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قراءة كتاب The Military Adventures of Johnny Newcome With an Account of his Campaign on the Peninsula and in Pall Mall
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اللغة: English
The Military Adventures of Johnny Newcome With an Account of his Campaign on the Peninsula and in Pall Mall
الصفحة رقم: 6
march to Sacavem without delay;
And thus by daily journies was to go,
Until he reach’d the Santarem Depôt.
Next morn, on Dobbin, off friend Johnny started;
Teague led the Mule, and so they both departed.
John’s legs from Dobbin nearly scrap’d the road,
The Mule close following, tott’ring ’neath its load.
Poor Teague, esteem’d by all a hearty fellow,
With parting Glass had got a little mellow:
A trifling failing here I must disclose,
Teague swore ’twas for the honour of his Nose,
Whose lovely size, and colour, to his thinking,
Could only be maintained by hearty drinking.
Heedless he went, unmindful as he past,
The poor Mule stumbled, and the load was cast.
‘Thunder & Turf! are those your tricks?’ says Teague,
‘What! tired you Spalpeen, and come but a League!’
John now dismounted, and with horror stood;
They’d told him of Banditti in the Wood.
‘O, Teague! dear Teague! as we are only two,
‘If the curst thieves should come, what shall we do?’
‘Thieves! is it thieves you fear, Sir, G—d confound ’em!
‘Teague and your Honour surely can surround ’em;
‘By Ja—s, I would bodder half a score.’}
This check’d John’s fears, who now did him implore}
To get the load upon the Mule once more.}
The job accomplish’d, he his Horse bestrode,
And then with anxious look pursued his Road.
As Sacavem came now full right in view,
He then enquired of Teague ‘what he should do?’
‘You first must to the Jewish bend your pace.’
‘Jewish!’14 says John, ‘why man, that’s at Duke’s Place.’
‘’Tis him that sarves the Billet,’ Teague replies.
‘O, well!’ says John, and to the Juis hies.
The Billet15 got, they travel to explore
For Rua Sacra, Casa, Number Four.
The House was found, but wanting Door or Casement,
‘Is this the place?’ says John in wild amazement.
‘Is it to such D——n’d sties as these they send us?
‘A pretty way they treat their Brave Defenders!’
Entering, at length, he saw a squalid Wench,
Begrimed with dirt, and luxury of stench;
Then, in a filthy room, and almost dark,
Three wretched women squatted round a spark.
With out stretch’d hand his Billet he presents,
And stopp’d his nose t’ escape the beastly scents.
A croaking voice exclaims, ‘Aqui Senhor?’
‘A key!’ says John, ‘why, D——n me, you’ve no Door.’
Teague, sober grown, now offer’d his advice,
‘A Soldier, plase your honour, mayn’t be nice.
‘Becase your honour must consider; as why,
‘There’s a good Roof between us and the Sky:
‘I’ll first go out, and steal the Beasts some Food,
‘And then I’ll cook your honour something good.’
Alas! poor John; he wanted consolation,
Wrapp’d in the misery of meditation;
So bolting out in anguish to the Street,
A Sign16 suspended did his optics greet;
When in he rush’d, and to a room was led,
With Table, Chair, and something like a Bed.
Now from his Canteen culled sufficient fare,
The Brandy swallowed, and forgot his care,
In four days’ time he reach’d the first Depôt,
And at the Commandant’s himself did show.
This was a Hero17 great, who treated Subs
As little better than a pack of Scrubs.
Himself from Ranks had risen by his merit,
But those advantages did not inherit
That in the best societies you find
Arising from a cultivated mind;
Imperiously made all beneath him feel
His rod of Power and his wond’rous zeal,
‘Here, Sir, you Ensign, mind, on no pretext
‘Must you neglect to call day after next.
‘There, get you gone! for you I’ve nothing more,’
And with his finger pointed to the Door.
John travelled out, repeating, ‘Nothing more!
‘D——n me if e’er I met so rude a Bore!’
But by experience knew that to complain
Against such Brutal manners would be vain.
Accustom’d now, he quickly stirr’d about,
First to obtain, then make his Billet out.
This settled to his heart’s content,
That Day and Night he comfortably spent;
Next morning call’d, and so without delay,
To reach the next Depôt he bent his Way.
END OF PART I