General Abercrombie's Elegy/John O'Badenyon

For other versions of this work, see John o' Badenyon.

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JOHN OF BADENYON.

When first I came to be a man
Of twenty years or so,
I thought myself a handsome youth,
And fain the world would know.
In best attire I stept abroad,
With spirits brief and gay.
And here and there and every where,
Was like a morn in May.

I had no care nor fear of want,
But rambled up and down,
And for a beau I might have pass’d,
In country or in town
I still was pleased where’er I went.
And when I was alone,
I tun’d my pipe, and pleased 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,
And even improves the mind.
On Phyllis fair above the rest,
Kind fortune fix'd my eyes,
Her piercing beauty struck my heart,
And I became her prize.

To Cupid now with hearty pray’r,
I offer’d many a vow.
And danced, and sung, and sighed and swore
As other lovers do.
But when I came to breathe my flame,
I found her cold as stone
I left the jilt, and tun’d my pipe
To John of Badenyon.

When love had thus my heart betrayed,
With foolish hopes and vain,
To friendship’s port I steer’d my course,
And laugh’d at severe pain
A friend I got by lucky chance,
’Twas 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 know to whom
I freely may apply.
A strait soon came, I tried my friend
He heard and spurned my moan,
I tun’d away and pleased myself.
With John of Badenyon.

I thought I should be wiser next.
And would a patriot turn
Began to doat on Johnny Wilkes,
And cry up Parson Horn.
Their manly courage I admired.
Approved their noble zeal.
Who had with public tongue and pen
Maintain’d the public weal.

But e'er a month or two was past,
I found myself betrayed,
'Twas self and party after all.
For all the stir they made.
For when I saw the factious knaves
Insult the very throne,
I cursed them all and tun’d my pipe
To John of Badenyon.

What to do next I mused a while,
Still hoping to succeed
I pitched on books for company,
And gravely tried to read
I bought and borrow'd every where,
And studied night and day,
Ne’er mist what dean or doctor wrote.
That happened in my way.

Philosophy I now esteem’d,
The ornament of youth,
And carefully thro’ many a page,
I hunted after truth.
Ten thousand various schemes I tried,
And yet was pleased with none,
I threw them by and tun'd my pipe
To John of Badenyon.

And now ye youngsters every where,
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’ll find them all the same.

Then be advised and warning take,
From such a man as me :
I'm neither Pope nor Cardinal,
Nor one of high degree.
You’ll find displeasure every where
Then do as I have done,
E’en tune your pipe and please you self,
With John of Badenyon.