BALLAD. (I'm dashing Dick the dustman)

I'm dashing Dick the dustman, None my calling can degrade, For I am not the first man Who had driv'n a dirty trade:

Dust ho! dust ho! I rings my bell and cries, My tricks, if you would find 'em, Pretty early you must rise, For watch me still Howe'er you will I bears off many a prize, And when I wants to blind 'em I throws dust in their eyes.

Why what's your man of honour? And what's your madam fame? A jilt when he has won her That proves a dirty name:

Victory! victory! each draws his sword and cries, In the midst of slaughter find him, See where the savage flies, He spares no life, Nor friend, nor wife, Where'er he finds a prize, Till death at last, to blind him, Throws dust in his eyes.

The lawyer, the physician, And e'en the learn'd divine, Each drives, in his condition, As black a trade as mine:

Fees ho! fees ho! each draws his purse and cries, Their consciences can't bind 'em, The wretched patient dies, All prayers fail, While in a jail The ruin'd client lies, Unless you throw to blind 'em Gold dust in their eyes.

And so d'ye see men bustle To see who's dirty first, And one another hustle, And all to raise the dust:

Dust ho! dust ho! each draws his purse and cries, And he old Nick behind him Will take, to mount up tries, All scrambling go, Both friend and foe, To bear away some prize, And each throws dust to blind him Plump in his neighbour's eyes.