Ah hapless Swain,Swain: ironic. Johnson defines swain as “A pastoral youth,” that is, a young lover or suitor from the country. unus’d to Pains and
Ills!
Canst thou forego Roast-Beef for nauseous Pills?nauseous Pills: pills administered for venereal disease that functioned as emetics or laxatives in an attempt to rid the body of disease.
How wilt thou lift to Heav’n thy Eyes and Hands,
When the long Scroll the Surgeon’sSurgeon: doctor. Fees demands!
Or else (ye Gods! avert that worst Disgrace!)
Thy ruin’d Nose falls level with thy Face;
Then shall thy Wife thy loathsome Kiss disdain,
And wholesome Neighbours from thy Mug refrain.
Yet there are Watchmen,Watchmen: men who were appointed to patrol the streets and keep watch from sunset to sunrise. who, with friendly Light,
Of Watchmen
Will teach thy reeling Steps to tread aright;
For Sixpence will support thy helpless Arm,
And Home conduct thee, safe from nightly Harm;
But if they shake their Lanterns, from afar,
To call their Brethren to confed’rate War,
When
When RakesRakes: “loose, disorderly, vicious, wild, gay, thoughtless” fellows, addicted to pleasure (Johnson). resist their Pow’r—if hapless you
Should chance to wander with the scow’ring Crew;scow’ring Crew: a group of lawless hooligans.
Though Fortune yield thee Captive, ne’er despair,
But seek the Constable’s consid’rate Ear;
He will reverse the Watchman’s harsh Decree,
Mov’d by the Rhet’rick of a Silver Fee.Silver Fee: a bribe.
Thus would you gain some fav’rite Courtier’s word;
Fee not the petty Clarks,petty Clarks: subordinate clerks who keep accounts and records. but bribe my lord.
Of Rakes
Now is the time that Rakes their Revells keep;
Kindlers of Riot, Enemies of Sleep.
His scatter’d Pence the flying *Gentlemen, who delighted to break Windows with Half-pence. Nicker flings,
And with the Copper Show’r the Casement rings.
Who has not heard the Scowrer’s Midnight Fame?
Who has not trembled at the Mohock’sMohock: member of a gang of aristocratic ruffians.
Name
Was there a Watchman took his hourly Rounds
Safe from their Blows, or new-invented Wounds?
I pass