The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 17, No. 481, March 19, 1831

INN RHYMES

The following was written under the sign of the White Horse, on the Old Bath Road, but which has since disappeared. I believe the origin of it was, "a poor devil of an author, who, after having had a good filling out, found that he had not wherewith to pay; at which 'mine host' was of course in a 'way' (as he had a right to be); when the author told him, that if he would get a sign painted, he would try to put some lines upon it which should ensure him custom. He did so, and the following was the result. He had a White Horse for his sign:

 
"My White Horse shall beat the Bear,
And make the Angel fly,
Shall turn the Ship quite bottom up,
And drink the Three Cups dry."
 

The Bear, Angel, Ship, and Three. Cups, were public-houses in the neighbourhood. He succeeded, and got their custom.

On one of the windows also is—

 
"His liquor's good, his pot is just,
The landlord's poor, and cannot trust,
For he has trusted to his sorrow,—
So pay to day, he'll trust to-morrow."
 

G. ST. CLAIR

ROYAL FAVOUR

The Prince of Orange was defeated by the French under Luxemburg, in 1677: in attempting to rally his dispersed troops, the prince struck one of the runaways across the face with his sword. "Rascal!" cried he, "I will set a mark on you at present, that I may hang you afterwards."

JAC-CO