The Works of the Late Aaron Hill ... In Four Volumes. Consisting of Letters on Various Subjects, And of Original Poems, Moral and Facetious. With An Essay on the Art of Acting |
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To a Lady,
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 | The Works of the Late Aaron Hill |  |
To a Lady,
who put herself into a bad way, by taking Spirit of Nitre, by Spoon-fulls, instead of a few Drops.
Oh, beware of excess—'tis an error in life,
Into which one would wonder, a wit should be slipping;
What a schism, in an orthodox clergyman's wife,
When we talk of baptizing, to think we mean dipping!
Into which one would wonder, a wit should be slipping;
What a schism, in an orthodox clergyman's wife,
When we talk of baptizing, to think we mean dipping!
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Were your love but as much over-dos'd, as your drops,
You would leave Mr. Forster no lip-room, for pray'rs;
And complaint, from his parish, wou'd come, thick as hops,
'Gainst engrossing a breath, in which others have shares.
You would leave Mr. Forster no lip-room, for pray'rs;
And complaint, from his parish, wou'd come, thick as hops,
'Gainst engrossing a breath, in which others have shares.
Both the sexes assert, and the whole world agrees,
That too much of what's good, is scarce better than ill,
Tho' the ladies have pow'r, to decree what they please,
And have got an exception put in for Quadrille.
That too much of what's good, is scarce better than ill,
Tho' the ladies have pow'r, to decree what they please,
And have got an exception put in for Quadrille.
He, who likes what you say, by your sprightliness, warm'd,
Shou'd you still, without stopping, run on, to say more,
Wou'd be vex'd, to perceive himself more and more charm'd,
E're allow'd to declare, how you charm'd him before.
Shou'd you still, without stopping, run on, to say more,
Wou'd be vex'd, to perceive himself more and more charm'd,
E're allow'd to declare, how you charm'd him before.
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There's a medium, in all things, as when Mrs. Raikes
Has, for ten hours together, her Cynic alarm'd;
Prudence, parting 'em, timely, for both their dear sakes,
Keeps 'em free from the danger of being uncharm'd.
Has, for ten hours together, her Cynic alarm'd;
Prudence, parting 'em, timely, for both their dear sakes,
Keeps 'em free from the danger of being uncharm'd.
So, a few drops of Nitre, dispos'd to ascend,
Has arriv'd at your head, nor been taken, in vain;
But the weight of so many—only serv'd a wrong end,
And, mistaking the place, double-pointed the pain.
Has arriv'd at your head, nor been taken, in vain;
But the weight of so many—only serv'd a wrong end,
And, mistaking the place, double-pointed the pain.
| The Works of the Late Aaron Hill | |