IT happen'd lately at a fair, or wake, After a pot or two or such mistake, Two iron-soled clowns, and bacon-sided,Grumbled: then left the forms which they bestrided, And with their crab-tree cudgels, as appears, Thresh'd, as they use, at one another's ears: A neighbour near both to their house and drink, Who, though he slept at sermons, could not wink At this dissension, with a spirit bold As was the ale that arm'd them, strong and old, Stepp'd in and parted them; but Fortune's frown Was such that there our neighbour was knock'd down. For they, to recompense his pains at full, Since he had broke their quarrel, broke his skull. People came in, and rais'd him from his swound; A chirurgeon then was call'd to search the wound, Who, op'ning it, more to endear his pains, Cried out, Alas! look, you may see his brains. Nay, quoth the wounded man, I tell you free, Good Mr. Surgeon, that can never be; For I should ne'er have meddled with this brawl If I had had but any brains at all. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...INFANT SORROW, FR. SONGS OF EXPERIENCE by WILLIAM BLAKE LINES BY CLAUDIA by EMILY JANE BRONTE THE FLOOD OF YEARS by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT THE MAKING OF MAN by JOHN WHITE CHADWICK THE PAINS OF SLEEP by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE EASTER by WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES IN THE SHADOWS: 19 by DAVID GRAY (1838-1861) |