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BOTANY BAY 4 Let us drink a good health to our schemers above, Who at length have contrived from this land to remove Thieves, robbers, and villains. They'll send 'em away, To become a new people at Botany Bay. Some men say they have talents and trades to get bread, Yet they sponge on mankind to be clothèd and fed. They'll spend all they get, and turn night into day. Now I'd have all such sots sent to Botany Bay. There's gay powdered coxcombs and proud dressy tops, Who with very small fortunes set up in great shops. They'll run into debt with design ne'er to pay. They should all be transported to Botany Bay. The tradesmen who plays at cards, billiards, and dice Must pay for their goods an extravagant price. No, faith! I'm mistaken. Such rogues never pay, Therefore, they should all go to Botany Bay. Many men, they are married to good-natured wives. They'll run after wenches and lead debauched lives. Our wise legislature should send such away, To support their system in Botany Bay. There's night-walking strumpets who swarm in each street, Proclaiming their calling to each man they meet. They become such a pest that without more delay, Those corrupters of youth should be sent to Botany Bay. There's monopolizers who add to their store By cruel oppression and squeezing the poor. There's butchers and farmers get rich quick in that way, But I'd have all such rogues sent to Botany Bay. We've great men above and gentry below. They'll talk much of honor, and make a great show, But yet never think their poor tradesmen to pay. Such defaulters I'd have sent to Botany Bay. You lecherous whore-masters who practice vile arts, To ruin young virgins and break parents' hearts, Or from the fond husband the wife lead astray, Let such debauched stallions be sent to Botany Bay. There's whores, pimps, and bastards, a large costly crew, Maintained by the sweat of a laboring few. They should no commission, place, pension or pay. Such locusts should all go to Botany Bay. And that we may sweep our foul nation quite clean, Send off the shop-tax promoters so mean, And those who deprives the light of the day, Should work for a breakfast at Botany Bay. The hulks and the jails had some thousands in store, But out of the jails are ten thousand times more, Who live by fraud, cheating, vile tricks, and foul play, Should all be sent over to Botany Bay. Now, should any take umbrage at what I have writ, Or here find a bonnet or cap that will fit, To such I have only this one word to say: They are all welcome to wear it at Botany Bay. From a broadside in Sydney's Mitchell Library Published in "True Patriots All," edited by Geoffrey Ingleton, Angus & Robertson, Sydney, 1952. Suggested tune: Villikins and his Dinah @Australian filename[ BOTBAY4 BB |
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