John of Badenyon

When first that I became a man,
Of twenty years or so,
I thought myself a hansom youth,
And fain the world would know;
I deck'd myself in best attire,
With spirits bright and gay,
And here and there and everywhere,
Was like a mom of May.
I had no care nor fear of want,
But rambled up and down;
And for a bean I might have past,
In country or in town:
I still was pleased where e'er I went,
And when I was alone,
I tun'd my pipe and pleas'd myself,
With John of Badenyon.

Now in the days of youthful prime,
A mistress I must find,
For love they say gives one an air,
An e'en improves the mind;
On Phillis fair above the rest,
Kind fortune fix'd mine eyes;
Her piercing beauty struck my heart,
And she became my choice.
To Cupid then with hearty prayer,
I offer'd many a vow;
And danc'd and sung and sigh'd and swore,
As other lovers do,
But when I came to breath my flame,
I found her cold as stone,
I left the girl and tun'd my pipe,
To John of Badenyon.

When love had thus my heart betray'd
With foolish hopes in vain;
To friendship's port I steer'd my course,
And laugh'd at lovers pain,
A friend I got by lucky chance,
T'was something like divine,
An honest friend's a precious gift,
And such a gift was mine.
And now whatever might betide,
A happy man was I,
In any strait I knew to whoom,
I freely might apply.
A strait soon came, I try'd my friend,
He heard and spurn'd my moan,
I turn'd away and tun'd my pipe,
To John of Badenyon.

I though I should be wiser next,
And would a patriot turn!
Began to doat on Johny Wilks,
And cry up Parson Horn,
Their manly courage I admir'd,
Approv'd their noble zeal,
Who had with flaming tongue and pen,
Maintain'd the public weal.
But e'er a month or two was past,
I foiund myself betray'd
T'was self and party after all,
For all the stir they made.
But when I saw the factious knaves
Insult the very throne,
I curs'd them all and tun'd my pipe,
To John of Badenyon.

What to do next I mus'd a while,
Still hoping to succeed;
I pitch'd on books for company,
And gravely try'd to read,
I bought and borrow'd everywhere,
And studied night and day;
Ne'er miss'd what dean or doctor wrote,
That happen'd in my way.
Philosophy I now esteem'd,
the ornament of youth,
And carefully through many a page,
I hunted after truth,
A thousand virtuous schemes I try'd,
But found them all in vain,
I threw them by and tun'd my pipe,
To John of Badenyon.

And now ye youngsters everywhere,
Who want to make a show,
Take heed in time nor vainly hope,
For happiness below,
What you may fancy pleasure here,
Is but an empty name;
For girls and friends and books also,
you'd find them all the same.
Then be advis'd and warning take,
From such a man as me,
I'm neither Pope nor Cardinal,
Nor one of high degree,
Youl'll find displeasure everywhere,
Then do as I have done,
E'en tune your pipe an' please yourself,
To John of Badenyon.

doat-dote
John Wilks- 18th century reformer= known to be frivolous and dissipated.
Parson Horn- 18th century reformer Supported John Wilkes and supported his election committee.

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