Another On The Same (Being The University Carrier)

Here lieth one who did most truly prove,

That he could never die while he could move,

So hung his destiny never to rot

While he might still jogg on, and keep his trot,

Made of sphear-metal, never to decay

Untill his revolution was at stay.

Time numbers motion, yet (without a crime

'Gainst old truth) motion number'd out his time:

And like an Engin mov'd with wheel and waight,

His principles being ceast, he ended strait.                       

Rest that gives all men life, gave him his death,

And too much breathing put him out of breath;

Nor were it contradiction to affirm

Too long vacation hastned on his term.

Meerly to drive the time away he sickn'd,

Fainted, and died, nor would with Ale be quickn'd;

Nay, quoth he, on his swooning bed out-stretch'd,

If I may not carry, sure Ile ne're be fetch'd,

But vow though the cross Doctors all stood hearers,

For one Carrier put down to make six bearers.                       

Ease was his chief disease, and to judge right,

He di'd for heavines that his Cart went light,

His leasure told him that his time was com,

And lack of load, made his life burdensom

That even to his last breath (ther be that say't)

As he were prest to death, he cry'd more waight;

But had his doings lasted as they were,

He had bin an immortall Carrier.

Obedient to the Moon he spent his date

In cours reciprocal, and had his fate                               

Linkt to the mutual flowing of the Seas,

Yet (strange to think) his wain was his increase:

His Letters are deliver'd all and gon,

Onely remains this superscription.

This poem and "On The University Carrier" are upon Tobias Hobson, here related:--'We have the following account of this extraordinary man in the Spectator No. 509.--"Mr. Tobias Hobson was a carrier, and the first man in this iland who let out hackney horses. He lived in Cambridge, and observing that the scholars rid hard, his manner was to keep a large stable of horses, with boots, bridles, and whips, to furnish the gentlemen at once, without going from college to college to borrow, as they have done since the death of this worthy man: I say, Mr. Hobson kept a stable of forty good cattel, always ready and fit for traveling; but when a man came for a horse, he was led into the stable, where there was a great choice, but he obliged him to take the horse which stood next to the stable-door; so that every customer was alike well served according to his chance, and every horse ridden with the same justice: from whence it became a proverb, when what ought to be your election was forced upon you, to say 'Hobson's choice.' This memorable man stands drawn in fresco at an inn (which he used in Bishopsgate-street, with an hundred pound bag under his arm, with this inscription upon the said bag,'The fruitful mother of an hundred more.'"Mr. Ray in his Collection of English Proverbs says that he raised himself to a great estate, and did much good in the town, relieving the poor, and building a public-conduit in the market-place. The inscription on the conduit is as follows."Thomas Hobson, late carrier between London and this town, in his life was at the sole charge of erecting this structure A.D. 1614. He departed this life January I, 1630, and gave by will the rent of seven Lays of pasture-ground lying in St. Thomas's Lays towards the maintenance of this conduit for ever. Moreover at his death he gave 10l. towards the further beautifying the same."I cannot say much in commendation of these verses upon his death: they abound with that sort of wit, which was then in request at Cambridge.'~ Th. Newton, Milton's Works, 2nd edition, 1753.