The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift/Volume 7/The Dean's Answer to the Stolen Crown

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Upon stealing a Crown, when the Dean was asleep

The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 7
(c. 1725)
by Jonathan Swift, edited by Thomas Sheridan, John Nichols, John Boyle, Patrick Delany, John Hawkesworth, Deane Swift, William Bowyer, John Birch, and George Faulkner

The Dean's Answer

Ode on Science

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This poem is a response to the previous poem, Upon stealing a Crown, when the Dean was asleep.

1560671The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 7
— The Dean's Answerc. 1725Jonathan Swift

THE DEAN'S ANSWER.

SO, about twelve at night, the punk
Steals from the cully when he's drunk;
Nor is contented with a treat,
Without her privilege to cheat.
Nor can I the least difference find,
But that you left no clap behind.
But, jest apart, restore, you capon ye,
My twelve thirteens^[1] and sixpence ha'penny.
To eat my meat, and drink my medlicot,
And then to give me such a deadly cut —
But 'tis observ’d, that men in gowns
Are most inclin'd to plunder crowns.
Could you but change a crown as easy
As you can steal one, how 'twould please ye!
I thought the lady^[2] at St. Catharine's
Knew how to set you better patterns;
For this I will not dine with Agmondisham^[3]
And for his victuals let a ragman dish 'em.

↑ A shilling passes for thirteen pence in Ireland.
↑ Lady Montcashel.
↑ Agmondisham Vesey, esq., of Lucan, in the county of Dublin, comptroller and accomptant general of Ireland, a very worthy gentleman, for whom the dean had a great esteem.

[1] A shilling passes for thirteen pence in Ireland.

[2] Lady Montcashel.

[3] Agmondisham Vesey, esq., of Lucan, in the county of Dublin, comptroller and accomptant general of Ireland, a very worthy gentleman, for whom the dean had a great esteem.

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