realms of sight and show, But those of Paternoster Row. The shop he enter'd ; all around He saw the shelves with volumes crown'd, In Russia and Morocco bound, And when he had. with fond delight, Glanc'd o'er the literary sight, " Go, call your master," Syntax said, " To an attendant on the trade ; Tell him that a D. D. is here :" The lad then answer'd with a sneer, " To no D. D. will he appear; He would not come for all the knowledge Of Oxford or of Cambridge College : I cannot go, as I'm a sinner ; I dare not interrupt his dinner : You know not how I should be blarn'd !" Stamping his foot, Syntax exclaim'd, " Apollo and the Muses nine ! Must Learning wait while Tradesmen dine?" " They're common hacks," replied the boy ; "We never such as those employ ; I've heard their names, but this I know, They seldom come into the Row." The master who had fill'd his crop In a smart room behind the shop, On hearing a loud angry voice, Came forth to know what caus'd the noise ; And left his wife, and bottle too, To see about this strange to-do. He was a man whose ample paunch Was made of beef, and ham, and haunch : And when he saw the shrivell'd form Of Syntax, he began to storm. IN SEA R CH OF THE PIC TURESQ UE. 9 1 BOOKSELLER. " I wish to know, Sir, what you mean, By kicking up, Sir, such a scene ! And who you are, Sir, and your name And on what errand here you came ?" SYNTAX. " My errand was to bid you look With care and candour on this Book ; And tell me whether you think fit To buy, or print, or publish it ? The subj:ct which the work contains Is Art and Nature's fair domains; 'Tis fonn'd the curious to allure ; In short, good-man, it is a Tour ; With Drawings all from Nature made, And with no common skill display'd : Each house, each place, each lake, each tree, These fingers drew these eyes did see." BOOKSELLER. " A Tour indeed ! I've had enough Of Tours and such-like flimsy stuff. Wha a fool's errand you have made, (I speak the language of the trade,) To travel all the country o'er, And write what has been writ before ! We can get Tours don't make wry faces, From those who never saw the places ! I know a man who has the skill To make you Books of Tours at will ; And from his garret in Moorfields Can see what ev'ry country yields ; So, if you please, you may retire, And throw your Book into the fire : You need not grin, my friend, nor vapour ; I would not buy it for waste paper !" SYNTAX. " Blockhead ! and is it thus you treat The man by whom you drink and eat ? Do you not know, and must I tell ye, ; Tis they fill out your monstrous belly ? Yes, booby ; from such skulls as mine You lap your soup, and drink your wine, Without one single ray of sense But what relates to pounds and pence. Thus good and evil form the whole Heaven gave you wealth, and me a soul : And I would never be an ass For all your gold, with all your brass. When humble Authors come to sue, (Those very men that pamper you,) You feel like Jove in all his pride, With Juno squatting by his side." BOOKSELLER. " How dare you, villain, to defame My dearest wife's unsully'd name ? Yes, she's my wife ! ten years ago The Parson join'd our hands at Boiu, And she's the flower of all our Row. As for Miss Juno, she's a harlot, You foul-mouth'd, and malicious varlet ! A prostitute, who is well known To all the rakes about the town ; First with a footman off she ran, And now lives with an Alderman." SYNTAX. "Have done have done, pray read that letter, And then I think you'll treat me better." BOOKSELLER. " Sir, had you shown the letter first, My very belly should have burst Before I would have said a word Your learned ears should not have heard ; C) 2 TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTA X But in this world wherein we live, We must forget, Sir, and forgive. These little heats will sometimes start From the most friendly, gen'rous heart. My Lord speaks highly of your merit, As of the talents you inherit ; He writes himself supremely well ; His works are charming for they sell. I pray you take a glass of wine ; Perhaps, Sir, you have yet to dine : We now, I fear, have nothing hot : My dear, put something m the pot; 'Twill soon be done ; or tell our Nan To toss a cutlet in the pan. His Lordship here expressly says Your work transcends his utmost praise ; Desires the printing may commence, And he'll be bound for the expense. The book will sell, I have no doubt, I'll spare no pains to bring it out : A work like this must not be stinted, Two thousand copies shall be printed. And if you please" SYNTAX. " I cannot stay ; We'll talk of that another day : When I came out, I gave my word To take my dinner with my Lord." BOOKSELLER. " Perhaps some other time you'll come, When my good Lord may dine from home ; It will be kind, indeed, to share, Quite as a friend, our humble fare ; In the mean time you may command, In ev'ry sense, my heart and hand." Thus (such are this world's odds and ends) Though foes they met they parted friends. CANTO XXIII. u WHATE'ER of genius or of merit The child of labour may inherit, They will not in this mortal state, Or give him wealth, or make him great, Unless that strange, capricious dame, Whom Pagan poets Fortune name, That unseen, ever active pow'r, Propitious, aids his toilsome hour. Throughout my life I've struggled hard ; And what has been my lean reward ? What have I gain'd by learned lore, By deeply reading o'er and o'er, What ev'ry ancient sage has writ, Renown'd for pure and Attic wit ; Or those rich volumes which dispense The strains of Roman eloquence? No fav'ring patrons have I got. But just enough to boil the pot. What though by toil and pain, I know Where ev'ry Hebrew root doth grow, And can each hidden truth descry From Genesis to Malachi; Yet I have never been decreed To sheer the fleeces that I feed : No, they enrich the idle dunce Who never saw his flock but once, And meanly grudges e'en to spare My pittance for their weekly fare. Have I made any real friends, By wasting eyes and candles' ends ? And though a good musician too, What did my fiddle ever do ? I sometimes might employ its pow'r To soothe an over anxi-us hour ; IN SEARCH OF THE PICTURESQUE. 93 But though it with my temper suits, It never yet could soften brutes. My sketching-pencil, too, is known In ev'ry house throughout the town; For, to replace some horrid scrawl, My drawings hang on ev'ry wall : And yet, 'tis true, as I'm a sinner, They seldom pay me with a dinner. What do I get poor boys to teach ? And drive in learning at the breech ? A task, which Lucian says, is given As the worst punishment from Heaven. While Fortune's boobies cut and carve, I may be said to teach and starve ; Too happy, if, on Christmas-day, I've just enough the duns to pay. Though sometimes I have almost swore When, from the threshold of the door, My poverty repell'd the poor ; When the cask, empty'd of its ale, No more the thirsty could regale. " At length the lucky moment came To fill my purse and give me fame ! And, after all my labours past, Hope bids me look for rest at last. For scarce had I one prosp'rous hour Till Fortune bid me Write a Tour. Oft have I said in words unkind, That strumpet Fortune's very blind ! But now I think the wench can see, Since she's become so kind to me. To say the truth, I scarce believe The favours which I now receive : In a Lord's house I take my rest, A welcome and an honour'd guest : The favours on my Tour I found Are by his present kindness crown'd. I'd heard indeed, that these same Lords Were only friendly in their words ; But truth alone my patron moves, Whose friendship ev'ry promise proves." Thus Syntax did his feelings broach, As he reclin'd within a coach ; For, pond'ring as he pass'd along, He was sore pummell'd by the throng: Now by a porter's package greeted, Now on the pavement he was seated ; While, deafen'd by a news-boy's din A fruit-girl's barrow strikes his shin ; And as his cautious course he guides, The passing elbows punch his sides ; While a cart-wheel, with luckless spirt, Gives him a taste of London dirt : At length, to get in safety back, He sought the comforts of a Hack. His little journey at an end, The Doctor join'd his noble friend . Together they in comfort dine, Then munch'd their cakes, and sipp'd their wine ; When Syntax, briefly, thus display'd His parley with the man of trade. " I oweunto your Lordship's name My future gains in gold and fame. My uncomb'd wig, my suit of black, Which had grown rusty on my back, My grizly visage, pale and thin, My carcass, nought but bones and skin, Presented to the Tradesman's eye The ghastly form of Poverty : would he deign to cast a look Upon the pages of my book ; 94 TOUR 0V DOCTOR SYNTAX But with the fierceness of a Turk, In sorry terms revil'd my work > And let loose all his purse-proud spleen Against a thing he ne'er had seen : But your kind note, where it was said, That all expenses should be paid, New-dy'd my coat, new-cock'd my hat, Powder'd my wig, and made me fat His eye now saw me plump and sleek, With not a wrinkle in my cheek;. And strength, and stateliness, and vigour, Completed my important figure ; While, in my pocket, his keen look Glanc'd at your Lordship's pocket-book. 'Twas now ' I'm sure the work will sell, And pay the learned author well :' Then grac'd his shrill and sputt'ring speeches With pulling up his monstrous breeches ; And made me all the humblest bows His vast protuberance allows : For had he come with purse in hand, E'en Satan might his press command ; So that the book had not a flaw To risk the dangers of the law. Prove but his gains and he'd be civil, Or to the Doctor or the Devil." Thus Syntax and his patron sat, And thus prolong'd the ev'ning chat. MY LORD. " Your rapid pencil fairly traces Men's characters as well as faces ; Your latter sketch is true to Nature, And gives me Vellum's ev'ry feature. With all your various talents fraught, So deeply read, so ably taught, I feel a curious wish to know From whence your high endowments flow : And how it happens that a man, Whose worth I scarce know how to scan, Should ne'er have reach'd a better state, Than seems to be your present fate." SYNTAX. " My Lord, a very scanty page Will tell my birth and parentage : A mod'rate circle will contain My round of pleasure and of pain, Till you, my ever-honour'd friend, Bade my horizon wide extend, And lighted up a brighter ray To beam upon my clouded day. " My father was a noble creature As e'er was form'd by pregnant Nature ; A learned Clerk, a sound Divine, A fav'rite of the Virgins nine Who dwell upon Parnassian hill, Or bathe in Heliconian rill. In the sequester'd vale of life, An equal foe to pride and strife, He pass'd his inoffensive day In teaching Virtue's peaceful way : A shepherd, formed his flock to bless In this world's thorny wilderness, And lead them, when their time is o'er, To where, good man, he's gone before. Ambition ne'er disturb'd his rest Nor bred a serpent in his breast To sting his peace ; no sordid care Corroded the contentment there ; While he possess'd an income clear Of full five hundred pounds a year. " My mother, first of woman-kind, In figure, feature, and in mind, In her calm sphere contented mov'd, The counterpart of him she lov'd. Form'd to adorn the highest lot, She grac'd the Vicar's rural cot, IN SEARCH OF THE PICTURESQUE. 95 With all those manners that became The Parson's wife, the village dame. They liv'd and lov'd and might have wore The Flitch, when twenty years were o'er. " An only child appeard, to prove The pledge of fond, connubial love. I was that child a darling boy ; Their daily hope their daily joy. My anxious father did not spare The urchin to another's care ; He taught the little forward elf To be the image of himself ; And from the cradle he began To form and shape the future man. When fifteen summer suns had shed Their lustre on my curly head, To Alma mater he consigned, With pious hope, my rip'ning mind. " There, sev'n short years (for short they were) Fair science was my only care ; I gave my nights, I gave my days, To Tully's page and Homer's lays : Whate'er is known of ancient lore I fondly studied o'er and o'er. I follow'd each appointed course, And trac'd up learning to its source ; But in my way I gather'd flow'rs, I sought the Muses in their bowers, And did their fav'ring smiles repay With may a lyric roundelay \ Nor did I fail the arts to woo Of Music and of painting too. Thus was my early manhood pass'd In happiness too great to last. My father dy'd and ere his urn Had fill'd my arms, I had to mourn A mother, who refus'd to stay, When her lov'd mate was ta'en away. " What follow'd ? I was left alone, And the world seiz'd me as its own. I sought gay Fashion's motley throng, On Pleasure's tide I sail'd along; Till, by rude storms and tempests toss'd, My shattered bark at length was lost ; While I stood naked on the shore, My treasure gone, my pleasure o'er. " Now chang'd by Fortune's fickle wind, The friends I cherish'd prov'd unkind : All those who shar'd my prosp'rous day, Whene'er they saw me turn'd away ; And, as I almost wanted bread, I undertook a bear to lead, To see the brute perform his dance, Through Holland, Italy, and France ; But it w r as such a very Bruin, To be with him was worse than ruin ; So, having pac'd o'er classic ground, And sail'd the Grecian Isles around, (A pleasure, sure, beyond compare, Though link'd in couples with a bear,) I took my leave and left the cub Some humble Swiss to pay and drub : Yet, when I reach'd my native shore, Determin'd to lead bears no more, No better prospect did I see, Than a free-school and curacy ; The country tradesmen's sons to teach ; In lonely village-church to preach, With the proud sneer and vulgar taunt, Oft thrown at Learning when in want ; All which you'll think, my noble friend, Did not toease or comfort tend. But now, another act displays The folly of my former days : A new scene opens of my life ; For faith, my Lord, I took a wife." MY LORD. " I should have thought a married mate 96 TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTAX Must have improv'd your lonely state ! That a kind look and winning smile "Would serve, your labours to beguile." SYNTAX." Love, in itself, is very good, But, 'tis by no means, solid food ; And ere our honey-moon was o'er, I found we wanted something more. This was the cause of all my trouble ; My income would not carry double ; But led away from Reason's plan, By Love, that torturer of a man, In our delirium we forgot What is Life's unremitted lot ; That man and woman, too, are born, Beneath each rose to find a thorn ! We thought, as other fools have done, That Hymen's laws had made us one ; But had forgot that Nature, true To her own purpose, made us two There were two mouths that daily cry'd, At morn and eve, to be supplied : Though by one vow we were betroth'd, There were two bodies to be cloth'd ; And, to improve my happiness, Dolly is very fond of dress. My head's content with one hat on it, While Dorothy has hat and bonnet : In short, there's no day passes through, But I and my dear Doll are two. One good has my kind fortune sped ; Dolly, my Lord, has never bred. Thus, though we're always TH/O, you see We haply yet have have ne'er been THREE. She came a beauty to my arms ; Her only dower was her charms : But much she sav'd me, I must own, By never bringing brats to town." MY LORD. "Another time, my revVend guest, I hope you will relate the rest : I truly wish the whole to know, But 'bus'ness calls, and I must go. I need not, sure, repeat my words ; Command whate'er the house affords." The Peer thus with the Doctor parted, And left him gay and easy hearted ; While many a pipe his thoughts digest, Till his eyes told the hour of rest. When the next morn, and breakfast came, Said Syntax, " I should be to blame, If I delay'd to tell my mind To one so gen'rous and so kind, In hopes such counsel to receive As he will condescend to give. For as I on my bed reclin'd, A sudden thought possessed my mind, Which may produce, as I've a notion, A North-west passage to promotion. " Loyal and true I've ever been, And much of this same world I've seen : Well vers'd in the historic page Of this and evYy other age I could employ my studious hour For those who hold the reins of power ; And sure a well-turn'd pamphlet might Attention from the court invite ; IN SEARCH OF THE PICTURESQUE. 97 By which I could, in nervous prose, Unveil the ministerial foes ; And, with no common skill and care, Praise and support the powers that are. T then might be preferr'd at once ; No more the prey of any dunce, Who views poor authors as mere drudges, And ev'ry doit he pays them grudges ; Nor cares how much he makes them feel, Just as a cook-maid skins an eel. It would be better far I trow, Than this same Patertioster-Row ; Where the poor bees, in Learning's hive, Toil, but to make the tradesmen thrive And for their intellectual honey, Get but a poor return in money. It would be cutting matters short, Could I but get a friend at court : 'Twould be, and I repeat the notion, A North-West passage to promotion." MY LORD." Patient, my learned Doctor, hear ; And to my counsels give an ear : I long have known, and known too well, The country where you wish to dwelL Corruption, fraud, and envy wait At the proud Statesman's crowded gate ; There fawning flatt'ry wins its way, There the base passions join the fray, Like beasts that on each other prey ; While the smile hides each trait'rous heart, And interest plays a Proteus part. You've too much virtue, my good friend, Your talents and your time to lend, To such a power for such an end. Can you work up the specious lie That does not quite the truth deny ? Can you that kind of truth relate, On which you may prevaricate ? Will you from others bear to seek What you must think, and write, and speak ? Will you, to-day, their systems borrow, And calmly shake them off to-morrow ? Will you, Cameleon-like, receive The Hue a Patron wants to give? You've too much honest pride to be A scribbler to the Treasury; Where you must wait the lagging hour, And cringe to images of power ! To men in office, upstart elves, Who think of little but themselves. " When long an hacknied slave you've been, And dash'd and div'd through thick and thin ; When you have chang'd each purer thought For morals which in courts are taught ; When all distinctions, that belong, To what is right and what is wrong, Have, of your reason, lost their hold, For dribblets of a patron's gold , When the bold Logic, fram'd by Truth, Your filial boast in early youth, Yields to the vacillating rule Of Policy's complying school ; When guile and cunning, from your breast, Have driven that once-honour'd guest, You may, perhaps, or you may not, Be set aside, unheard, forgot ; 7 p 8 TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTAX Or haply find, when Virtue's lost, Repentance, and some petty Post This will not do, my learned friend, You must to better things attend ; All thoughts of Downing Street forego, And stick to Paternoster Row. '* The man of trade you cannot blame, For money is his native aim ; It is the object of all trade To make as much as can be made : Bankers and Booksellers alike, At ev'ry point of profit strike ; And the same spirit you will meet In Mincing Lane or Lombard Street. Tis not confin'd, we all must know, To vulgar tradesmen in the ROW. Success depends on writing well Booksellers bow, when Volumes sell. On the Exchange, each day at three, This self-same principle you'll see Lead thither the vast, pressing throng ; And know, dear Sir, or right or wrong, 'Tis that which makes Old England strong. Though roguery's in Vellum's shop, It is, my friend, the Nation's prop : And though you please, good Sir, to flout it, Old England could not do without it. Without it she might be as good, But half as great she never would. 1 look with pleasure to the fame That now awaits your learned name ; And when your labours are well paid, You'll be the Eulogist of Trade. " Vellum may be a purse-proud Cit, With more of money than of wit ; But Vellum, my good Sir, can tell The kind of book that's made to sell. Indeed, the man whose pocket's full, However empty be his skull, Although immeasurably dull, Will find, 'midst the ill-judging crowd, Far greater reason to be proud, Than he whose head contains a store Of critic skill, and learned lore, If to his wit he does not join, The blest command of ready com. Write and get rich, nor fear the taunts Of booksellers and such gallants ; Vdlum has no more sordid tricks Than those that deal in Politics ; But till your various Learning's known, And your works sell throughout the Town ; Till, having settled Fortune's spite, Your name shall sanction what you write, Let Vellum his rewards bestow, Nor scoff at PA TERNOSTER ROW." SYNTAX. " To your kind words I've nought to say, But thank your Lordship, and obey. And now, as twenty years have pass'd Since I beheld fair London last, I shall employ the present day In strolling calmly to survey What changes Time and Chance have made, What Wealth has done, and Art essay'd, What taste has, in its fancies, shown, To give new splendour to the Town : That being done, I'll take my way To Covent Garden to the play." " Then," saitl his Lordship, " when we meet, I shall expect a special treat, IN SEARCH OF THE PICTURESQUE. 99 To hear my learned friend impart His notions of dramatic art." The Doctor bow'd, and off he went, Upon his curious progress bent : He pac'd the Parks he view'd each Square, And, staring, he made others stare. At length, at the appointed hour, He hasten'd to the Playhouse door, And took his place within the pit, Beside a critic and a wit, As wits and critics now are known Who hash up nonsense for the Town ; And, in the daily columns, show How small the sum of all they know. " I think," said Syntax, looking round, " It is not good, this vast profound : I see no well- wrought columns here ; No attic ornaments appear ; Nought but a washy, wanton waste Of gaudy tints and puny taste Too large to hear too long to see Full of unmeaning symmetry. The parts all answer one another ; Each pigeon-hole reflects its brother ; And all, alas ! too plainly show How easy 'tis to form a Row : But where's the grand, the striking whole ? A Theatre should have a soul." " Excuse me, Sir," the Critic said, " These Theatres are all a trade : Their owners laugh at scrolls and friezes ; 'Tis a full house, alone, that pleases : And you must know, it is the plan To stick and stuff it as they can : Your noble, architect'ral graces Would take up room, and fill up places." " This may be true, Sir, to the letter ; But genius would have manag'd better," Syntax replied : " Nay, I am willing To let them gain the utmost shilling ; But surely talent might be found, (The natives, too, of British ground,) Who could have blended attic merit With this proprietory spirit." Thus as he spoke, the curtain rose, And forced his harangue to a close : But still, as they the drama view'd, The conversation was renew'd, And lasted till the whole was o'er ; When, as they pass'd the Playhouse door, The Critic said "'Twill wound my heart If you and I so soon must part : O, how I long to crack a bottle With such a friend of Aristotle ! Now, as you seem to know him well, Perhaps his residence you'll tell." " Where it is now I do not know," Syntax reply'd ; " and I must go ; But this 1 can most boldly say You scarce will meet him at the play." When fairly got into the street, " O," thought the Doctor, " what a treat For my good Lord, when next we meet !" CANTO XXIV. Now Syntax, as he travell'd back, Lolling and stretching in a hack, Could riot but ponder in his mind On what he had just left behind. " I've seen a play," he mutt'ring said ; " 'Twas Shakespeare's but in masquerade 1 7 TOO TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTAX IVe seen a farce, I scarce know what ; 'Twas only fit to be forgot. I've seen a Critic, and have heard The string of nonsense he preferr d. Heaven bless me ! where has Learning fled ? Where has she hid her sacred head ? O how degraded is she grown, To spawn such boobies on the town ! The sterling gold is seen no more ; In vain we seek the genuine ore : Some mixture doth its worth debase ; Some wire-drawn nonsense takes its place. How few consume the midnight oil ! How few in Learning's labour toil ! Content, as they incurious stray Through Life's unprofitable day, With straws that on the surface flow, Nor look for pearls that live below : They ne'er the hidden depths explore, But gather sea-weed on the shore ! There was a period, when the stage Was thought to dignify the age ; When learned men were seen to sit Upon the benches of the pit ; When to his Art and Nature true, GARRICK his various pictures drew ; While ev'ry passion, ev'ry thought, He to perfection fully wrought ; By Nature's self supremely taught, He did her very semblance bear, And look'd as she herself were there. Whether old Lear's form he wore, With age and sorrow cover'd o'er ; Or Romeo's am'rous flame possess'd, That torture of the human breast ; Or gay Lothario's glowing pride, In conquest o'er his rival's bride ; Or when, with fell ambition warm, In Macbeth or in Glosfer's form, He gave each passion to the eye In all its fine variety, The words he did not loudly quote ; But acted e'en as SHAKESPEARE wrote. " Nor was he less (for he could range In ev'ry wayward busy change Known in the field of scenic art The true cameleon of the heart) When he assum'd the merry glee Of laughter-loving COMEDY. "In Ranger's tricks, or when he strove In Benedict to hide his love ; When he in Drugger's doublet shone, Or Brute's rude ribaldry put on ; When he the jealous Kitely pla/d ; When the same passion he essay'd In Felix; with what truth and force He urg'd that passion's diffrent course, Work'd up its features all anew But still he was to Nature true ! Nay, e'en in Farce he could awake The fun that made the gall'ries shake The heart he cheated of its woe, And made the poignant tear to flow, Lit up a joy in ev'ry eye, Or drown'd the soul in agony. He ever was to Nature true ; By no false arts did he subdue fh' attentive mind, the lisfning ear ; In all the Drama's wide career, He ne'er outstepp'd th' unerring rule, Which he had learn'd in Nature's school : In ev'ry part he did excel ; He aim'd at all, and all was well In those good times none went to see The mere effects of scenery ; The constant laugh, the forc'd grimace, The vile distortions of the face In those good times none went to see Pierots and Clowns in Comedy' Men sought perfection to dkcorn. And learned Critics went to learn.' IN SEARCH OF THE PICTURESQUE. I OI " SHAKESPEARE, immortal Bard sublime ! Unmatch'd within the realm of time ! He did not with Promethean aim, Attempt to steal aethercal flame ; Rather to him the thoughts of Heaven, Were, by Celestial bounty, given : He read profound, in ev'ry page Of Nature's volume, ev'ry age And act of man ! Each passion's course He traces with resistless force ; Nay, with a more than mortal art, Gives unknown feelings to the heart ; And doth the yielding fancy bear, Just as his magic wills and where. " His page still lives, and sure will last Till Time and all its years are past The Poet, to the end of Time, Breathes in his works and lives in rhyme ; But, when the Actor sinks to rest, And the turf lies upon his breast, A poor traditionary fame Is all that's left to grace his name. The Drama's children strut and play, In borrow'd parts, their lives away ; And then they share the obvious lot ; Smith will, like Gibber, be forgot ! Cibber with fascinating art, Could wake the pulses of the heart ; But hers is an expiring name, And darling Smith's will be the same. Of GARRICICS self e'en nought remains ; His art and him one grave contains : In others' minds to make him live, Is all remembrance now can give. All we can say alas ! how vain ! We ne'er shall see his like again." Just as this critic-speech was o'er The coach stopp'd at his Lordship's door . But my good Lord was gone to bed ; So Syntax to his chamber sped, Where, with his pipe, and o'er his bottle, He chew'd the cud of Aristotle, Till, stretch'd upon a bed of down, Sleep did his head with poppies crown ; And well he slept, until a voice Desir'd to know if 'twas his choice Still to sleep on ? And then it stated His Lordship and the breakfast waited. " Well," said my Lord, when he appear'd, " I hope the play your spirits cheer'd ; Falstaff, the morning critics tell, Was never surely play'd so well." " These critics," Syntax smiling said, "Are wretched bunglers at their trade : One sat beside me in the Pit, No more a critic than a wit ! Between the acts we both exprest, Or what was worst, or what was best; And whil'd those intervals away In changing thoughts upon the play ; And, though both form'd to disagree, Nought pass'd but perfect courtesy. Perhaps it may your fancy suit To hear our classical dispute : I think, my Lord, 'twould prove a treat, Should you allow me to repeat All that this criticising sage Knew of the humours of the stage : For, as to what should form a play ; How actors should their parts convey ; 102 TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTAX What are the Drama's genuine laws, The source from whence true Genius draws Such scenes, as when to Nature shown, She loud exclaims They are my own ; He knew no more it will appear, Than the tea-urn that's boiling here ; Like that, he did no more than bubble, And without any toil or trouble ; They felt the trouble who sat near him ; For, sure enough, 'twas toil to hear him. After some gen'ral trifling chat Of the new Play-house, and all that, The scenes that pass'd before our eyes, Produc'd these questions and replies : In short, I'll state our quids pro quos Just in the order they arose." CRITIC." Oh, what a Falstaff! Oh, how fine ! Oh, 'tis great acting 'tis divine !" SYNTAX." His acting's great that I can tell ye ; For all the acting's in his belly." CRITIC. " But, with due def'rence to your joke, A truer word I never spoke Than when 1 say you've never been The witness of a finer scene. '1 n admir'd actor whom you see Plays the fat Knight most charmingly : T is in this part he doth excel ; Qtiin never played it half so well." SYNTAX. " You ne'er saw Quin the stage adorn : He acted ere your sire was born, And critics, Sir, who hVd before you, Would have disclos'd a different story. This play I've better acted seen In country towns where I have been. I do not hesitate to say I'd rather read this very play By my own parlour fire-side, With my poor judgment for my guide, Than see the actors of this stage, Who make me gape at Shakespeare's page. When I read Falstaff to myself, I laugh like any merry elf ; While my mind feels a cheering glow That Shakespeare only can bestow. The swagg'ring words in his defence, Which scarce are wit and yet are sense ; The ribald jest the quick conceit The boast of many a braggart feat ; The half-grave questions and replies, In his high-wrought soliloquies ; The dubious thought the pleasant prate, Which give no time to love or hate, In such succession do they flow, From no to yea from yea to no, Have not been to my mind conve/d By this pretender to his trade. The smile sarcastic, and the leer That tells the laughing mock'ry near ; The warning look that ere 'tis spoke, Aptly forbodes the coining joke ; The air so solemn, yet so sly, Shap'd to conceal the ready lie ; The eyes, with some shrewd meaning bright, I surely have not seen to-night : Again, I must beg leave to tell ye, 'Tis nought of /vz/j/^but his belly." CRITIC." All this is fine and may be true ; But with such truths I've nought to do. I'm sure, Sir, I shall say aright, When I report the great delight Th' enraptur'd audience feel to-night : IN SEARCH OF THE PICTURESQUE, 103 It is indeed, with no small sorrow, I cannot your opinions borrow To fill the columns of to-morrow. My light critique will be preferred The public always take my word ; Nay, the loud plaudits heard around Must all your far-fetch'd thoughts confound : I truly wonder when I see, You do not laugh as well as me." SYNTAX. " My muscles other ways are drawn : I cannot laugh, Sir, while I yawn." CRITIC. " But you will own the scenes are fine." SYNTAX. " Whate'er the acting, they're divine, And fit for any pantomime. Of this it is that I complain ; These are the tricks which I disdain : The painter's art the play commends ; On gaudy show success depends : The clothes are made in just design ; They are well character'd and fine. The actors now, I think, Heav'n bless 'em, Must learn their art from those who dress 'em ; But give me actors, give me plays, On which I could with rapture gaze, Tho' coats and scenes were made of baise : For if the scene were highly wrought ; If players acted as they ought ,- You would not then be pleas'd to see This heavy mass of frippery. Hear, Horace, Sir, who wrote of plays In Ancient Rome's Augustan days : ' Tanto cum strepitu ludi spectantur, et artes, Diviticeque peregrines : quibus oblitus actor Cum stetit in Scena, concurrit dextera Icevce. Dixit adhuc illiquid ? nil sane. Quid placet ergo f Lana Tarentino violas imitata veneno." CRITIC. " Your pardon, Sir, but all around me, There are such noises they confound me : And, though I full attention paid, I scarcely know a word you said. To say the truth I must acknowledge 'Tis long since I have quitted college : Virgil and Horace are my friends I have them at my finger's ends . But Grecian Lore, I blush to own, Is wholly to my mind unknown. I therefore must your meaning seek : Oblige me, Sir, translate your Greek. But see, the farce is now begun, And you must listen ro the fun, It sure has robb'd you of your bile ; For now, methinks, you deign to smile. SYNTAX. " The thing is droll, and aptly bent To raise a vulgar merriment : But Merry-Andrews, seen as such, Have often made me laugh as much. An actor does but play the fool When he forsakes old Shakespeare's rule, And lets his own foul nonsense out, To please th' ill-judging rabble rout : But when he swears, to furnish laughter, The beadle's whip should follow after. There's Terence, Sir, and then there's Plautus* They've both a better lesson taught us." 104 TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTAX CRITIC. " Terence, I know, he wrote in Latin, Just as a weaver makes his satin; He well dcserv'd the comic bays : For Westminster he wrote his plays ; And Plautus was a fellow famous, He wrote a Farce call'd Ignoramus; Where Lawyers, by profession bold, In Latin and in English scold." " At length, my Lord, the parley ended Which, to amuse, cannot be mended. You well may laugh so loud, but I Feel myself more dispos'd to cry, When thus 1 see what asses sit In judgment upon works of wit " I own, my Lord, I love a play When some performer's turn'd away, By Green- Room tyrants,, from the boards Of London stage, our town affords To tempt or her or him to stay, For a few nights, upon their way ; Then Doll and I are seen to sit Conspicuous in our Country Pit" Thus as he spoke, with frequent bows, And fifty whens, and wheres, and hows, Vellum appear'd, with solemn look, To talk about the Doctor's Book. He said, '"Twas true a learned friend The Manuscript did much commend; He thinks it is a work of merit, W T ritten with learning, taste, and spirit ; The sketches too, if he don't err, Possess appropriate character; 'Tis to the humour of our age, And has your Lordship's patronage ; I therefore wish the work to buy, And deal with liberality. 'Tis true that paper's very dear, And workmen's wages most severe : The volume's heavy, and demands Th' engraver's with the printer's hands : Besides, there is a risk to run ; Before the press its work has done New taxes may, perhaps, be laid On seme prime article of trade,. And then the price will be so high ; The persons are but few who buy Books of so very costly kind; But still the work is to my mind. I'll try my luck, and will be bound To give, my Lord, three hundred pound." After some little chat on trade The bargain was completely made The work transferr'd, the money paid. " Tho'," said my Lord, " I think your gains By no means equal to your pains : (For Vellum will a bargain drive As well as any man alive ;) The work must give my friend a name, And stamp his Literary fame , 'Twill Paternoster Row command, And keep old Vellum cap-in-hand ; And when a name is up, 'tis said, The owner may lay snug in bed Write on the learned track pursue And Booksellers shall cringe to you." Much pass'd upon his Lordship's part, Which shew'd the goodness of his heart; While Syntax made his full replies, Not with his tongue but with his eyes. IN SEARCH OF THE PICTURESQUE. 105 CANTO XXV. MY LORD rctir'd the Doctor too, As he had nothing else to do, Thought he would take a peep and see His noble Patron's Library. So down he sat, without a care, In a well-sturPd Morocco chair, And seiz'd a book ; but Morpheus shed The poppies o'er his rev'rend head ; While Fancy would not be behind, So play'd her tricks within his mind, And furnish'd a most busy dream, Which Syntax made his pleasant theme, Soon as he met my Lord to dine, Or rather, while they took their wine. THE DREAM. That I was in the Strand I dream'd, And o'er my head methought there seem'd, A flight of volumes in the air, In various bindings gilt and fair : Th' unfolded leaves, expos'd to view, Serv'd them as wings on which they flew, Through the mid air they pass'd along In stately flight a num'rous throng; And from each book a label fell, Form'd ev'ry author's name to tell ! Nor was it long before I saw, With a fond, reverential awe, The celebrated Bards and Sages Which grac'd the Greek and Roman ages, All headed by a solemn fowl Which bore the 'semblance of an Owl. 'Twas Pallas' Bird, who led them straight Through Temple-Bar's expanded Gate. Year-Books, Reports, and sage grave Entries, At either Temple-gate stood sentries : While Viner his Abridgment shows In sixty well-arm'd Folios. The Lamb, it baa'd, the Horse, it neigh'd, In rev'rence of the cavalcade, Near Clifford's-Inn appear'd to stand Of Capiases an ugly band ; For when their parchment flags appear'd, Instant the crowded street was clear'd, And the procession pass'd along, Untroubled by a pressing thrcng. St. Dunstan's savages were mute, But still they gave their best salute; Disdaining Eloquence and Rhymes, They 'woke their bells to speak in chimes. Erskine's fam'd Pamphlet Cap-a-pee, With many an /, and many a Me, Issu'd from Serjeants'-Inn, and made A speech to grace the grand parade. The Stationers came forth to meet The stranger forms in Ludgate-street ; Each one, upon his brawny back, Bearing a large sheet Almanac. For a short time the Learned train Stopp'd before Ave-Maria-Lane, That Galen might just view the College, The seat of medicinal knowledge. Nor did they fail awhile to tarry Before St. Paul's learn'd Seminary, Where Lilly's Grammar did rehearse Propria quce Maribiis in verse. At Cheapside-end there seem'd to stand A pageant, rather huge than grand ; ic6 TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTAX Ream upon Ream of Quire Stock Appeared like some vast, massive rock : On its firm base a figure stood A composite of brass and wood : The months and weeks around it stand, With each a number in its hand Of Bibles, Hist'ries and Reviews, And Magazines of ev'ry Muse, With coverlids of various hue, Pea-green and red, and brown and blue. The shape was clad in Livery-gown ; The face had neither smile nor frown, While it held out a monstrous paunch As fat with many a ham and haunch. Two Printers' Devils o'er his head A crimson canvas widely spread, Whereon was writ in gilded show " GENIUS OF PATERNOSTER- Row." The mighty Giants of Guildhall, Urg'd by a sympathetic call, No sooner heard the clock strike One, Than from their stations they came down ; And in Cheapside they took their stand, In honour of the Classic Band; But when they heard the clock strike Tit'0, March'd back as they were wont to do. Now as they came near the Old-Jewry, Like Dulness work'd into a Fury, A vulgar shape appear'd, who flew On pinions mark'd with ONE and TWO ; And other items which denote, That four-pence is well-worth a groat. It seem'd to lead a num'rous train Who rendered further passage vain. Straight he came forward to produce A Blank-Sheet as a flag of truce. Near him two flutt'ring Pamphlets bore Standards, with figures coverd o'er ; A gilt Pence-table grac'd the one, The Price of Stock on t'other shone. A picquet guard of Valuations, And Int'rest Tables took their stations Around their leader, who drew nigh, To make his bold soliloquy ; But e'er he speaks, my proper course is Just to describe the City Forces. Bill-Books and Cash-Books form'd the van, An active and a numerous clan : The Journals follow'd them whose skill Is exercis'd in daily drill : On either side appear'd to range Unpaid Accounts, Bills of Exchange, The Files of Banker's Checks : these three Manoeuvred as L ght Infantry ; While many a stationary book Its regular position took ; And Quires of Blotting Paper stood To suck up any flow of blood. The Ledgers the main body form, Arm'd to resist the coming storm ; Whose pond'rous shapes could boldly show A steady phalanx to the foe. Discord appear'd with base intent The hostile spirit to foment : Not Discord that precedes the car Of Mars whene'er he goes to war ; But of a different rank and nation, Known by the name of Litigation ; Born on some foul Attorney's desk; Bred up to harass and perplex ; Whose appetite is for dispute, And has no wish but for a suit. She rose upon a Gander's wing, And round about began to fling IN SEARCH OF THE PICTURESQUE, 1O"J Pleas, Declarations, and each bit Of Parchment that could form a Writ The News-papers with pen in hand, In the balconies took their stand ; Waiting with that impartial spirit, Which all well know they all inherit, To make the hurry of the Battle Through all the next day's columns rattle ; And, with one conscience, to prepare The Hist'ry of this Paper war. The Herald now the silence broke, 'Twas mighty COCKER'S self that spoke ; And thus to Pallas' Bird address'd The solemn purpose of his breast. " I state my claim to ask and know From whence you come and where you go, And by what licence you appear With all your foreign Pagans here ? Come you with all this cavalcade T' insult the Vehicles of Trade, And our dear, home-bred rights invade ? A mighty force awaits you here, To check and punish your career ; And I am order'd by my masters, Who fear disturbance and disasters, To bid you quickly turn about, From London streets to take your rout, Or we shall quickly turn you out My name is COCKER, which is known In ev'ry Counting-house in Town : Nay, such my use and reputation, I am respected through the nation. Yes, I'm the Father, I who speak, Of Mercantile Arithmetic ; Source of a race that far outvies Your Greek and Latin progenies : And now I hope that in a crack You'll send an humble answer back, Or else expect a fierce attack. I'll count twice two, and then add four, That time I'll give, but give no more. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight I've done, and will no longer wait." The Bird of Pallas who could speak, In English or in Attic Greek, As suited best did not prolong His answer in the Vulgar Tongue. " 'Twas a petition, duly made By certain of your Sons of Trade, To beg my mistress would permit That they should buy a little Wit ; And here import, though in defiance Of common rules, a little Science. I ask not, if 'twas their intent To gain a name or ten per cent.; Whether 'tis wisdom or misdoing ; Whether 'twill prove their good or ruin, Or the result of civic sense, Or a shrewd, mercantile pretence : Whether 'tis Interest or Pride That turns them f/om old rules aside ; That urges them to tax their trade, For off'rings to th' Immortal Maid : These self-same matters, to be free, Are, Mister Cocker, nou^ .t to me. Tis by Minerva's high command, That I conduct this Classic Band ; Tis she commands, and we obey ; Nor shall you stop us on the way, Whether it does or does not suit Your Pleasure, to the INSTITUTE We'll go, you calculating brute. Say, will your low-born volumes dare With these brave vet'rans to compare? What's all this bustle all this fuss ? Think you they can contend with us? J08 TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTAX They who are slaves, so base and willing, Of any pound, and pence, and shilling. A3 the pen gives they're forc'd to drink The venal dips of any ink , And when they're filled, their lives expire, Consign'd to light a kitchen fire ; Or sent away to such vile use As Chandlers or as Hucksters chuse : If they oppose our stated way, We'll sweep them from the face of day. " At the same time we wish for peace, And that your saucy threats may cease. We do not mean to mock the City With any hope of being witty : We do not bring our learned powers To vex its speculating hours ; Or with poetic visions cross Your schemes of Profit and of Loss. We did not first suggest the deed, To bring you books you cannot read. Meetings were form'd and speeches made, And all by weighty men of trade, To frame the unforeseen request ; And surely we have done our best, When we each Classic did provide, With a Translation by its side. -Dryden is ready to rehearse All Virgil's Works in English verse ; And Grecian Homer rests his hope Of being understood by Pope. Leland will give you, if ye please, The speeches of Demosthenes; While Northern Guthrie will bestow The Eloquence of Cicero. To Thomas Styles and John a Nokes Carr will repeat old Lucieifs Jokes ; While Juvenal's sharp satire shines In William Giffard's rival lines. Cole man and Thornton will convey Right notions of a Latin Play. Whate'er the ancient critics wrote, You now may in plain English quote, And drink Pye's health, when o'er the bottle, For Anglicising Aristotle / Nay, all the Ancient Bards have sung You now may sing in Vulgar Tongue ! What could we more ? so cease your riot, And let us pass along in quiet. Dismiss your Counting-house parade ; Send off these cumbrous tomes of trade : Back to their counters let them roam, And sip their ink, and stay at home ; Nor e'er again their threats oppose To Grecian and to Roman foes." COCKER. " Fools may be found, I do not doubt it, Within this City as without it : This truth, indeed, is very clear, For they were fools who brought you here. I pray thee tell me what has wit To do with any plodding cit ! Of wit we know not what is meant, Unless 'tis found in Cent, per Cent, Learning, a drug has always been ; No Warehouseman will take it in : Should practis'd Mercers quit their satin To look at Greek and long for Latin ? Should the pert, upstart, Merchant's boy Behold the Tower, and think of Troy ? Or should a Democratic Hatter 'Bout old Republics make a clatter? Should City Praters leave their tools, To talk by Ciceronian rules ; And at our meetings in Guildhall Puzzle the mob with Classic brawl ? IN SEARCH OF THE PICTURESQUE. 109 No, to such things they've no pretence ; No let them stick to common sense : You may your ancient Bards rehearse, But there's no common-sense in verse ; Not all the Classics at your tail Would weigh an ounce in Reason's scale. I treat the name of Rome with scorn ; Give me the Commerce of Leghorn. From Italy's prolific shore The wond'rous science was brought o'er, The bright invention which convey'd Such vast facilities to Trade : The DOUBLE ENTRY far outvies All pictur'd, sculptured fantasies ; And sure I am, his honoured name Deserves a brighter wreath of Fame, To whose keen mind the scheme occur'd, Than e'er was won by conqu'ror's sword. What did the Greeks, pray, know of Trade ? Ulysses, as I've heard it said, Was full ten months oblig'd to roam, Before he brought his cargo home : A voyage in that self-same sea, Our coasting brigs would make \n three. The INSTITUTION was display'd As a mere trump'ry trick of trade, Deck'd out, 'tis true, with great parade ; While you are coming as a bribe, To make our purse-proud cits subscribe ; And aid the primary intent Of dividends of ten per cent. We have our pedant tradesmen too, Who talk as if they something knew, And Learning's cud pretend to chew : Who get cramp words, and court the Muse In Magazines and in Reviews. Yes, we have those whose priggish rage is, Not to read books but title-pages ; Who spare no cost in drink and meat To furnish out a tempting treat That may attract an attic train To Mincing or to Philpot-Lane; Who snatch the feast, and go away To mock the patron of the day. There are who strive to have it thought, That they have minds with Learning fraught : Though, if they have so small discerning, To interrupt their trade with Learning ; The day will come when they'll be found With certain shillings in the pound. But, to be brief consult your fame, And go back gravely, as you came ; Or we shall send you somewhat faster, Nor for your wounds afford a plaister. Look at that form which soars in air, And shines like a portentous star ; It is th' armorial symbol bright, Of a renown'd, commercial Knight, Who sought not a superior fame Than doth befit a Merchant's name. See how his ensign is unfurl'd O'er the Emporium of the world, And does, with threat'ning aspect view, Your Owlish worship and your Crew ; While in its motions we descry The sure presage of Victory. Yes, on success I calculate, As sure as four and four make eight. 1 10 TOUR OF DOCTOR SYNTAX Thus I have clearly stated the amount, Errors excepted, of my just account." THE OWL. " Good Mister Cocker I have heard All that your wisdom has preferr'd ; And I entreat you turn your head, In which such 'numbers have been bred, And see a certain wind prevail, To make your grasshopper turn tail ; From which my wise soothsayer draws An omen fatal to your cause ; And you may hear his tongue proclaim, ' Your boobies will all do the same.' But talking is of little use Therefore at once I break the truce." As Critics now when calPd to duel, Disdainful of the common fuel, No more with shot or bullet vapour, But wound with ink, and kill with paper : Both sides for conflict dire prepare ; And thus commenc'd the threaten'd war. Euclid at Master Cocker flew, Whom by one stroke he overthrew ; Then with a knotty problem bound him, And left him struggling where he found him. Casar, with all his Latins, pounc'd On the light parties, whom they trounc'd, And soon a dreadful havoc made Of bills that never would be paid ; While Bankers' Checks made quick retreat, And huddled into Lombard-Street. With equal force the Greeks attack, And drove the heavy legions back : Ledgers and Journals lay all scattered ; Bill-Books and Cash-Books were bespatter'd : Short was the contest ; struck with dread, Confus'd the City forces fled. For aid on Stationers they call, But they were busy at their Flail j And this same Hall their trade-craft found To be a sort of neutral ground ; As they conceiv'd the havoc made, Might serve the paper-making trade: To side with either they were loth, In hopes to profit from them both. The Postman now his clarion blew ; His blasts were vain they would not do ; The Letter-Books disordered flew ; While Pindar from Bow-steeple clock Look'd down, and, as he view'd the shock Chaunted, nor did he chaunt in vain, A loud and animating strain. Forth from the Bank a troop was sent Of threes and fours and fives per cent. But they ran off, nor struck a blow ; For Stocks that day were very low. The Policies remain'd secure, Waiting for arms of signature ; For what brave spirit e'er would fight 'em When nobody would underwrite 'em. And now these doughty cits were beat, Down ev'ry lane, up ev'ry street, But met to form each broken rank, Before the Portals of the Bank : There they a solemn council hold, Whether, by added strength grown bold, To a new contest they should come, Or sneak away disbanded home. IN SEA R CH OF THE PIC TURESQ UE. lit Thus the old Classics having beat The vulgar foe, sought Coleman-Street j But as they pass'd, a numerous host At Coopers' -Hall, had taken post Two blue-coat urchins play'd the fife Which call'd them to the martial strife ; When 'stead of pointed darts and lances, They pelted the Antiques with Chances : Uut Fortune, who is ever blind, Turn'd short and leu uer bands behind. Their Leader lost, away they steal, And hide their numbers in the Wheel. At length the Classic Sages great Their Parthenonian retreat : (kit while the e;hoing walls around With lo Paans loud resound ; Again the vengeful foes appear'd, Again their angry standards rear'd. " Must we once more," the Ancients said, " O'ercome these frantic imps of trade ? Is there no power to save our race From war, when conquest is disgrace ?" The Greeks then call'd on PORSON'S name : The Latins echo'd back the same ; And straight in Grecian stole array'd, Appeai j d the venerable shade : Homer went down upon his knees And so did Tragic Sophocles With all the names that end in ?Je " Hail, sacred tomes !" he said, " to you I grateful ow'd %vhate'er I knew : From you I gain'd my mortal fame, The honours of a scholar's name : To you the immortal power I owe, To give the aid I now bestow : I come from that Celestial Hall Where they all dwell who wrote you all." He spoke and lo ! a Volume came, Of size immense and rueful name : Us back no verbal title bore ;' But num'rous dates of time long o'er ; While on its letter'd sides appears, " LONDON GAZETTES for FIFTY YEARS ! !" Straight to the foe, that, all aloof, Flutter'd about each neigh Vring roof, It did full many a page unfold, And show'd