JOHN O' BADENYON. THIS excellent song is also the composition of my worthy friend, old Skinner, at Linshart. When first I cam to be a man Of twenty years or so, I thought myself a handsome youth, With spirits brisk and gay, And here and there and every where But rambled up and down, I still was pleas'd where'er I went, I tun'd my pipe and pleas'd myself Now in the days of youthful prime For love, I heard, gave one an air, And ev❜n improved the mind: On Phillis fair above the rest I offer'd many a vow; And danc'd and sung, and sigh'd, and swore, As other lovers do; But, when at last I breath'd my flame, I found her cold as stone; I left the girl, and tun'd my pipe When love had thus my heart beguil'd And such a gift was mine; And now whatever might betide, In any strait I knew to whom I freely might apply; A strait soon came: my friend I try'd; He heard, and spurn'd my moan; I hy'd me home, and tun'd my pipe Methought I should be wiser next And prais'd their noble zeal, For a' the stir they made; I curs'd them a', and tun'd my pipe What next to do I mus’d a while, I pitch'd on books for company, * This song was composed when Wilkes, Horne, &c. were making a noise about liberty. I bought and borrow'd every where Nor mis'd what dean or doctor wrote And carefully through many a page A thousand various schemes I try'd, And now ye youngsters every where, What you may fancy pleasure here, Is but an empty name, And girls, and friends, and books, and so, You'll find them all the same; Then be advised and warning take From such a man as me; I'm neither Pope nor Cardinal, Nor one of high degree; You'll meet displeasure every where; Ee'n tune your pipe and please yourselves THIS FOR A' THAT, AND A' THAT. song is mine, all except the chorus.* *This is part of the "BARD'S SONG," in the "Jolly Beggars," a Cantata, which is printed at the end of this volume. It is observed of Gay that he had long formed the idea of writing a NEWGATE PASTORAL, and that the conception, when matured, produced the BEGGARS' OPERA. In the "JOLLY BEGGARS" of Burns the reader will see Gay's first sketch completely illustrated; but here the design and the execution are equally original, and perhaps no poem of our Bard more abounds in those genuine and lively strokes of character which display the hand of a master, and which so happily realize the maxim of Horace-ut pictura poësis.-Ed. |