Classic Poem

From Chap 6
Ah said Sipsop, I only wish Jack [Hunter ] Tearguts had had the cutting of Plutarch he understands anatomy better than any of the Ancients hell plunge his knife up to the hilt in a single drive and thrust his fist in, and all in the space of a Quarter of an hour. he does not mind their crying — tho they cry ever so hell Swear at them & keep them down with his fist & tell them that hell scrape their bones if they dont lay still & be quiet — What the devil should the people in the hospital that have it done for nothing, make such a piece of work for
Hang that said Suction let us have a Song
Then [Sipsop sang] the Cynic sang

When old corruption first begun
Adornd in yellow vest
He committed on flesh a whoredom
O what a wicked beast

2

From them a callow babe did spring
And old corruption smild
To think his race should never end
For now he had a child

3

He calld him Surgery & fed
The babe with his own milk
For flesh & he could neer agree
She would not let him suck

4

And this he always kept in mind
And formd a crooked knife
And ran about with bloody hands
To seek his mothers life

5

And as he ran to seek his mother
He met with a dead woman
He fell in love & married her
A deed which is not common

6

She soon grew pregnant & brought forth
Scurvy & spotted fever
The father grind & skipt about
And said I'm made for ever

7

For now I have procurd these imps
Ill try experiments
With that he tied poor scurvy down
& stopt up all its vents

8

And when the child began to swell
He shouted out aloud
Ive found the dropsy out & soon
Shall do the world more good

9

He took up fever by the neck
And cut out all its spots
And thro the holes which he had made
He first discovered guts