Old tars in the trade, who related old tales, And drank, and blew clouds that were"" very like whales." Of course with their grog there was plenty of chat, Of canting, and flenching, and cutting up fat; At last they retired, and left Ben to his rest, He heard something blow through two holes in its head! "A start!" muttered Ben, in the Grampus afloat, And made but one jump from the deck to the boat! "Huzza! pull away for the blubber and bone, I look on that whale as already my own!" Then groping about by the light of the moon, "Starn all!" he sang out, as you care for your lives,Starn all! as you hope to return to your wives, Stand by for the flurry! she throws up the foam! Well done, my old iron; I've sent you right home!" And scarce had he spoken, when lo! bolt upright The leviathan rose in a great sheet of white, "Starn all!" echoed Ben, with a movement aback, "Avast!" shouted Ben, with a sort of a screech, The Pilgrims and the Peas "A-spouting, indeed!-very pretty," said she; "To go to pretend to take me for a fish! You great polar bear-but I know what you wish; "O dearest," cried Ben, frightened out of his life, "Don't think I would go for to murder a wife 621 I must long have bewailed!" But she only cried, "Stuff!” Don't name it, you brute, you've be-whaled me enough!" "Lord, Polly!" said Ben, "such a deed could I do? I'd rather have murdered all Wapping than you! Come, forgive what is past." "O you monster!" she cried, "It was none of your fault that it passed off one side!" However, at last she inclined to forgive; "But, Ben, take this warning as long as you live,- THE PILGRIMS AND THE PEAS A BRACE of sinners, for no good, Fifty long miles had those sad rogues to travel, A nostrum, famous in old popish times, Which popish parsons for its powers exalt, For keeping souls of sinners sweet, The knaves set off on the same day, But very different was their speed, I wot: Swift as a bullet from a gun; The other limp'd, as if he had been shot. One saw the Virgin soon-peccavi cried- Made fit with saints above to live forever. In coming back, however, let me say, He met his brother rogue about half-way, Hobbling, with outstretch'd arms and bended knees, His eyes in tears, his cheeks and brow in sweat, "How now," the light-toed, white-wash'd pilgrim broke, "You lazy lubber!" "Odds curse it!" cried the other, "'tis no joke; My feet, once hard as any rock, Are now as soft as blubber. "Excuse me, Virgin Mary, that I swear: As for Loretto, I shall not go there; No! to the Devil my sinful soul must go, For damme if I ha'n't lost every toe. How 'tis that you are not in pain? What power hath work'd a wonder for your toes? Now swearing, now on saints devoutly bawling, "How is't that you can like a greyhound go, Merry as if that naught had happen'd, burn ye!" "Why," cried the other, grinning, "you must know, Tam O'Shanter That, just before I ventured on my journey, I took the liberty to boil my peas." 623 John Wolcot. TAM O'SHANTER WHEN chapman billies leave the street, While we sit bousing at the nappy, This truth fand honest Tam o'Shanter, O Tam! hadst thou but been sae wise As ta'en thy ain wife Kate's advice! Thou sat as lang as thou hadst siller; Thou wouldst be found deep drown'd in Doon! Or catch'd wi' warlocks i' the mirk, Ah, gentle dames! it gars me greet But to our tale:-Ae market night, Care, mad to see a man sae happy, But pleasures are like poppies spread, That flit ere you can point their place Evanishing amid the storm. Nae man can tether time or tide; |