IR, Pray discruciate what follows.
The dullest beast, and gentleman's liquor,
When young is often due to the vicar,[1]The dullest of beasts, and swine's delight,
Make up a bird very swift of flight.[2]The dullest beast, when high in stature,
And another of royal nature,
For breeding is a useful creature.[3]The dullest beast, and a party distress'd,
When too long, is bad at best.[4]The dullest beast, and the saddle it wears,
Is good for partridge, not for hares.[5]The dullest beast, and kind voice of a cat,
Will make a horse go, though he be not fat.[6]The dullest of beasts and of birds in the air,
Is that by which all Irishmen swear.[7]The dullest beast, and famed college for Teagues,
Is a person very unfit for intrigues.[8]The dullest beast, and a cobbler's tool,
With a boy that is only fit for school,
In summer is very pleasant and cool.[9]The dullest beast, and that which you kiss,
May break a limb of master or miss.[10]Of serpent kind, and what at distance kills,
Poor mistress Dingley oft hath felt its bills.[11]The dullest beast, and eggs unsound,
Without it I rather would walk on the ground.[12]The dullest beast, and what covers a house,
Without it a writer is not worth a louse.[13]The dullest beast, and scandalous vermin,
Of roast or boil'd, to the hungry is charming.[14]The dullest beast, and what's cover'd with crust,
There's nobody but a fool that would trust.[15]The dullest beast, and mending highways,
Is to a horse an evil disease.[16]The dullest beast, and a hole in the ground,
Will dress a dinner worth five pound.[17]The dullest beast, and what doctors pretend,
The cook-maid often has by the end.[18]The dullest beast, and fish for lent,
May give you a blow you'll for ever repent.[19]The dullest beast, and a shameful jeer,
Without it a lady should never appear.[20]Wednesday Night.
I writ all these before I went to bed.
Pray explain them for me, becauseI cannot do it.[Footnote 1:
A swine.][Footnote 2:
A swallow.][Footnote 3:
A stallion.][Footnote 4:
A sail.][Footnote 5:
A spaniel.][Footnote 6:
A spur.][Footnote 7:
A soul.][Footnote 8:
A sloven.][Footnote 9:
A sallad.][Footnote 10:
A slip.][Footnote 11:
A sparrow.][Footnote 12:
A saddle.][Footnote 13:
A style.][Footnote 14:
A slice.][Footnote 15:
A spy.][Footnote 16:
A spavin.][Footnote 17:
A spit.][Footnote 18:
A skewer.][Footnote 19:
Assault.][Footnote 20:
A smock.]
