TOM.

Why ees they can, though you don't know't,

An' theäsem men can meäke it clear.

Why vu'st they'd zend up members ev'ry year

To Parli'ment, an' ev'ry man would vote;

Vor if a fellow midden be a squier,

He mid be just so fit to vote, an' goo

To meäke the laws at Lon'on, too,

As many that do hold their noses higher.

Why shoulden fellows meäke good laws an' speeches

A-dressed in fusti'n cwoats an' cord'roy breeches?

Or why should hooks an' shovels, zives an' axes,

Keep any man vrom votèn o' the taxes?

An' when the poor've a-got a sheäre

In meäkèn laws, they'll teäke good ceäre

To meäke some good woones vor the poor.

Do stan' by reason, John; because

The men that be to meäke the laws,

Will meäke em vor theirzelves, you mid be sure.

Poems of Rural Life in the Dorset Dialect · 第 262 / 587 题