A Cornishman, of some repute

A Cornishman, of some repute Down where the good man dwelt, Took thought, and courage into boot,— At length so eager felt— Set bravely out, at last, to see What he could hear in “Town;” And, to repair his memory, Took pen to scribble down The marv’lous things he might espy, Or aught that he might learn. (This wisdom’d man, most verily, Had mused o’er his return.) * * * ’Tis said—that sixteen weeks, or more, The plans had been devised For Captain Joseph’s “foreign tour,” And sixteen times revised— Regarding his habiliment, The quantity of cash— The necessary complement, To cut a Cornish dash.* * *

Now, be it known, when Captain Joe First plann’d it in his head To go to London, half Westlooe Determined he was mad: Some said to him, “Insure your life— You’ll sure to come to woe;” And others, “If I were your wife, I’d never let you go.” But “By the stars in heav’n,” he said, “The man that tampers me Shall have his passport to the dead, Besides his passage free.”