POEMS

BY

DR. SWIFT

À PASTORAL DIALOGUE. 1728.

DERMOT, SHEELAH.

ANYMPH and swain, Sheelah and Dermot hight,
Who wont to weed the court of Gosford knight;*
While each with stubbed knife remov'd the roots,
That rais'd between the stones their daily shoots;
As at their work they sate in counterview,
With mutual beauty smit, their passion grew.
Sing, heavenly Muse, in sweetly-flowing strain,
The soft endearments of the nymph and swain.

DERMOT.

My love to Sheelah is more firmly fixt, Thian strongest weeds that grow these stones betwixt :

My spud these nettles from the stones can part; No knife so keen to weed thee from my heart.

VOL. XVII.

Sir Arthur Acheson.

B

SHEELAH.

SHEELAH.

My love for gentle Dermot faster grows, Than yon tall dock that rises to thy nose. Cut down the dock, 'twill sprout again; but, O! Love rooted out, again will never grow.

DERMOT.

No more that brier thy tender leg shall rake: (I spare the thistles for sir Arthur's sake) Sharp are the stones; take thou this rushy mat; The hardest bum will bruise with sitting squat.

SHEELAH.

Thy breeches, torn behind, stand gaping wide; This petticoat shall save thy dear backside; Nor need I blush; although you feel it wet, Dermot, I vow, 'tis nothing else but sweat.

DERMOT.

At an old stubborn root I chanc'd to tug, When the Dean threw me this tobacco-plug: A longer ha'p'orth † never did I see;

This, dearest Sheelah, thou shalt share with me.

SHEELAH.

In at the pantry door this morn I slipt, And from the shelf a charming crust I whipt: Dennis was out, and I got hither safe; And thou, my dear, shalt have the bigger half

Who was a great lover of Scotland. F. + Halfpennyworth. F.

Sir Arthur's butler. F.

DERMOT.

DERMOT.

When you saw Tady at long bullets play, You sate and lous'd him all a sunshine day: How could you, Sheelah, listen to his tales, Or crack such lice as his between your nails?

SHEELAH.

When you with Oonah stood behind a ditch, I peep'd, and saw you kiss the dirty bitch; Dermot, how could you touch these nasty sluts? I almost wished this spud were in your guts.

DERMOT.

If Oonah once I kiss'd, forbear to chide; Her aunt's my gossip by my father's side: But, if I ever touch her lips again,

May I be doom'd for life to weed in rain!

SHEELAH.

Dermot, I swear, though Tady's locks could hold Ten thousand lice, and every louse was gold; Him on my lap you never more shall see; Or may I lose my weeding knife-and thee!

DERMOT.

O, could I earn for thee, my lovely lass, A pair of brogues * to bear thee dry to mass! But see, where Norah with the sowins† comes-Then let us rise, and rest our weary bums.

* Shoes with flat low heels. F. † A sort of flummery. F.

ON THE

FIVE LADIES AT SOT'S-HOLE,*

WITH THE DOCTOR † AT THEIR HEAD.

N. B. The Ladies treated the Doctor.

SENT AS FROM AN OFFICER IN THE ARMY. 1728,

FAIR ladies, number five,
Who, in your merry freaks,
With little Tom contrive

To feast on ale and steaks;

While he sits by a grinning,
To see you safe in Sot's hole,
with greasy linen,

Set up

And neither mugs nor pots whole;

Alas! I never thought,

A priest would please your palate;
Besides, I'll hold a groat,

He'll put you in a ballad;

Where I shall see your faces
On paper daub'd so foul,
They'll be no more like Graces,
Than Venus like an owl.

An alehouse in Dublin famous for beef-steaks. F.

+ Dr. Thomas Sheridan. F.

And

Had you

been cunning stagers,

You might yourselves be treated

By captains and by majors.

See how corruption grows,

While mothers, daughters, aunts,

Instead of powder'd beaux,
From pulpits choose gallants.

If we, who wear our wigs

With fantail and with snake,
Are bubbled thus by prigs;
Z-ds! who would be a rake?

Had I a heart to fight,

I'd knock the doctor down;
Or could I read or write,
Egad! I'd wear a gown.

Then leave him to his birch;
And at the Rose on Sunday,
The parson safe at church,
I'll treat you with burgundy,

* Dr. Sheridan was a schoolmaster. F.
B 3

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