Ballad—in the Quizes

Young Mog, arrived at woman's growth, Felt something in her bosom move: 'Twas neither joy, nor pain, yet both, Young Ralph o'th woodland said 'twas love. Ralph lov'd young Moggy as his life, Was wealthy, warm, and well to do: But Moggy saw the soldiers come, Beheld the glitt'ring arms so gay, Was charm'd with the loud trumpets bray, Delighted with the sprightly fife, And deafened with the thund'ring drum: While soldiers march'd to the loud tattoo, And though to honest Ralph still true, She listened to the loud tattoo, I've said that Mog was debonair, Nor was their admiration small: She was thought artless, young, and fair, By the regiment, pioneers, and all. Each would have ta'en her for his wife, A la militaire, as soldiers do; The smock-sac'd ensign nam'd his sum, The sergeant promis'd, swore, and pray'd, The trumpeter her praises bray'd, To charm her loudly squeak'd the fife, The drummer brac'd his thund'ring drum, To win her heart with a loud tattoo. Thus strove, to make young Mog untrue, Pike, trumpet, fife, and loud tattoo.

Mog soon found reason to condemn The nonsense of each blust'ring elf: And, looking with contempt on them, Some little shame took to herself. Determin'd now to be the wife Of honest Ralph, so kind and true, Cried she to the ensign, child go home To your mamma.—For you, old Bluff, Your trumpet's like yourself, a puff! I'll not be whistled after, fife, Nor, drummer, shall your hollow drum To me beat Wedlock's loud tattoo. True to my Ralph, to honour true, Hence trumpet, fife, and loud tattoo.