"BEAU BROCADE "

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WALPOLE talked of a man and his price ";
Nobody's virtue was over-nice :-

Those, in fine, were the brave days when
Coaches were stopped by Highwaymen !

And of all the knights of the gentle trade
Nobody bolder than "BEAU BROCADE."

This they knew on the whole way down ;
Best,-maybe, at the " Oak and Crown."

(For timorous cits on their pilgrimage

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Would club " for a "Guard" to ride the stage.

And the Guard that rode on more than one
Was the Host of this hostel's sister's son.)

Open we here on a March day fine,
Under the oak with the hanging sign.

There was Barber DICK with his basin by;
Cobbler JOE with the patch on his eye;

Portly product of Beef and Beer,
JOHN the host, he was standing near.

Straining and creaking, with wheels awry,
Lumbering came the " Plymouth Fly" ;—

Lumbering up from Bagshot Heath,

Guard in the basket armed to the teeth;

Passengers heavily armed inside;

Not the less surely the coach had been tried!

Tried!-but a couple of miles away,
By a well-dressed man!-in the open day!

Tried successfully, never a doubt,—
Pockets of passengers all turned out!

Cloak-bags rifled, and cushions ripped,—
Even an Ensign's wallet stripped!

Even a Methodist hosier's wife

Offered the choice of her Money or Life!

Highwayman's manners no less polite,

Hoped that their coppers (returned) were right;—

Sorry to find the company poor,

Hoped next time they'd travel with more ;

Plucked them all at his ease, in short :—

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Such was the " Plymouth Fly's" report.

Sympathy! horror! and wonderment !
"Catch the Villain!" (But Nobody went.)

Hosier's wife led into the Bar;

(That's where the best strong waters are !)

Followed the tale of the hundred-and-one
Things that Somebody ought to have done.

"BEAU BROCADE"

Ensign (of BRAGG's) made a terrible clangour:
But for the Ladies had drawn his hanger!

Robber, of course, was "BEAU BROCADE " ;
Out-spoke DOLLY the Chambermaid.

Devonshire DOLLY, plump and red,
Spoke from the gallery overhead ;-

Spoke it out boldly, staring hard :

"Why didn't you shoot then, GEORGE the Guard?"

Spoke it out bolder, seeing him mute :—
"GEORGE the Guard, why didn't you shoot?"

Portly JOHN grew pale and red,

(JOHN was afraid of her, people said ;)

Gasped that " DOLLY was surely cracked," (JOHN was afraid of her-that's a fact !)

GEORGE the Guard grew red and pale,
Slowly finished his quart of ale :-

"Shoot? Why-Rabbit him!-didn't he shoot?" Muttered-" The Baggage was far too 'cute!"

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Shoot? Why he'd flashed the pan in his eye!" Muttered-" She'd pay for it by and by!" Further than this made no reply.

Nor could a further reply be made,

For GEORGE was in league with " BEAU BROCADE ** !

"BEAU BROCADE

And JOHN the Host, in his wakefullest state,
Was not on the whole-immaculate.

But nobody's virtue was over-nice

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When WALPOLE talked of a man and his price ";

And wherever Purity found abode,
'Twas certainly not on a posting road.

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II

Forty" followed to "Thirty-nine." Glorious days of the Hanover line!

Princes were born, and drums were banged;
Now and then batches of Highwaymen hanged.

"Glorious News!"-from the Spanish Main; PORTO-BELLO at last was ta'en.

"Glorious news!"-for the liquor trade; Nobody dreamed of "BEAU BROCADE."

People were thinking of Spanish Crowns ;
Money was coming from seaport towns!

Nobody dreamed of " BEAU BROCADE," (Only DOLLY the Chambermaid !)

Blessings on VERNON! Fill up the cans;
Money was coming in "Flys " and " Vans."

"BEAU BROCADE "

Possibly JOHN the Host had heard ;
Also, certainly, GEORGE the Guard.

And DOLLY had possibly tidings, too,
That made her rise from her bed anew,

Plump as ever, but stern of eye,
With a fixed intention to warn the

Lingering only at JOHN his door,
Just to make sure of a jerky snore ;

Saddling the gray mare, Dumpling Star;
Fetching the pistol out of the bar ;

(The old horse pistol that, they say, Came from the battle of Malplaquet ;)

Loading with powder that maids would use,
Even in "Forty," to clear the flues;

And a couple of silver buttons, the Squire
Gave her, away in Devonshire.

These she wadded-for want of better

With the B—SH-P of L-ND-N'S “Pastoral

Looked to the flint, and hung the whole,

Ready to use, at her pocket-hole.

Thus equipped and accoutred, DOLLY
Clattered away to Exciseman's Folly " ;—

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