When the Black YouthBlack Youth: covered in shoe black. at chosen Stands rejoice,
And clean your Shoes resounds from ev’ry Voice;
When late their mirymiry: muddy. sides Stage-Coaches show,
And their stiff Horses thro’ the Town move slow;
When all
the Mall
in leafy Ruin lies,
And Damsels first renew their Oyster Cries:Oyster Cries: the cries of street vendors selling oysters.
Of Shoes.
Then let the prudent Walker Shoes provide,
Not of the Spanish or
Morocco
Hide;
The wooden Heel may raise the Dancer’s Bound,
And with the ’scallop’d Top’scallop’d Top: a scalloped border on the top of the shoe. his Step be crown’d;
Let firm well-hammer’d Soles protect thy Feet
Thro’ freezing Snows, and Rains, and soaking Sleet.
Should the big LasteLaste: a mould of the foot used to shape boots or shoes.
extend the Shoe too wide,
Each Stone will wrench th’ unwary Step aside:
The sudden Turn may stretch the swelling Vein,
Thy cracking Joint unhinge, or ancle sprain;
B 2
And
And when too short the modish Shoes are worn,
You’ll judge the Seasons by your shooting Corn.
Of Coats.
Nor should it prove thy less important Care,
To chuse a proper Coat for Winter’s Wear.
Now in thy Trunk thy DoilyDoily: woolen fabric worn in the summer.
Habit fold,
The silken Druggetsilken Drugget: fabric made of silk and wool. ill can
fence the Cold;
The Frieze’s spongy NapFrieze’s spongy Nap: the nap (raised threads lying in the same direction) on a type of
coarse woolen cloth.
is soak’d with Rain,
And show’rs soon drench the Camlet’sCamlet: camblet, a mixture of silk and camel hair; Johnson (1755) notes it is “now made
with wool and silk.”
cockled Grain.Grain: grainy texture.
True Witney Broad-cloathWitney Broad-cloath: a high quality cloth of woven wool, produced at Witney in
Oxfordshire.
with its Shag unshorn,
Unpierc’d is in the lasting Tempest worn:
Be this the Horse-man’s Fence;Fence: defense. for who would
wear
Amid the Town the Spoils of
Russia’s bear?Amid the town the spoils of Russia’s bear: in imitation of Virgil’s
Georgics: “Where skins of beasts the rude barbarians wear, / The spoils of foxes, and
the furry bear” (Dryden, Georgics III.589). “Spoils” refers to the skin
or hide stripped from an animal.
Within the Roquelaure’sRoquelaure: a man’s cloak reaching to the knee.
Clasp thy Hands are pent,
Hands, that stretch’d forth invading Harms prevent.
Let the loop’d Bavaroyloop’d Bavaroy: a type of cloak or overcoat, embellished with an ornamental double or fringe. the fopfop: “a man fond of show, dress, and flutter” (Johnson).
embrace,
Or his deep Cloak be spatter’d o’er with Lace.
That