Pearl - читать онлайн бесплатно полную версию книги . Страница 59

Premising you are safe returned to Towne, I made bold to acquaint you that Mr. F— is lately arriv'd att ye haven of Matrimony; He had been long in ye middle state of Purgatory between ye Church & ye Ladyes Chamber; ere she with ye advice of her mother, & some other experienced Ladyes, was lanced forth into ye marriage bed. The Vessell had been 14 years & three months on Building, that it is thought she will care well under Sail. It is a fine smooth ship, I will promise you, & one of ye first-rate; and likely to doe ye King good Service if ably & well man'd. The only fault there is (if any) she is too narrow in ye Poope. She hath a fine shroud, & all difficulty soone vanish'd saving only ye maine yard may prove too burly for the middle Deck. The Capt. it is thought this night will goe on board or her; hee is bound for ye Straites Mouth, and cannot come off without bloodshed: Nay worse; 'tis fear'd if opposition be made, hee may be forced to spend his provision in ye channell, & soe returne without doeing ye Kingdome a penny worth of service.

ODE.

By the Rev. Mr. Bray, on the Death of his favourite Donkey.

How well do I remember yet

How very proud I used to get

When, like a little king, I'd sit,

Upon my Ass!

When seated in his nice warm back

My tiny, little whip I'd crack,

And with my youthful hand I'd smack

My Ass!

And when we galloped o'er the lea

I shouted with delight and glee,

For all the girls came out to see

My Ass!

With him my frugal meals I'd share

And nurture him with greatest care,

And dally with the long, soft hair

Upon my Ass!

In meadows green he'd love to play

And, when tired out, at close of day,

You then, of sweet delicious hay,

Could smell my Ass!

And when through dirty lanes we'd scud

And get bespattered o'er with mud,

I'd get some water when I could,

And wash my Ass!

But someone served him such a trick—

At first they hit him with a stick,

And then with heavy boots did kick

My Ass!

One day he got beyond my reach,

Into a pond. I gave a screech,

For a blood-thirsty, hungry leech

Did suck my Ass!

And oh! his fate I do bewail,

He backed one day against a rail,

And a long, pointed, rusty nail

Stuck in my Ass!

Alas his end I soon did see;

A woodman cutting down a tree,

Did slip, and, barely missing me,

Did axe my Ass!

I saw him die, I watched the gore

Run from the wound as home they bore

My dearest friend — my wounded, sore,

And bloody Ass!

My grief for him was most sincere,

The pain was more than I could bear,

So now, kind friend, come shed a tear