Page:Theatrical speaker (1).pdf/15

 Their liquor is blood, and this horrible stave

They howl, "To the health of Alonzo the Brave

And his consort the false Imogene."

A country fellow and his son, they tell

In modern fables, had an ass to sell:

For this intent they turn'd it out to play,

And fed so well that by the destin'd day,

They brought the creature into sleek repair,

And drove it gently to a neighb'ring fair.

As they were jogging on, a rural class

Was heard to say, "Look, look there at that ass

And those two blockheads trudging on each side

That have not either of 'em sense to ride:

Asses all three and thus the country folks

On man and boy began to cut their jokes.

Th' old fellow minded nothing that they said,

But every word stuck in the young one's head;

And they began their comment there upon

"Ne'er heed 'em lad", "Nay, father, do get on.",

"Not I, indeed." "Why then, let me, pray,"

"Well do: and see what prating tongues will say

The boy was mounted; and they had not got

Much further on, before another knot,

Just as the ass passing by, pad, pad,

Cried, "O! that lazy looby of a lad,

How unconcernedly the gaping brute

Lets the poor aged fellow walk a foot."

Down came the son, on hearing this account,

And begg'd and pray'd, and made his father mount: