Valentine Verses or, Lines of Truth, Love, and Virtue. By the Reverend Richard Cobbold |
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THE BALL ROOM. |
 | Valentine Verses |  |
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THE BALL ROOM.
Ye beaux and belles, be angry if ye will,
I cannot help it;—burn my silly line,
You'll find again I'll mend my weary quill,
And write another, quite a superfine.
I cannot help it;—burn my silly line,
You'll find again I'll mend my weary quill,
And write another, quite a superfine.
“Ah, how d'ye do; I hope you're well;
“Is Lady A., that merry belle,
“So gay to night all love disarming,
“So young, so novel, and so charming?”
“I vow my Lord you've lost your heart,
“You've felt the wound of Cupid's dart;
“The Colonel says, if not a scoffer,
“That truly you have made an offer.”
“'Tis true I have, to go to France;—
“Your Ladyship perhaps will dance?”
“No, not to night, I am indeed
“At best as yet, an invalid.
“What sort of ball will be to night?
“Is Lord Excessive wrong or right?
“A silly matter was it not?
“But silence, I had nigh forgot,
“Your Lordship may a party be,—
“I blush for my temerity.”
“Is Lady A., that merry belle,
“So gay to night all love disarming,
“So young, so novel, and so charming?”
“I vow my Lord you've lost your heart,
“You've felt the wound of Cupid's dart;
“The Colonel says, if not a scoffer,
“That truly you have made an offer.”
“'Tis true I have, to go to France;—
“Your Ladyship perhaps will dance?”
“No, not to night, I am indeed
“At best as yet, an invalid.
“What sort of ball will be to night?
“Is Lord Excessive wrong or right?
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“But silence, I had nigh forgot,
“Your Lordship may a party be,—
“I blush for my temerity.”
“Ah, Mr. Fortune! you from home,
“Pray tell me, are the stewards come?”
“Not yet, Sir William dines to day,
“With Horace Riot on his way.
“But Lady B. what brings you here?
“I hope you are not insincere.”
“Could not withstand, could not forego
“The hope of meeting fashion's beau;
“The great Sir Peter's coming down,
“With Lady Ann and Lord Renown,
“And how could any one refuse
“To meet the lover of the muse;
“Ah! well, good bye,—I see your glance,—
“You're looking for Miss M. to dance.”
“Pray tell me, are the stewards come?”
“Not yet, Sir William dines to day,
“With Horace Riot on his way.
“But Lady B. what brings you here?
“I hope you are not insincere.”
“Could not withstand, could not forego
“The hope of meeting fashion's beau;
“The great Sir Peter's coming down,
“With Lady Ann and Lord Renown,
“And how could any one refuse
“To meet the lover of the muse;
“Ah! well, good bye,—I see your glance,—
“You're looking for Miss M. to dance.”
“Sir John, you're well! the war's begun,
“The troops are sail'd, the rebels run;
“Come tell me now, was that report,
“Of Mr. D. of fashion's sort?
“Or was it fact? I'm sure you know!”
“By Jove I do not.—May be so,—
“I never knew the fellow much,
“I always thought he would be such,—
“The Admiral can tell you best,
“He dined to-day with Captain Test.
“Pray who's the belle? Is Mary Gay,
“With Lady Faceall, here to-day?
“Upon my word a lovely girl,
“Fit for a waltz, a nimble whirl;
“But hang that duchess her duenna,
“I wish her farther, at Vienna.
“Is she not in ev'ry feature
“Quite divine? a lovely creature!
“Come tell me plainly, do you know
“A girl with such a pretty toe?
“Her arms, her fingers, 'pon my word
“I almost wish myself a lord!
“And were I single, I would fain
“For such a girl be tied again.”
“Come, come, Sir John! I'll go and tell
“My Lady Vixen.—Fare ye well.”
“The troops are sail'd, the rebels run;
“Come tell me now, was that report,
“Of Mr. D. of fashion's sort?
“Or was it fact? I'm sure you know!”
“By Jove I do not.—May be so,—
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“I always thought he would be such,—
“The Admiral can tell you best,
“He dined to-day with Captain Test.
“Pray who's the belle? Is Mary Gay,
“With Lady Faceall, here to-day?
“Upon my word a lovely girl,
“Fit for a waltz, a nimble whirl;
“But hang that duchess her duenna,
“I wish her farther, at Vienna.
“Is she not in ev'ry feature
“Quite divine? a lovely creature!
“Come tell me plainly, do you know
“A girl with such a pretty toe?
“Her arms, her fingers, 'pon my word
“I almost wish myself a lord!
“And were I single, I would fain
“For such a girl be tied again.”
“Come, come, Sir John! I'll go and tell
“My Lady Vixen.—Fare ye well.”
“Mamma! mamma! it is too bad,
“The stewards make us very sad;
“Sir William said we need not fear,
“At ten precisely he'd be here;
“'Tis now eleven! what a shame,
“To have it said he never came.”
“Hush, hush, my dear! pray not so loud,
“You're over anxious, 'tis a crowd,
“You cannot see about the room,
“He is perhaps already come.
“They will not wait whenever D.,
“Appears as usual in glee,
“The dancers then may trip away;
“Don't be alarm'd,—don't pout I pray.”
“The stewards make us very sad;
“Sir William said we need not fear,
“At ten precisely he'd be here;
“'Tis now eleven! what a shame,
“To have it said he never came.”
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“You're over anxious, 'tis a crowd,
“You cannot see about the room,
“He is perhaps already come.
“They will not wait whenever D.,
“Appears as usual in glee,
“The dancers then may trip away;
“Don't be alarm'd,—don't pout I pray.”
“What Charles! ah, Charley! how d'ye do!
“Where sat ye down? Hey, hey! I know,
“I'll bet a guinea you've been slaying;
“Didst win or lose by Blackmore's playing.
“How many birds hast shot as yet?
“Not many brace I'll make a bet.”
“'Tis ten to one! ah! ten to one,
“I like than this some better fun;
“I wish for all these dancing dames,
“They'd let me play my merry games!
“O William! such a run to-day!
“Old Hunter's hounds, sir, went away
“From Froston heath to Froggey moor;
“And then to Narrow-neck, and o'er
“From Bluster wood to Blunder hill,
“And after all we did not kill.”
“O dear! O dear! a good night's rest,
“For all this tripping it, is best.”
“Where sat ye down? Hey, hey! I know,
“I'll bet a guinea you've been slaying;
“Didst win or lose by Blackmore's playing.
“How many birds hast shot as yet?
“Not many brace I'll make a bet.”
“'Tis ten to one! ah! ten to one,
“I like than this some better fun;
“I wish for all these dancing dames,
“They'd let me play my merry games!
“O William! such a run to-day!
“Old Hunter's hounds, sir, went away
“From Froston heath to Froggey moor;
“And then to Narrow-neck, and o'er
“From Bluster wood to Blunder hill,
“And after all we did not kill.”
“O dear! O dear! a good night's rest,
“For all this tripping it, is best.”
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“Upon my word, a pretty lass!
“Tom d'ye see her? take your glass!
“A pair of eyes will make you feel,
“Unless your substance be of steel!”
“A doll! a doll! a pretty doll!
“En passant, pretty well, toll loll!”
“Tom d'ye see her? take your glass!
“A pair of eyes will make you feel,
“Unless your substance be of steel!”
“A doll! a doll! a pretty doll!
“En passant, pretty well, toll loll!”
“I hope Miss Fidget's pretty well?”
“I have not seen her, cannot tell!”
“Not here to night?”—“No, no, not out,
“You saw her at an evening rout.
“But ladies must not come among
“Us fashionables when so young,
“Good time for her these many years,—
“Excuse a guardian's tender fears.”
“O certainly, you're very kind,
“A woman of such taste and mind,
“She must I'm sure be truly blest,
“You do at all times for the best.”
“Why yes, as well as guardians can,
“No little care to keep our plan.”
“I have not seen her, cannot tell!”
“Not here to night?”—“No, no, not out,
“You saw her at an evening rout.
“But ladies must not come among
“Us fashionables when so young,
“Good time for her these many years,—
“Excuse a guardian's tender fears.”
“O certainly, you're very kind,
“A woman of such taste and mind,
“She must I'm sure be truly blest,
“You do at all times for the best.”
“Why yes, as well as guardians can,
“No little care to keep our plan.”
“Miss Knowall, pray do see that romp,
“I saw her give the man a thump;
“Was ever such a shameful sight
“Beheld on any other night?
“Pray see, there's Miss De Pauper here—
“Her father's bankrupt—bad I fear;
“Methinks propriety would say,
“Young lady you should stay away.
“Observe Miss Rattle's swing and bounce,
“Miss Raggit's top, Miss Folly's flounce,
“Do see that minx so sweetly pure,
“So diffident! ah, pshaw, demure!—
“She smiles when red-coats praise her name,
“So seeming innocent of shame!
“Look, look, a match! I'm sure 'tis so,
“He's just the man, the very beau.”
“I saw her give the man a thump;
“Was ever such a shameful sight
“Beheld on any other night?
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“Her father's bankrupt—bad I fear;
“Methinks propriety would say,
“Young lady you should stay away.
“Observe Miss Rattle's swing and bounce,
“Miss Raggit's top, Miss Folly's flounce,
“Do see that minx so sweetly pure,
“So diffident! ah, pshaw, demure!—
“She smiles when red-coats praise her name,
“So seeming innocent of shame!
“Look, look, a match! I'm sure 'tis so,
“He's just the man, the very beau.”
“Your humble servant Mrs. E.
“A famous ball it is to be.
“A moment look at Lady X.,
“She loves to dazzle and perplex,
“Her jewels worth ten thousand pounds;
“They say Sir Thomas sold his hounds
“To pay her debts; good husbands will
“Forgive our ventures at quadrille.
“My Mr. T., a dear good lord,
“Must never say a single word,
“He lost at T's in twenty rounds,
“The sum of forty thousand pounds!
“I won at Lady Fancy's rout
“A hundred, some where there about!”
“You cruel creature, I have heard
“Your favorite is now cashier'd,
“Ah well, I need not try to smother,
“You'll just as quickly find another.”
“She is not handsome, pinched so tight
“She makes herself appear a fright,
“She's like a stick; how any man
“To call her features handsome can,
“With eyes that positively squint;
“Her fortune, were it all the mint,
“Would never make her change that gait,
“Which I know what, will be her fate.”
“A famous ball it is to be.
“A moment look at Lady X.,
“She loves to dazzle and perplex,
“Her jewels worth ten thousand pounds;
“They say Sir Thomas sold his hounds
“To pay her debts; good husbands will
“Forgive our ventures at quadrille.
“My Mr. T., a dear good lord,
“Must never say a single word,
“He lost at T's in twenty rounds,
“The sum of forty thousand pounds!
“I won at Lady Fancy's rout
“A hundred, some where there about!”
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“Your favorite is now cashier'd,
“Ah well, I need not try to smother,
“You'll just as quickly find another.”
“She is not handsome, pinched so tight
“She makes herself appear a fright,
“She's like a stick; how any man
“To call her features handsome can,
“With eyes that positively squint;
“Her fortune, were it all the mint,
“Would never make her change that gait,
“Which I know what, will be her fate.”
“Ah, Mr. Broker! what's the news?
“You live within the land of Jews.
“Pray how are stocks, a rise or fall?
“Are Spanish bonds in hand at all?
“What says that minister of cares,
“Our friend of France and foreigners?
“I cannot bear such depth of planning,
“I always studied Mr. Canning.
“He's very elegant no doubt,
“Can twist his lingo too about,
“But as for wisdom, split my brain,
“He's fit for minister of Spain.
“Now look ye, there's a heart of oak,
“That man, 'tis more than pleasing joke,
“For twenty years a midshipman
“Has sought promotion, but in vain,—
“Spriggs of fashion, bits of blood,
“Extravagant of course and good.
“With Melville interest, arise,
“Pass o'er his head,—but no surprise!
“The day since England's glory fell,
“Interest is all, no principle;—
“There never was at any day,
“So great a want of that display,
“Of British spirit in our Lords,
“Or wisdom in the Commons words,
“Of honesty in People's hearts,
“And nature in the best of arts.
“Hume becomes the Grecian tool,
“Rebuked by well-tried Liverpool.
“Huskisson with due parade,
“The monarch of the Board of Trade.
“But hold my tongue, there stands one near
“Who tells me what we have to fear!”
“And pray what's that?”—“I know it well,
“The minister of state can tell.—
“Good night, good night.” “What off so soon!
“Your flight is fast as air-balloon!
“You stay a moment to delight us,
“And leave the vision to affright us.
“Ah well! you will be always killing;
“Go, go! I say adieu, unwilling.”
“You live within the land of Jews.
“Pray how are stocks, a rise or fall?
“Are Spanish bonds in hand at all?
“What says that minister of cares,
“Our friend of France and foreigners?
“I cannot bear such depth of planning,
“I always studied Mr. Canning.
“He's very elegant no doubt,
“Can twist his lingo too about,
“But as for wisdom, split my brain,
“He's fit for minister of Spain.
“Now look ye, there's a heart of oak,
“That man, 'tis more than pleasing joke,
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“Has sought promotion, but in vain,—
“Spriggs of fashion, bits of blood,
“Extravagant of course and good.
“With Melville interest, arise,
“Pass o'er his head,—but no surprise!
“The day since England's glory fell,
“Interest is all, no principle;—
“There never was at any day,
“So great a want of that display,
“Of British spirit in our Lords,
“Or wisdom in the Commons words,
“Of honesty in People's hearts,
“And nature in the best of arts.
“Hume becomes the Grecian tool,
“Rebuked by well-tried Liverpool.
“Huskisson with due parade,
“The monarch of the Board of Trade.
“But hold my tongue, there stands one near
“Who tells me what we have to fear!”
“And pray what's that?”—“I know it well,
“The minister of state can tell.—
“Good night, good night.” “What off so soon!
“Your flight is fast as air-balloon!
“You stay a moment to delight us,
“And leave the vision to affright us.
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“Go, go! I say adieu, unwilling.”
Most willingly I speak and write,
Dear friends, adieu! Good night! good night!
I hope and trust the poet's ball,
May give you pleasure, please you all.
No scorn, ill-nature, hate, or spleen
Dwells in the house, St. Margaret's Green!
Your partners here, where I preside,
Must promise this,—to put off pride.
A gentleman can always be,
A gentleman of honesty;
A lady always may be known,
More by her manners than her gown.
With love and truth, again I write
The parting words,—Adieu! good night!
Dear friends, adieu! Good night! good night!
I hope and trust the poet's ball,
May give you pleasure, please you all.
No scorn, ill-nature, hate, or spleen
Dwells in the house, St. Margaret's Green!
Your partners here, where I preside,
Must promise this,—to put off pride.
A gentleman can always be,
A gentleman of honesty;
A lady always may be known,
More by her manners than her gown.
With love and truth, again I write
The parting words,—Adieu! good night!
| Valentine Verses | |