801. Robert Southey to Thomas Southey, 23 June 1803
801. Robert Southey to Thomas Southey, 23 June 1803 *
John Bulls Invitation [1]
____
O Bonaparte [2] what I hear
It is no lie then? is it?
That in your goodness you intend
To come & pay me a visit?
You shall find a hearty welcome –
Tis the custom of John Bull,
When strangers come to visit him
To give them a belly-full
O Bonaparte! my hero, my hearty,
Come over! come over! come over!
I have treated my French neighbours well
Even in their own country,
And I shall treat them better still
If they come over to me!
No ceremony <You’ll find pot-luck,>! & as you come
To take what I have got,
Pot luck, so <Why you should> tell the friends you bring
To come & go to pot.
O Bonaparte! my hero! my hearty!
Come over! come over! come over!
To give you a good warm welcome
In truth is my design,
But there is David Jones who keeps
A warmer fire-side than mine.
And as you have been engaged to him
I know for many a day,
Why methinks it is not unlikely
You may stop with him by the way.
O Bonaparte &c –
There’s a little piece of water
Which lies between you & me
It’s rather troublesome to cross
For folks who are sick at sea.
But less trouble than you kindly mean
To take, perhaps may do
If I meet you half way over
It will be all over with you
O Bonaparte &c
________
There Tom – theres a Song for you, piping hot, which you may sing to the tune of Gregory Gubbins. [3]
R. S.
Thursday June 23. 1803
