| Citation |
BPB.751.003
7 Jan 1751:21 (837)
TO THE TWO BRITISH BUSSES WHICH SENT THE CARGOS OF PICKLED
HERRINGS TO LONDON. To the tune of, When I was a Dame of
Honour.
By Jack Sprat, Esq;
Ye busses, hail, which to us sent,
The ocean's noblest treasure!
Five hundred such, and all our isle
Will be one scene of pleasure.
Ring forth, ye bells! Ye bonfires, blaze!
This cargo crowns our wishes;
Flourish this trade and we'll salute
The herring King of fishes.
As April peas 'mong as fell dear,
To those who roul in plenty;
This early [hih], in northern climes,
Is found a wondrous dainty.
Stout food our quondain ladies lov'd,
Not flip flop puny dishes:
When [good] Queen Bess, her dames proclaim'd
The Herring King of fishes.
The Dutch, when herrings first come in,
Think all diseases vanish*.
This fishery establish'd here,
Will countless evils banish
A herring is meat, drink, and cloth;
A source of endless riches;
Hence ev'ry Briton true must praise
The herring King of fishes.
Come fill the bowl; fill, fill it high!
To those this scheme who founded:
O may their names for ever last,
And thro' the world be sounded.
The wretch who dares this health refuse,
Give him an hundred swishes+;
As traytor to his country's weal,
And to the King of fishes.
*The proverb is, When the herring comes in the doctor goes
out.
+The author laughs at the vulgar (tho' true) way of writing
the word, Switches.
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