THE TENCH. 139 



Consequent witticisms. 



is to be served up with sauce pi guent, at a kind of 

 Arthur's RoundTable, to a select corps of Knights 



of the long bow." 



THE TENCH OF THORNVILLE ROYAL, 



"A TRUE STORY !!! 



" O' the marvelous, 



At Thornville house, 

 We read of feats in plenty, 



Where with long bow 



They hit, I trow, 

 Full nineteen shot in twenty. 



" Their fame to fix, 



'Mid:>t other tricks, 

 In which they so delight, Sir, 



These blades, pray know/ 



The hatchet throw 

 Till it is out of sight, Sir. 



" Of beast and bird 4 



Enough we've heard, 

 By cracks as loud as thunder, 

 So now they dish, 

 A monster fish, 

 For those who bite at wonders, 



" The scullion wench 



Did catch a tench, 

 Fatter than Berkshire hogs, Sir, 



Which, pretty soul, 



Had made a hole, 

 Snug shelter'd by some logs, Sir ! 



" Sans water he 



Had liv'd d'ye see, 

 Beneath those roots of wood, Sir ! 



And there, alack, 



Flat on his back, 

 Had lain since Noah's flood, Sir ! 

 S 2 



