Shops open, Coaches roll, Carts shake the Ground,
And all the Streets with passing Cries resound.
What Trades prejudicial to Walkers.
If cloth’d in Black you tread the busy town,
Or if distinguish’d by the rev’rend Gown,
Three Trades avoid; oft' in the mingling Press
The Barber’s Apron soils the sable Dress:
Shun the Perfumer’s touch with cautious Eye;
Nor let the Baker’s step advance too nigh.
Ye Walkers! too, that youthful Colours wear,
Three sullying Trades avoid with equal Care.—
The little Chimney-Sweeper skulks along,
And marks with sooty stains the heedless Throng:
When Small-coalSmall-coal: charcoal.
murmurs in the hoarser Throat,
From smuttysmutty: “black with smoke or coal” (Johnson). Dangers guard
thy threaten’d Coat:
The Dust-man’s CartDust-man’s Cart: the cart that is used to carry away dust and ashes.
offends thy Cloaths and Eyes,
When through the Street a Cloud of Ashes flies;
C 4
But
But whether Black, or lighter Dyes are worn,
The Chandler’sChandler: candle-maker.
Basket, on his Shoulder born,
With Tallow spots thy Coat; resign the Way,
To shun the surly Butcher’s greasy Tray,
Butchers, whose Hands are dy’d with blood’s foul Stain,
And always foremost in the Hangman’s Train.
To whom to give the Wall.
Let due Civilities be strictly paid.
The Wall surrender to the hooded Maid;
Nor let thy sturdy Elbow’s hasty Rage
Jostle the feeble Steps of trembling Age:
And when the Porter bends beneath his Load,
And pants for Breath; clear thou the crouded Road.
But above all, the groaping Blind direct,
And from the pressing Throng the Lame protect.
You’ll sometimes meet a Fop,Fop: “a simpleton; a coxcomb; a man of small understanding and much ostentation; a pretender; a man fond of show, dress, and flutter; an impertinent” (Johnson). of nicest Tread,
Whose mantling PerukePeruke: a wig. veils his empty Head,
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