 | The Last Poems of Philip Freneau |  |
17
Letitia
Young girls have their notions, we see every day,
And notions, why should they have not?
The world is but notions, Philosophers say,
And whims are humanity's lot.
And notions, why should they have not?
The world is but notions, Philosophers say,
And whims are humanity's lot.
A girl had a notion to love a young man,
And, who was the youngster—? (say you)
He was a young blacksmith, for tell it I can,
But his name shall be kept out of view.
And, who was the youngster—? (say you)
He was a young blacksmith, for tell it I can,
But his name shall be kept out of view.
Yet the heart of the Blacksmith, as hard as a rock,
Refus'd to return her regard—
His door of affection he would not unlock,
Which the nymph took abundantly hard.
Refus'd to return her regard—
His door of affection he would not unlock,
Which the nymph took abundantly hard.
She vow'd that she lov'd him, and said with a squeal,
How blest might we travel thro' life,
Yourself at your anvil and I at my wheel,
The fondest and faithfullest wife!
How blest might we travel thro' life,
Yourself at your anvil and I at my wheel,
The fondest and faithfullest wife!
But still he refused to comply with her wish,
And told her he did not admire—
Go, look somewhere else, he said, Madam Fish,
Some lover to warm with your fire.
And told her he did not admire—
Go, look somewhere else, he said, Madam Fish,
Some lover to warm with your fire.
She griev'd and she groan'd, and had like to have died;
Some thought she would quickly depart:
But still she had left, in her bosom, some pride,
And slighted Letitia took heart.
Some thought she would quickly depart:
But still she had left, in her bosom, some pride,
And slighted Letitia took heart.
With the earnings—not much—at her wheel she had made,
With dollars that long had laid by,
She bought her a ticket and angrily said,
My fortune, I vow, I will try!—
With dollars that long had laid by,
She bought her a ticket and angrily said,
My fortune, I vow, I will try!—
18
And Fortune, for once, was propitious and kind—
This spinster so humble and poor,
Drew a prize—and a prize that was much to her mind—
Some thousands, at least, we are sure.
This spinster so humble and poor,
Drew a prize—and a prize that was much to her mind—
Some thousands, at least, we are sure.
The prize it was such as a king would be proud
To receive—or a Princess implore—
It enabled Letitia (et ceteras allowed)
To ride in a chariot and four!
To receive—or a Princess implore—
It enabled Letitia (et ceteras allowed)
To ride in a chariot and four!
The Blacksmith aghast!—heard the news, with a groan,
But went cap-in-hand to her door:
He met her, and said, I have come to atone,
For the love that I slighted before.
But went cap-in-hand to her door:
He met her, and said, I have come to atone,
For the love that I slighted before.
I lov'd you too well!—I was only in jest
When I told you I could not admire;
I only was waiting to be the more blest
When the days of my service expire.—
When I told you I could not admire;
I only was waiting to be the more blest
When the days of my service expire.—
She answered—your usage I now will repay;
When I lov'd you, why did you love not?
Your hand should have join'd to my hand on that day,
Should have struck when the iron was hot!
When I lov'd you, why did you love not?
Your hand should have join'd to my hand on that day,
Should have struck when the iron was hot!
| The Last Poems of Philip Freneau | |