He hears a sound and sees the light, Although before in no dejection, At this insidious recollection His His heart with sudden joy is filled, - And there are reasons manifold That make the good, tow'rds which he 's yearning, Look fairly like a lawful earning. Nor has thought time to come and go, To vibrate between yes and no ; my honest soul, Our treat shall be a friendly bowl!" He draws him to the door, "Come in, Come, come," cries he to Benjamin ! And Benjamin — ah, woe is me! * A term well known in the North of England, and applied to rural festivals where young persons meet in the evening for the purpose of dancing. "Blithe souls and lightsome hearts have we, Feasting at the CHERRY-TREE!" This was the outside proclamation, This was the inside salutation; What bustling-jostling - high and low! What tankards foaming from the tap! What thumping — stumping — overhead! The thunder had not been more busy : A steaming bowl, a blazing fire, What greater good can heart desire? 'T were worth a wise man's while to try The utmost anger of the sky, To seek for thoughts of a gloomy cast, If such the bright amends at last. For soon, of all the happy there, A Cæsar past the Rubicon ! He thinks not of his long, long strife ; Terror over, Sleeping by her sleeping Baby. -- With bowl that sped from hand to hand, They hear when every dance is done, When every whirling bout is o'er The fiddle's squeak,* that call to bliss, Ever followed by a kiss; They envy not the happy lot, While thus our jocund Travellers fare, Is gone, returns, and with a prize; - * At the close of each strathspey, or jig, a particular note from the fiddle summons the Rustic to the agreeable duty of saluting his partner. With what?a Ship of lusty size; “This,” cries the Sailor, "a Third-rate is, - And you shall see her in full trim : So said, so done; and masts, sails, yards, Cries out, 66 ""T is there, the quarter-deck On which brave Admiral Nelson stood, A sight that would have roused your blood! One eye he had, which, bright as ten, Burned like a fire among his men ; Let this be land, and that be sea, and thus came we!" Hushed was by this the fiddle's sound, The dancers all were gathered round, And, such the stillness of the house, For Benjamin, triumphant soul! He heard a monitory growl; Heard, and in opposition quaffed A deep, determined, desperate draught! Nor did the battered Tar forget, Or flinch from what he deemed his debt: Then, like a hero crowned with laurel, Back to her place the ship he led; Wheeled her back in full apparel; Re-yoked her to the Ass: :- anon, Cries Benjamin, "We must be gone." |