IT happen'd lately at a fair, or wake, After a pot or two or such mistake, Two iron-soled clowns, and bacon-sided,Grumbled: then left the forms which they bestrided, And with their crab-tree cudgels, as appears, Thresh'd, as they use, at one another's ears: A neighbour near both to their house and drink, Who, though he slept at sermons, could not wink At this dissension, with a spirit bold As was the ale that arm'd them, strong and old, Stepp'd in and parted them; but Fortune's frown Was such that there our neighbour was knock'd down. For they, to recompense his pains at full, Since he had broke their quarrel, broke his skull. People came in, and rais'd him from his swound; A chirurgeon then was call'd to search the wound, Who, op'ning it, more to endear his pains, Cried out, Alas! look, you may see his brains. Nay, quoth the wounded man, I tell you free, Good Mr. Surgeon, that can never be; For I should ne'er have meddled with this brawl If I had had but any brains at all. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LOVE'S CAUTION by WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES ALONE (2) by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE THE IDEA OF BALANCE IS TO BE FOUND IN HERONS AND LOONS by JAMES HARRISON COMFORT [TO A YOUTH THAT HAD LOST HIS LOVE] by ROBERT HERRICK SONNET TO ALISA ROCK by JOHN KEATS THE HOUSE OF LIFE: 26. MID-RAPTURE by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI |