Earl Walter kicks the waiter's rump, Down stairs! down stairs! halloo, halloo! They sally forth, they wheel, they jump, And fast the scampering watch pursue. The jolly bucks from tavern freed, Dash fearless on through thick and thin, While answering alleys, as they speed, Loudly re-echo to their din. Saint Dunstan's arm, with massy stroke The solemn midnight peal had rung, And bawling out, "Past twelve o'clock," Loud, long and deep the watchman sung. The clamorous Earl Walter guides, Huzza, Huzza, my merry men, When, puffing, holding both their sides, Two strangers haste to join his train. The right-hand stranger's locks were grey, But who he was I cannot tell; The left was debonnair and gay, A dashing blood I know full well. He wav'd his beaver hat on high, Cried, "Welcome, welcome, noble lord! What joys can earth, or sea, or sky, To match our midnight sports afford?" "Methinks," the other said, "'twere best To leave, my friends, your frantick joys, And for the balmy sweets of rest, Exchange such rude discordant noise." But still Earl Walter onward hies, And dashing forward, on they go, Huzza, huzza, each toper cries, "Hark forward, forward, hollo ho!" The jovial band Earl Walter guides, Along the Fleet, up Ludgate-Hill, And puffing, holding both their sides, His boon companions follow still. From yonder winding lane out springs A phantom, white as snow, And louder still Earl Walter sings, "Hark forward, forward, hollo, ho!" A quaker prim has crossed the way, He sprawls their nimble feet below, But what care they for _yea_-and-_nay_, Still forward, forward, on they go. See, at the corner of yon street, A humble stall, with apples crown'd! See, scatter'd by Earl Walter's feet, The woman's apples rolling round. "O Lord! have mercy on my stall, Spare the hard earnings of the poor, The helpless widow's little all, The fruit of many a watchful hour." Earnest the right hand stranger pleads, The left still pointing to the prey, The impatient Earl no warning heeds, But furious holds the onward way. "Away, thou poor old wither'd witch, Or dread the scourge's echoing blow!" Then loud he sung and wav'd his switch, "Hark forward, forward, hollo ho!" So said, so done; one single bound Clears the _green grocer's_ humble stall; While through the apples scatter'd round, They hurry, hurry, one and all. And now behold the tim'rous prey, Beyond the reach of Comus' crew, Still lightly trip along the way, Unconscious who her steps pursue. Again they wheel, their nimble feet The devious way still quickly trace, Down Ludgate-Hill, along the Fleet, The unwearied Earl pursues the chase.