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EBBA 32425

Huntington Library - Miscellaneous
Ballad XSLT Template
Burnbank and George Fachneys last Shift:
OR,
A strange Plot at a dead Lift.
Mischiefs are like the Cockatrices Eye,
If they see first, they kill; if seen, they die.
Sir John Sucklings Works.

WHileom I sung two memorable Men,
And dipt in Gall and Vinegar my Pen;
Burnbank and Fachney, Heroes in their Time,
Whose matchless Deeds demand immortal Rhime:
Once more their mighty Fates I must rehearse,
Not in course Doggrel, but in lofty Verse.
While punny Rogues practise their snacking Trade,
To mean Attempts and Shifts by Instinct led;
Their Talents raise them bove their vulgar Ken,
And boldly, they perform Things unessayd by Men;
Rob, Roy, Jardens, Baillies, and the Schaws,
Can truff a Purse, and mock at human Laws;
But Fachney and Burnbank low Arts abhore,
Accomplish Crimes were never heard before.
Knights of the Post, Knights of the Pad are Fools,
Unworthy to be made their Under-tools.
Once Niostratus to propale his Name.
Fond to be known, tho with immortal Shame,
Destroyd Dianas Temple with a Fire;
Two hundred Years Toil did in two Hours expire.
A Piece of Noble Gallantry indeed;
But our Two Heroes Fame do theirs Exceed.
My Muse, record the Actions of these Two,
And sing the Men whom all Mankind should know.
Burnbank, while yet a Child, was ripe in Evil,
A very faithful Servant to the Devil;
Well warmd in Vice, with an immoderate Heat,
It made his Bosom heave, and Pulses beat:
And Fachney tho he be a young Beginner,
Is like to prove a very hopeful Sinner.
Like Nettles in fat Soil, they grow so fast,
Im much afraid theyll both be hangd at last.
I cannot trace their Crimes in this short Page,
For to relate them, would consume an Age.
Consult the Journal-Books, and there youll see,
Theyre very fit to grace the Gallow lee.
Tho Bankie did escape by Mights of Mary;
Woes me, it provd the Death of Hunchback Hary.
His Crimes, by Act of Banishment, were purgd:
But since the Judge condemn both to be scourgd,
Then cunning Fachney and Burnbank agree
To open Doors, by making of a Key:
They lay a Solid Plot to make their Way,
Taking th Impression of the Key in Clay.
As Drousie Keeper nodded in his Chair;
Not dreaming in the least the Rogues were there,
They stole the Figure of his Key; and then
They gave the Draught on Paper with their Pen.
They Vulcan Hastie got to employ his Art,
The Drunken Rogue forgot to act his Part,
And blabd the Secret out, to their great Shame;
For which they say, he should be hangd, not them,
Tho very many People do agree,
Twere Justice for to hang up all the Three.

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