When William Penn appeared before King Charles
To get the charter of his Promised Land
In Pennsylvaniá,
’Twas in his usual free-and-easy style,
With hands in pockets and his hat on side—
Singing Lard-dardy day!
Let us drink and be merry, laugh, sing, and rejoice,
With claret and sherry, theorbo and voice,
Merry-ton-ton-ton ta-lay!
King Charles at once removed his feathered tile.
“Keep on your hat, young man!” said William Penn,
“It is our Quaker way;
And people will not know that you are bald;
Be quite at home to make your guests at home—
Singing Lard-dardy day!
This changeable world to our joys is unjust,
All treasure’s uncertain, so down with your dust,
Merry-ton-ton-ton ta-lay!”
“It is the custom here,” the King replied,
“For only one to cover at a time;
This is the courtly way.”
“Then you should have more covers,” warbled Penn.
“Warm people’s heads to make them merry men—
Singing Lard-dardy day!
And in frolics dispose of your shillings and pence,
Since we all shall be past it a hundred years hence,
Merry-ton-ton-ton ta-lay!
“’Tis a queer world, and faith! I do not lay
My hat around, loose, in a domicile
Where I don’t know the way,
Unless some party gives a check for it;
I’ve travelled some—I have—and can’t be bit—
Singing Lard-dardy day!
Since, despite your invention, and learning, and sense,
You’ll be non est inventus a hundred years hence,
Merry-ton-ton-ton ta-lay!”
“Odds-fish!” exclaimed his Royal Majesty,
“He talks full well, but as it seems to me,
According to our way,
There’s a tremendous pig in this same Penn.”
“Bravo, young man!” said William; “try again—
Singing Lard-dardy day!
You have brought me a terrible one on the nob,
But I bear you no malice, not being a snob,
Merry-ton-ton-ton ta-lay!”
And thus it is that history is writ,
And thus it is good men are slandered sore
From ever till to-day.
Some writer pastes a joke; it may remain
Safe in a corner from Time’s wind and rain
Till Time has rolled away.
So, hurrah for King Charles! and hurrah, too, for Penn!
And all such and similar excellent men!
Merry-ton-ton-ton ta-lay!