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 | Poems (1905) |  |
[OMITTED]
“Then, dear my Susan, let me now advise,
“Upon this handsome Soldier shut your eyes!
“Nay, shed no more these tears, nay, now suppress these Sighs!
“Think not a Tyrant in your Joseph lives;
“More than his Life in giving you he gives,
“And yet will give; but oh! let me enquire;
“If he deserve you, he must needs admire.”
Susan agree'd, but not without a fear;
And his report was prudent and sincere.
He could assure her that he would not lie
To gain the Hand for which he dar'd to die;
And he was sorry to report the Truth,
For that was not in Favour of the Youth.
First, that he drank and lov'd to sit and prate
At the new Inn upon his Chair of State,
Making the Clowns about him in Surprise
Stare at improbable and boasting Lies.
He no Religion in the World profest,
But made the parson and the Church his jest.
He talk'd of Women with unworthy Mind,
As if they all were wickedly inclin'd;
Spinster or married, he declar'd, not one
Could his Addresses and Advances shun,
And all the difference he could ever trace
Between the Girls in Credit and Disgrace
Was, that the former were demure and tried,
What their free Sisters never fear'd, to hide.
“Such are his Manners; such I fear his Life—
“And can he merit Virtue for a Wife?”
“Upon this handsome Soldier shut your eyes!
“Nay, shed no more these tears, nay, now suppress these Sighs!
“Think not a Tyrant in your Joseph lives;
“More than his Life in giving you he gives,
“And yet will give; but oh! let me enquire;
“If he deserve you, he must needs admire.”
Susan agree'd, but not without a fear;
And his report was prudent and sincere.
He could assure her that he would not lie
To gain the Hand for which he dar'd to die;
And he was sorry to report the Truth,
For that was not in Favour of the Youth.
First, that he drank and lov'd to sit and prate
At the new Inn upon his Chair of State,
Making the Clowns about him in Surprise
Stare at improbable and boasting Lies.
He no Religion in the World profest,
But made the parson and the Church his jest.
He talk'd of Women with unworthy Mind,
As if they all were wickedly inclin'd;
Spinster or married, he declar'd, not one
Could his Addresses and Advances shun,
And all the difference he could ever trace
Between the Girls in Credit and Disgrace
Was, that the former were demure and tried,
What their free Sisters never fear'd, to hide.
“Such are his Manners; such I fear his Life—
“And can he merit Virtue for a Wife?”
Poor Susan sigh'd; she cried; she did not think
That Mr Frank was so dispos'd to drink;
He was intic'd, and that she knew full well,
By them that lov'd the Stories he could tell—
Things strange to us indeed upon the Green;
But they that travel have such wonders seen!
'Twas very wicked, that must be confest,
To make Religion and the Church a Jest;
But wicked Masters, she had heard, discours'd
Before their Servants and such things enforc'd.
Young, and in Camp, and looking up to them,
He might be pardon'd—tho' she must condemn.
'Tis true his vile Opinion of her Sex
Vex'd her at Heart, but was not [meant] to vex;
There were such Women, that was true enough,
And that provok'd the Men to talk such Stuff;
Still, there is too much Licence in his Tongue
And in his Conduct—but he now is young. [OMITTED]
That Mr Frank was so dispos'd to drink;
He was intic'd, and that she knew full well,
464
Things strange to us indeed upon the Green;
But they that travel have such wonders seen!
'Twas very wicked, that must be confest,
To make Religion and the Church a Jest;
But wicked Masters, she had heard, discours'd
Before their Servants and such things enforc'd.
Young, and in Camp, and looking up to them,
He might be pardon'd—tho' she must condemn.
'Tis true his vile Opinion of her Sex
Vex'd her at Heart, but was not [meant] to vex;
There were such Women, that was true enough,
And that provok'd the Men to talk such Stuff;
Still, there is too much Licence in his Tongue
And in his Conduct—but he now is young. [OMITTED]
| Poems (1905) | |