WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

ROWLANDSON

THE SAILOR'S PRAYER!!

O, MIGHTY NEPTUNE! hear an honest British Tar—thou knowest I trouble not thy Godship every day, I therefore pray thee to grant my Prayer, for I love not long palavering and that there, d'ye fee.

Grant me a float ship, and honest Mementos—as the last of my old ones was popped off the Belcherons' bows at the Nile—poor Mat Mizen!! Give me plenty of Grog, and a good Commander, and I'll warrant you I'll have the Don's whifkers, and as to MOUNSEER, if I comes athwart his haufer again, I'll shiver his Jib, and dowfe his three-coloured rag, and revenge the death of Mat Mizen, d—n me—I beg your honour's pardon for fswearing, but its a way I have—however, I'll fay, if I get into Mounseer's wake, I'll back his top-fails, fplit my Timbers.

Worthy Mafter Neptune! send us a good prize, I befeech thee, and be not fparing in Brandy and Tobacco—give us alio a few chefts of the Don's Dollars, for Mounfeer ha'nt got none, no more than there is in your honour's three-pronged boat-hook. When we arrive at Port, fend us handfome Doxies, and keep us from a lee-fshore, that thou knowest I hate as I do an empty can, or a dry quid. Grant me but theſe, and capſize my Trunions if I don't ever praife thee, and the Memento that wont join me, may he be fluck upon the lee-yard arm of a ſtormy night! Laſtly, I pray thee to keep me from the difgrace of the Bilboes—ſave me from a Guinea-man and a Tender, and I'll ſerve cheerfully, and ſing King George and his Navy for ever.—Huzza! to the end of the Chapter.

SPRAGG PRINTER, 27, BOW-STREET, COVENT-GARDEN.