subs. (common).—An eccentric; a tool; also a funny fellow. Originally applied in many connections, see quot.
WHAT’S A ‘CURE?’ | |
| Punch has no mission to repeat | |
| The slang he hears along the street, | |
| But when a curious phrase he seizes, | |
| Punch does—as always—what he pleases. | |
| He finds then in the following word, | |
| No merit, save that it’s absurd; | |
| But as it’s likely to endure | |
| He asks a question, ‘What’s a CURE?’ | |
| He heard, upon a river boat, | |
| The steersman told to move his coat: | |
| The fellow grunted like a boor; | |
| The Captain said, ‘Well, you’re a CURE.’ | |
| The mud was thick, the crossing clean— | |
| A well-dressed man, genteel of mien— | |
| Walked through the first (he might be poor), | |
| The sweeper muttered ‘He’s a CURE.’ | |
| Two youths talked ‘chaff’ (in phrase polite), | |
| Each asked where ’t other slept last night: | |
| ‘Me? Up a spout.’ ‘Me? Down a sewer.’ | |
| The first—‘Ain’t you a precious CURE?’ | |
| A child, more apt to eat than spell, | |
| Espied his little sweetheart, Nell: | |
| Embraced her with affection pure, | |
| And cried, ‘You darling little CURE.’ | |
| Before a shop stood maidens two, | |
| Where fine mock-diamonds pleased their view: | |
| ‘O, Julia! that’s the Koh-i-Noor.’ | |
| ‘That!’ Julia said, ‘You silly CURE.’ | |
| Lastly, he heard the word applied | |
| To Lord Mayor Finnis in his pride. | |
| A female shouted, ‘Well I’m sure! | |
| Call him a Mayor—he looks a CURE.’ | |
| Thus having heard the word he mentions | |
| Spoken with seven distinct intentions, | |
| Punch doth the slanging world adjure | |
| To state whence derivatur ‘CURE.’ |
