Salt Water

O! sure the greedy wretch is pent In endless chains of deep damnation, Who first to plague us did invent The cursed art of navigation.

When to the wind we spread our sails, Upon the pathless ocean strolling, Cramm'd in a tub, stuck full of nails, Like Regulus we die with rolling.

A plague upon the nauseous brine, What benefit receive we from it? Unless with rank disease we pine, And use it for a purge or vomit.

While Eve in innocence did dwell, Her water in fresh rills descended, But soon as she to folly fell, The violet stream with brine was blended.

The race of men in antient times Were bent on rapine, and on slaughter, When heaven, incensed at their crimes, Decreed their deaths, and sent salt water.

And when those heavy judgments past On Aegypt, for her plagues renowned, Salt water was reserv'd the last, And Pharoah and his host were drowned.

When we who now are turn'd to fish, And with the scurvy grown all scaly, And made for shark a curious dish, While over-board we're tumbled daily:

May you who on the land abide Our element to mourn us borrow, Let fall of tears a briny tide, Salt water is the mark of sorrow.