The works, in verse and prose, of William Shenstone, Esq In two volumes. With Decorations. The fourth edition |
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A BALLAD. |
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 | The works, in verse and prose, of William Shenstone, Esq |  |
A BALLAD.
Trahit sua quemque voluptas.
From Lincoln to London rode forth our young squire,
To bring down a wife, whom the swains might admire:
But in spite of whatever the mortal cou'd say,
The goddess objected the length of the way!
To bring down a wife, whom the swains might admire:
But in spite of whatever the mortal cou'd say,
The goddess objected the length of the way!
To give up the op'ra, the park, and the ball,
For to view the stag's horns in an old country-hall;
To have neither China nor India to see!
Nor a laceman to plague in a morning—not she!
For to view the stag's horns in an old country-hall;
To have neither China nor India to see!
Nor a laceman to plague in a morning—not she!
To forsake the dear play-house, Quin, Garrick, and Clive,
Who by dint of mere humour had kept her alive;
To forego the full box for his lonesome abode,
O heavn's! she shou'd faint, she shou'd die on the road!
Who by dint of mere humour had kept her alive;
To forego the full box for his lonesome abode,
O heavn's! she shou'd faint, she shou'd die on the road!
To forget the gay fashions and gestures of France,
And to leave dear Auguste in the midst of the dance,
And Harlequin too!—'twas in vain to require it;
And she wonder'd how folks had the face to desire it.
And to leave dear Auguste in the midst of the dance,
And Harlequin too!—'twas in vain to require it;
And she wonder'd how folks had the face to desire it.
209
She might yield to resign the sweet-singers of Ruckholt,
Where the citizen-matron seduces her cuckold;
But Ranelagh soon would her footsteps recall,
And the music, the lamps, and the glare of Vauxhall.
Where the citizen-matron seduces her cuckold;
But Ranelagh soon would her footsteps recall,
And the music, the lamps, and the glare of Vauxhall.
To be sure she cou'd breathe nowhere else than in town,
Thus she talk'd like a wit, and he look'd like a clown;
But the while honest Harry despair'd to succeed,
A coach with a coronet trail'd her to Tweed.
Thus she talk'd like a wit, and he look'd like a clown;
But the while honest Harry despair'd to succeed,
A coach with a coronet trail'd her to Tweed.
| The works, in verse and prose, of William Shenstone, Esq | |