Catches, canons and drinking songs
to your rude health,
Item: A Catch upon Nothing
Song: Sing merrily now my lads, here’s a catch that...
Sing merrily now my Lads, here's a Catch that was never meant you; but come by the Wheel of Fortune, without any design or intent you: It happen'd that once the author his Head was exceeding hot, a Catch he resolv'd he wou'd make, he wou'd make, and he coud'nt tell of what. He thought of the Smoak the Weed affords, and it vanish'd all away: He thought of fine Ladies and their fine Lords, and yet he found nothing to say. He thought of a thousand Pound, but it wou'dn't turn to account. He thought of the Pot, & he thought of the Plot, but nothing wou'd come on't. at last he resolv'd, tho nothing wou'd do, that nothing shou'd put him by Sir, but nothing to purpose of nothing he'd write, and no body shou'd be the wiser: Tis nothing to you if he wou'd do so, and if Nothing's in't you find; then thank him for Nothing, & that will be more than ever he design'd.
