Loch-Na-Garr/John of Badenyon

by Anonymous

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

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 brisk 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 pleas'd, where'er I went,
 And when I was alone,
I turn'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,
 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 many a vow;
And danc'd, and sung, and sigh'd, 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 turn my pipe,
 To John of Badenyon.

When love had this my heart betray'd,
 With foolish hopes and vain,
To Friendship s port I steer'd my course,
 And laugh'd at lover's pain.
A friend I got, by lucky chance,
 'Twas something like divine!
An honest friends 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 whom
 I freely might apply;
A straight soon came, I try'd my friend,
 He heard, and spurn'd, my moan:
I turn'd away, and pleas'd myself,
 With John of Badenyon.

I thought I should be wiser next,
 And would a Patriot turn,
Began to doat on Johnny Wilker,
 And cry up Parson Hora
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 found myself betray'd,
'Twas self and party after all,
 For all the stir they made,
For when I saw the factious knaves,
 Insult the very throne,
I curs'd them all, and turn'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 to read;
I bought and borrow'd every-where,
 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, thro' many a page,
 I hunted after truth;
Ten thousand various schemes I try'd,
 But yet was pleased with none;
I threw them by, and turn'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,
 Is but an empty name,
For girls, and friends, and books also,
 You ll 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;
You'll find displeasure every-where,
 Then do as I have done,
E'en turn your pipe and please yourself,
 With John of Badenyon.

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