 | Vulgar Verses |  |
105
A Remonstrance.
Oh black is the hand she holds out for your guinea—
And hard is its palm as the sole of her shoe:
Then why does she show it? Because, like a ninny,
You ask'd what fine work she was fittest to do.
And hard is its palm as the sole of her shoe:
Then why does she show it? Because, like a ninny,
You ask'd what fine work she was fittest to do.
So that is her answer: 'tis most comprehensive,
'Tis prompt and sufficient, 'tis candid and clear:
If the sight of her hands be so very offensive,
She'd better be left in her own little sphere.
'Tis prompt and sufficient, 'tis candid and clear:
If the sight of her hands be so very offensive,
She'd better be left in her own little sphere.
And that, my dear sir, is the maiden's intention,
As here unabash'd in your presence she stands:
This dreadful display is her own poor invention
For saving her credit by means of her hands.
As here unabash'd in your presence she stands:
This dreadful display is her own poor invention
For saving her credit by means of her hands.
She knows very well that the sight will disgust you—
And yet, though your taste is so very refined,
You must tempt her and try to make free with her, must you?
Why then, she will give you a piece of her mind!
And yet, though your taste is so very refined,
You must tempt her and try to make free with her, must you?
Why then, she will give you a piece of her mind!
Not rudely, of course; she was never neglectful
Of aught that she owes to herself and to you:
Her silent demeanour is always respectful—
These hands shall speak for her; and surely they do!
Of aught that she owes to herself and to you:
Her silent demeanour is always respectful—
These hands shall speak for her; and surely they do!
106
You had noticed her face; and no wonder it charms you,
So sweet are her looks and so sunny her eyes:
There is nothing in them that offends or alarms you,
For beauty is beauty, wherever it lies.
So sweet are her looks and so sunny her eyes:
There is nothing in them that offends or alarms you,
For beauty is beauty, wherever it lies.
Yes, you noticed her face; but you did not consider
The hands that she scrubs with, the floors that she scours:
She'll serve you in that way, but not when you bid her
To think that her life could be mated with yours.
The hands that she scrubs with, the floors that she scours:
She'll serve you in that way, but not when you bid her
To think that her life could be mated with yours.
Stuff and nonsense! She knows very well that it could not,
And this is her method of showing you why:
Would you wed her rough hand? Nay, you know that you would not—
And love without wedlock she never will try.
And this is her method of showing you why:
Would you wed her rough hand? Nay, you know that you would not—
And love without wedlock she never will try.
See cares not a fig for your fine education;
Your easy politeness is wasted on her;
She is fond of her work and content with her station;
She never forgets to address you as Sir;
Your easy politeness is wasted on her;
She is fond of her work and content with her station;
She never forgets to address you as Sir;
She curtsies, she moves deferential before you,
For you are her master and she is your maid;
You can send her away if she happens to bore you:
Ah, do not corrupt her then, do not degrade!
For you are her master and she is your maid;
You can send her away if she happens to bore you:
Ah, do not corrupt her then, do not degrade!
She is poor in the delicate joys you are rich in,
And rich in the plain ones wherein you are poor:
Her strength and her charms are the pride of the kitchen—
Then let her enjoy what she has to endure.
And rich in the plain ones wherein you are poor:
Her strength and her charms are the pride of the kitchen—
Then let her enjoy what she has to endure.
107
You could not enjoy and you would not endure them—
The life that she leads and the labour she loves:
You might soften her hands, but you never could cure them
Of being too large for your masculine gloves!
The life that she leads and the labour she loves:
You might soften her hands, but you never could cure them
Of being too large for your masculine gloves!
What matter? For her, they are better, far better,
Though ruddy they be as the roses in June,
Than little white hands, fit for writing a letter
Or painting a picture or playing a tune.
Though ruddy they be as the roses in June,
Than little white hands, fit for writing a letter
Or painting a picture or playing a tune.
And as for her manners, so apt and becoming,
So frank to her fellows, so modest to you;
They would die if you touch'd her, like light in the gloaming:
She cannot be rustic and ladylike too.
So frank to her fellows, so modest to you;
They would die if you touch'd her, like light in the gloaming:
She cannot be rustic and ladylike too.
Far happier she, with her scrubbing and scouring,
Her mop and her besom, her bucket and broom,
Than to sit ill at ease, among ladies all louring
At one who has dared such a place to assume.
Her mop and her besom, her bucket and broom,
Than to sit ill at ease, among ladies all louring
At one who has dared such a place to assume.
Far happier she (I am sure of it, Molly)
In choosing the lot that was always her own,
Than in lending an ear to your elegant folly,
And selling her love for a costlier gown.
In choosing the lot that was always her own,
Than in lending an ear to your elegant folly,
And selling her love for a costlier gown.
Aye—now let her go, and I'll tell you a secret—
You are not the man for a social disgrace!
You are dainty and nice, and I see the word weak, writ
In tremulous scribble all over your face:
You are not the man for a social disgrace!
You are dainty and nice, and I see the word weak, writ
In tremulous scribble all over your face:
108
You have not the courage to stake your salvation
And all you are worth, on an issue like this:
You are tied to the ways of your own proper station;
The bliss that you care for is gentlefolks' bliss!
And all you are worth, on an issue like this:
You are tied to the ways of your own proper station;
The bliss that you care for is gentlefolks' bliss!
Would you court the disdain of a friend or an equal
By taking this hardhanded wench to your arms?
Why, a love such as yours is at best but a weak wall,
When buttress'd by naught save a servant-maid's charms.
By taking this hardhanded wench to your arms?
Why, a love such as yours is at best but a weak wall,
When buttress'd by naught save a servant-maid's charms.
No indeed! Though I think you might still do your duty,
You do not deserve such a sweetheart as she:
You would soon be ashamed of your ignorant beauty—
And ah, what a curse such a wifehood would be!
You do not deserve such a sweetheart as she:
You would soon be ashamed of your ignorant beauty—
And ah, what a curse such a wifehood would be!
You have not the nerve to descend to her level;
You have not the power to exalt her to yours:
So between the two ranks, she must go to the devil,
And leave you remorse for the rest of your hours.
You have not the power to exalt her to yours:
So between the two ranks, she must go to the devil,
And leave you remorse for the rest of your hours.
Better far, though your love were the deepest and purest
That man ever gave to an innocent wife,
Were the love that for her is the best and the surest—
The love that is meet for a labourer's life!
That man ever gave to an innocent wife,
Were the love that for her is the best and the surest—
The love that is meet for a labourer's life!
Then let her alone—for you never could raise her,
And she does not wish it—she would not be raised;
The wealth you could give does not dazzle or daze her,
Nor has she ambition to hear herself praised:
And she does not wish it—she would not be raised;
The wealth you could give does not dazzle or daze her,
Nor has she ambition to hear herself praised:
109
She is far too robust for your puny possessing—
Too pure for contempt, and too noble for scorn:
Some swain of the village will find her a blessing,
And give her the duties for which she was born.
Too pure for contempt, and too noble for scorn:
Some swain of the village will find her a blessing,
And give her the duties for which she was born.
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