(1)
The Clarret Drinker's
SONG:
OR,
The Good Fellows Design.
By a Person of Quality.
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A POX of the Fooling and Plotting of late,
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What a Pother and Stir has it kept in the State?
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Let the Rabble run mad with Suspicions and Fears;
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Let 'em Scuffle and Jarr, till they go by the Ears;
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Their Grievances never shall trouble my Pate,
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So I can but enjoy my dear Bottle at quiet.
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What Coxcombs were those, who would barter their Ease,
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And their Necks, for a Toy, a thin Wafer and Mass?
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At Old Tyburn they never had needed to swing,
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Had they been but true Subjects to Drink, and their King:
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A Friend and a Bottle is all my Design,
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H'as no room for Treason, that's top-full of Wine.
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I mind not the Members and Makers of Laws,
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Let 'em Sit or Prorogue as His Majesty please;
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Let 'em damn us to Woollen, I'll never repine
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At my Lodging when dead, so alive I have Wine.
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Yet oft in my Drink I can hardly forbear,
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To Curse 'em, for making my Claret so dear.
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I mind not grave Asses, who idly debate
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About Right and Succession, the Trifles of State;
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We've a good King already, and he deserves laughter,
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That will trouble his head with who shall come after.
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Come here's to his health, and I wish he may be
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As free from all care and all trouble as we.
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What care I how Leagues with the Hollander go,
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Or Intrigues betwixt Sidney and Monsieur d'Avaux;
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What concerns it my Drinking if Cazall be sold,
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If the Conquerour takes it by storming or Gold;
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Good Bourdeaux alone is the place that I mind,
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And when the Fleet's coming, I pray for a Wind.
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The Bully of France, that aspires to Renown,
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By dull Cutting of Throats and vent'ring his own:
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Let him fight and be damn'd, and make Matches and treat,
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To afford News-mongers and Coffee house chat:
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He's but a brave Wretch, whilst I am more free,
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More safe, and a thousand times happier than he.
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Come he or the Pope, or the Devil to boot;
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Or come Faggot and Stake, I care not a Groat:
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Never think that in Smithfield I Porters will heat:
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No I swear Mr. Fox pray excuse me for that.
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I'll drink in Defiance of Gibbet and Halter,
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This is the Profession that never will alter.
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