English poem
A Character
by John Cunningham (1501–1591)
The muse of a soldier so whimsical sings, He's captain at once to four different kings; And tho' in their battles he boldly behaves, To their queen's he's a cull, and a dupe to their knaves; Whilst others are cheerfully join'd in the chace, Young Hobbinol's hunting the critical ace: On feasts or on fasts, tho' the parson exclaim, Under hedges or haycocks he'll stick to his game. Yet the priest cannot say he's quite out of his fold, For he's always at church—when a tythe's to be sold.
More by John Cunningham
- A BIRTH-DAY ODE: Performed in DUBLIN
- A FRAGMENT. Part of a Poem wrote on Miss BELLAMY, when in Dublin
- A FRAGMENT. To Mr WOODS, Architect of the Exchange at Liverpool
- A MAN to my MIND. (Wrote at the Request of a Lady.)
- A PASTORAL HYMN To JANUS. On the BIRTH of the QUEEN
- A PROLOGUE, For some Country Lads, performing the Devil of a Wife in the Christmas Holidays
- A PROLOGUE, On opening the Theatre at Whitby, the ensuing Season
- A PROLOGUE, Spoke at Edinburgh, on Mrs BELLAMY'S first Appearance there