English poem
Epigram, on a Drunken Man and a Fish-woman
by George Saville Carey (1743–1807)
A Fish-woman once, with a kit on her head, Pickle-Salmon was felling, to buy her some bread, Tom Guzzle was drunk, and he dealt for a pound, He had not well bought it, before that he found, The Salmon was dry, and quite without liquor; He threw back his bargain, and swore he wou'd kick her: Hold, hold, said the woman, pray be not so rough, Tho' your Salmon was dry, you've liquor enough, I wonder, indeed Sir, to find you so fickle, For you seem to be in a very fine pickle; I've seen pickle-salmon, an hundred or more, But ne'er saw a goose so well pickl'd before.