The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1824-11-25
POETRY.
PETER B0NCOEUR.


II
on, rHs rIsHERMAy's LAWSUIT.
3Y the side Of the sea, in . cottage obscure,
There liv'd an old fellow, named Peter Boncdrur,
who was free to his neighbors, sndgood TO the poor
Catching fish was bis trade;
And all people said,
That mischief to nothing bur FISH be designd,
To every thing else he was candid and kind.
One day. as he went to the brink Of the lake,
Persusding the fishes their dinner TO take,
The last ne intended they ever should make
While his hooks he employed to their sorrow and wo,
A grunting was heard in the waters bellows
And casting his eyes 70 the bottofn-for here
Wen suppose that The water was perfectly clears
He saw, on the bed Of the liquid profound,
An unfortunate wight, who was drowning or drownd.
That the man to the surface once more might ascend,
lie took up his pole with hook at the ends
Then to il nc fell,
And mansg'd 80 we'll.
That soon to the margin the carcase was drawn,
Tow, some how Or other, it popp'd in his head,
1hat, in spite OF bis drowning, the man wasn't dead
And while he was thinking what means 10 devise,
That his friend might recover. and open his eyes,
lie saw, with vexaton and sorrow no doubt,
ahat, in logging him up, lie one eye bad put out;
However, persuaded by wi'st he had heard.
That the man might be tving for augbt that appeards
TO his cottage he took him, and there had him bed,
Rubbd. roird on a barrel, and put into bed
So, IN less than week. to his praise be it said.
Yes, in less than week. the man WAS as SOUND.
Excepting the soss Of an eye, ana the wound,
AS IL, in his lie, he had never been drowned.
But. when John had grown able to travel aboct,
lie felt sadly chagrind that bis eye was put out,
And forgetting the service his negbor had done him,
Went off 20 n lawyer, and clapp'd writ on hun;
Talked much Of the value ol what he had lost,
That Peter must pay oil the damage and cost
and if with that sentence he did rot otcompy,
lie swore he would have his identical eye
That Peter was vex'd, we need hardly to says;
Yet he urged what be could in moderate way;
Declared 10 the Judge, by way OF defence,
That the action wrought without malice prepence
That bis conscience excusd him Tor what he had
done,
That fortune alone was to blame, and that John
Might have thought himself happy, when death was
To purchase his life with the loss Of an eye,
Tha, the loss OF an eye is u serious affair.
Was certain and yet, he'd be bold to declare,
That the man who show but one eye IN tis bead,
Is better, by Ear, than man that is dead
In answer 10 all the defendants fine pleading,
5ohn said. he had neyer yet found, in his reading,
a law, or u custom, or senator sagc,
A people, or nation, in whatever age,
One neighbor TO put out his next neighfors eyes.
The lawyers and judges we're all At q stand.
Which way TO conclude on the matter in hand;
Till halt witled fellow. who chsnc'd to be there.
Unde took to dec idc or this weighy affair,
And cried "Can you doubt in case that's SO plain
BE guided by rue and yon'll ne er doubt again;
The plea of the plsiotifF rests wholly on this
That, in fishing him up, John takes il smiss,
That Peter msnssuvred with so little skill.
q Ll.l .-.l
And then, with his bungIng, 10 ruin Johns iopk,
And put out his eye with the point OF his hook;
Well now, my lords and judges, attcnd my decree
S,rnishtway let the plaintiff he thrown in the scat
And IL. after reposing a while at the bottom,
lie gets out alone. from where Peter got him,
Safe, sound. and undamaged-why, then It's my Sen.
tencc
That Peter be purish'd, and brought TO repentance
Dut il. after puuging and Aouncing about.
Ee browns in the water. and never gets ort--
why ts.n it is justice. il must be confessed,
That Peter forthwith be discharged from arrest.
Absolved from all punisbnen due to the wound,
And paid in the bargain. cause John wasn't drownd.
The audience we're struck with world Of surprise,
To think that fool should give counsel SO wise.
The lawyers from sleep were unconsciously rous'd,
The judges themselves the sentence esrouscd
John ending that matters had taen a wrong turn,
Nor waiting to see il the court would adjourn.
Sneakl out OF the hall with hiss of disgrace,
In dread est the sentence should quickly take place
Grown plant. al last. the case he withdrew,
His plea was so bad, and his friends we're so few
Twas needless, he thought. on the cast OF die,
20 venture his iife. for the sake OF an eye;
And concluded twas better TO give up the suit,
Than risk The one lett. and ne drown'd into boot,
While Peter dec,ar'd it he e'er again found
Ills neighbor lay drowning, he'd let him be drown'd!
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