May the curse of each hag that e’er carried a bag

Alight on the vag. till his hair turns grey.

May monkeys affright him, and mad dogs still bite him,

And every one slight him, asleep or awake;

May weasels still gnaw him, and jackdaws still claw him—

The monster that murdered Nell Flaherty’s drake.

The only good news that I have to infuse

Is that old Peter Hughes and blind Peter McCrake,

And big-nosed Bob Manson, and buck-toothed Ned Hanson,

Each man had a grandson of my lovely drake.