Classic Poem

As o'er the hill we roam'd at will,
My dog and I together,
We mark'd a chaise, by two bright bays
Slow-moved along the heather:

Two bays arch-neck'd, with tails erect,
And gold upon their blinkers;
And by their side an ass I spied;
It was a travelling tinker's.

The chaise went by, nor aught cared I;
Such things are not in my way:
I turned me to the tinker, who
Was loafing down a byway:

I ask'd him where he lived — a stare
Was all I got in answer,
And on he trudged; I rightly judged
The stare said, " Where I can, sir. "

I ask'd him if he'd take a whiff
Of 'bacco; he acceded;
He grew communicative, too,
(A pipe was all he needed),
Till of the tinker's life, I think,
I knew as much as he did.

" I loiter down by thorp and town;
For any job I'm willing;
Take here and there a dusty brown,
And here and there a shilling.

" I deal in every ware in turn,
I've rings for buddin' Sally,
That sparkle like those eyes of her'n;
I've liquor for the valet.

" I steal from th' parson's strawberry-plots,
I hide by th' squire's covers;
I teach the sweet young housemaids what's
The art of trapping lovers.

" The things I've done 'neath moon and stars
Have got me into messes:
I've seen the sky through prison bars,
I've torn up prison dresses:

" I've sat, I've sigh'd, I've gloom'd, I've glanced
With envy at the swallows
That through the window slid, and danced
(Quite happy) round the gallows.

" But out again I come, and show
My face, nor care a stiver,
For trades are brisk and trades are slow,
But mine goes on forever. "

Thus on he prattled like a babbling brook.
Then I, " The sun hath slipped behind the hill,
And my Aunt Vivian dines at half-past six. "
So in all love we parted; I to the Hall,
They to the village. It was noised next noon
That chickens had been miss'd at Syllabub Farm.