Adventures of John o' Badenyon, in pursuit of happiness/John o' Badenyon
JOHN o’ BADENYON.
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When first I came to be a man
of twenty years or so,
I thought myself a handsome youth,
and fain the world would know;
In bell attire I kept abroad,
with spirits brisk and gay,
And here and there, and every-where,
was like a morn in May.
No cares I had, nor fears of want,
but rambled up and down,
And for a beau I might have pass'd
in country or in town;
I still was pleas’d where-e'er I went,
and when I was alone,
I tun’d my pipe, and pleas’d myself
wi’ John o’ Badenyon.
Now, in the days of youthful prime,
a mistress I must find,
For love, I heard, gave one an air,
and ev'n improv’d the mind,
On Phillis fair, among the rest,
kind Fortune fix’d my eyes,
Her piercing beauties struck my heart,
and she became my choice.
To Cupid now, with hearty pray’r,
I offer’d many a vow;
And danc’d, & sung, & sigh’d, & swore,
as other lovers do:
But when at last I breath’d my flame,
I found her cold as stone;
I left the girl and tun’d my pipe
to John o’ Badenyon.
When love had thus my heart beguil’d,
with foolish hopes and vain,
To friendship next I steer’d my course,
and laugh’d at lovers’ pain:
A friend I got by lucky chance,
’twas something like divine,
An honest friend’s a precious gift,
and such a gift was mine;
And now, whatever might betide,
a happy man was I;
In any strait I knew to whom
I freely might apply;
A strait soon came, my friend I try'd
he laugh’d, and spurn’d my moan;
I hy’d me home, and tun’d my pipe
to John o’ Badenyon.
Methought I should be wiser next,
and would a Pa riot turn;
Began to doat on Johnny Wilkes,
and cry’d up Parson Horn;
Their noble spirit I admir’d,
and prais'd their manly zeal,
Who had with flaming tongue and pen
maintain’d the public weal.
But ere a month or two was past,
I found myself betray'd,
’Twas self and party after all,
for all the stir they made:
At last I saw the factious knaves
insult the very throne;
I curs’d them all, and tun’d my pipe
to John o’ Badenyon.
What next to do I mus’d a while,
still hoping to succeed:
I pitch’d on books for company,
and gravely try’d to read:
I bought and borrow'd every-where
and studied night and day,
Nor miss'd what Dean or Doctor wrote,
that happen’d in my way.
Philosophy I now esteem'd
the ornament of youth,
And carefully thro’ many a page
I hunted after truth:
A thousand various schemes I try’d,
and yet was pleas’d with none:
I threw them by, and tun’d my pipe
to John o’ Badenyon.
And now you youngsters, ev'ry one,
that wish to make a show.
Take heed in time, nor fondly hope
for happiness below:
What you may fancy pleasure here,
is but an empty name:
And girls, and friends, and books also,
you’ll find them all the same.
Then be advis'd, and warning take
from such a man as me,
I’m neither Pope, nor Cardinal,
nor one of high degree:
You’ll meet displeasure ev’ry-where:
then do as I have done.
E’en tune your pipe, and please yourself
wi’ John o’ Badenyon.