Fully as general as the sign of the Cock is that of the SWAN; the reason why, is perhaps truly, though coarsely, expressed under an old Dutch signboard:--
“De Swaan voert ieder kroeg, zoowel in dorp als stad, Om dat hy altyd graag is met de bek in ’t nat.”[297]
Not only is there a conformity of æsthetic symbolism in various parts of Europe, observable in the constant recurrence of the same objects on signboards, but even the same jokes are found. Thus the Swan at Bandon, near Cork, has the following rhymes, nearly akin to the Dutch epigram above, but strongly flavoured with Hibernian wit:--
“This is the Swan That left her pond, To Dip her Bill in porter, Why not we, As well as she Become regular Topers.”
Another Milesian at Mallow, also near Cork, has it thus modified:--
“This is the Swan that dips her neck in Water, Why not we as well as she, drink plenty of Beamish and Crawford’s Porter.”
In London it was always a favourite sign by the river side:--
“‘I find the Swan to be your usual sign by the River,’ said I. ‘Why, yes,’ replied George. ‘I don’t know what a Coach or a Waggon and Horses or the High-mettled Racer have to do with our _River_.’ ‘Pray, now,’ said I to my oracle, ‘do enumerate the signs of the Swan remaining [this was in 1829] on the Banks of the River, between London and Battersea Bridges.’ ‘Why, let me see, Master, there’s the Old Swan at London Bridge, that’s one--there’s the Swan in Arundel Street, two,--then ours here, (Hungerford Stairs,) three,--the Swan at Lambeth; that’s down though. Well, then the Old Swan at Chelsea, but that has long been turned into a Brewhouse, though that was where our people [the Watermen] rowed to formerly, as mentioned in Doggett’s will; now they row to the sign of the New Swan, beyond the Physick Garden; we’ll say that’s four, then there’s the two Swan signs at Battersea, six.’”[298]
The Swan, by London Bridge, was a very ancient house, and gave a name to the Swan stairs. Trades tokens of this house are extant, representing a Swan walking on Old London Bridge, with the date 1657. This feat was performed by the Swan on the token, to intimate that it was the Swan _above_ the Bridge in contradistinction to another tavern known as the Swan _below_ the Bridge. Pepys once dined at this house; and though always very ready to be pleased, he has not much good to say about it. “27 June, 1660. Dined with my Lord and all the officers of his regiment, who invited my Lord and his friends, as many as he would bring to dinner, at the Swan at Dowgate, a poor house and ill dressed, but very good fish and plenty.” The landlady of this tavern is mentioned in a curious manner in a tract printed in 1712, entitled “The Quack Vintners:”--