Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, DRAPIER'S BALLAD TO TUNE OF THE LONDON 'PRENTICE, by THOMAS SHERIDAN (1687-1738)


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

DRAPIER'S BALLAD TO TUNE OF THE LONDON 'PRENTICE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Of a worthy dublin drapier
Last Line: Let glasses still be crowned.


1

Of a worthy Dublin drapier
My purpose is to speak,
Who for no private interest,
But for his country's sake,
By virtuous honor led,
Egregious hazards run,
And so set his country free.
Could more have undergone?

2

Twice he was persecuted
By traitors to the state;
And twice, by virtue guarded,
He did their wiles defeat.
Seek all the world about
And you will hardly find
A man for honor to exceed
This drapier's gallant mind.

3

He was bred in Dublin;
The chief of wits was he;
From thence went up to London
A 'prentice for to be.
A banker near the court
Did like his service so,
That a warm farm, in his own land,
He did on him bestow.

4

When back again to Ireland
This worthy drapier came,
He cast about most nobly
T' advance its wealth and fame;
And had the simple natives
Observed his sage advice,
Their wealth and fame some years ago
Had soared above the skies.

5

For oft he them admonished
To mind the draping trade,
And wear no manufactures
But what themselves had made;
But while by thoughtless mortals
His scheme neglected lay,
Some foes unto their country's weal
His person would betray.

6

When thus her sons turn enemies,
What nation free can last!
And now, to quite enslave us,
A champion over passed,
In copper armor clad,
A wooden tool of might,
Who by his boasts of power did
All Ireland affright.

7

With just disdain the drapier
Beheld his brazen pride;
He could not hear with patience
How he our laws defied;
Forgetting his former wrongs,
Unto our aid he flew,
And with resistless courage soon
This giant overthrew.

8

But oh! The curst ingratitude
Of some! No matter where,
Let all their names in history
With infamy appear;
For to reward his love
In saving of the land,
They plotted to deliver him
Into the traitor's hand.

9

The drapier at this treatment
Was not a whit dismayed,
But for his country's safety,
More than his own, afraid.
He bravely sent them word
He'd stand the brunt of all,
If they would but secure the land
From Wood's sad brazen thrall.

10

Then doth the gallant drapier
His trade and all expose,
To save the land from foreign
And from domestic foes,
Who, their own turns to serve,
Most basely would agree
To bring us in dependence
Who are by nature free.

11

For he hath shown most clearly
We can't be free by halves,
And who're to subjects subject
Can be no less than slaves;
That we no acts have made,
And grant we never may,
To give our brethren title
To their pretended sway.

12

Then with your constant praises
The drapier's name adorn,
While those who would betray him
Deserve your utmost scorn;
In honoring his worth
Like grateful friends be found,
And with his health next to the King's
Let glasses still be crowned.





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