Botany
Bay: A New Song
Let us drink a good health to our schemers above,
Who at length have contriv'd from this land to
remove
Thieves, robbers and villains, they'll send 'em
away,
To become a new people at Botany Bay.
Some men say they have talents and trades to get bread,
Yet they spunge on mankind to be cloathed and fed,
They'll spend all they get, and turn night into day—
Now I'd have all such sot sent to Botany Bay.
There's gay powder'd coxcombs and proud dressy
fops,
Who with very small fortunes set up in great shops,
They'll run into debt with design ne'er to pay,
They should all be transported to Botany Bay.
There's nightwalking strumpets who swarm in
each street,
Proclaiming their calling to each man they meet:
They become such a pest that without more delay,
These corruptors of youth should be sent to the Bay.
There's monopolizers who add to their store,
By cruel oppression and squeezing the poor,
There's butchers and farmers get rich in that way,
But I'd have all such rogues sent to Botany Bay.
You lecherous whore-masters who practice vile arts,
To ruin young virgins and break parents' hearts,
Or from the fond husband his wife lead astray—
Let such debauch'd villains be sent to the Bay.
There's whores, pimps and bastards, a large costly crew,
Maintain'd by the sweat of a labouring
few,
They should have no commission, place, pension or pay,
Such locusts should all go to Botany Bay.
The hulks and the jails had some thousands in store,
But out of the jails are ten thousand times more,
Who live by fraud, cheating, vile tricks and foul play,
And should all be sent over to Botany Bay.
Now should any take umbrage at
what I have writ,
Or find here a bonnet or cap that will fit,
To such I have only this one word to say,
They are welcome to wear it in Botany Bay.
|