AH little ranting Johnny, For ever blithe and bonny, And singing nonny, nonny, Or twisting random posies With daisies, weeds, and roses; And strutting in and out so, Or dancing all about so, With cock-up nose so lightsome, And sidelong eyes so brightsome, As if their veins they'd wine in; It breaks into such sweetness With merry-lipped completeness;— Ah Jack, ah Gianni mio, As blithe as Laughing Trio, Sir Richard, too, you rattler, So christened from the Tatler, My Bacchus in his glory, My little Cor-di-fiori, My tricksome Puck, my Robin, Who in and out come bobbing, As full of feints and frolic ast That fibbing rogue Autolycus, And play the graceless robber on Your grave-eyed brother Oberon,— Ah! Dick, ah Dolce-riso, How can you, can you be so? One cannot turn a minute, But mischief-there you're in it, A getting at my books, John, With mighty bustling looks, John; Or poking at the roses, In midst of which your nose is; Or climbing on a table, No matter how unstable, And turning up your quaint eye And half-shut teeth with "Mayn't I?” Or else you're off at play, John, Just as you'd be all day, John, With hat or not, as happens, And there you dance, and clap hands, Or on the grass go rolling, Or plucking flow'rs, or bowling, And getting me expenses With losing balls o'er fences; Or, as the constant trade is, Are fondled by the ladies, With "What a young rogue this is!" Reforming him with kisses; Till suddenly you cry out, As if you had an eye out, The sound is really fearful; When lo! directly after, It bubbles into laughter. Ah rogue! and do you know, John, Why 'tis we love you so, John? And how it is they let ye Do what you like, and pet ye, Though all who look upon ye Exclaim" Ah, Johnny, Johnny!" It is because you please 'em Still more, John, than you teaze 'em ; The thought of you is pleasant; In short, because you're very And are as quick at giving, As easy at receiving; And in the midst of pleasure Are certain to find leisure To think, my boy, of ours, And bring us lumps of flowers. But see, the sun shines brightly, Come, put your hat on rightly, And we'll among the bushes, And hear your friends the thrushes; |