Page:Songs compleat, pleasant and divertive (Wit and mirth or, Pills to purge melancholy).djvu/168

A New Song.

Made in honour of the Worthy Society of Archers, meeting the 11th of January, Anno 1711. By T. D'Urfey. The Words made to a pretty Tune; She turns up her Silver hair.

    OF all noble Sports
    Us'd in Country or Court,
For our Health or our true Delight,
    The Wise have confest
    That an Archer's is best,
As 'tis also the noblest Sight;
    He firmly does stand,
    And looks like a Man,
When the Shaft strongly drawn does go:
    Drink away then my Boys,
    And to heighten our Joys,
Sing in praise of the brave long Bow.

    Britain's Father's did chuse,
    E'er damn'd Guns were in use,
With this Weapon to end their Frays;
    Fam'd Agin Court,
    Shews at this Royal Sport,
How we conquer'd in Henry's Days;
    The Mounsieur was mawl'd,
    And the English extoll'd,
From the Thames to the Gallick Sein:
    And were Guns laid aside,
    And our Archers were try'd,
We are sure we could do't again.

Health that we gain to our Body and Brain,
To the World has been clearly shewn;
    Who e'er can say,
    He that shoots e'ry Day,
Has the Strangury, Gout, or Stone?
    He firmly does stand, &c.