University of Virginia Library

XXI. A GENUINE DIALOGUE BETWEEN A GENTLEWOMAN AT DERBY AND HER MAID JENNY,

IN THE BEGINNING OF DECEMBER, 1745.

Mrs.
Jenny , come here: I'm told that you have been
To see this Man.

Jen.
What Man?

Mrs.
Why, you have seen
The young Pretender, Hussy, at his Lodging.
Is it not so?—Come, tell me without dodging!

Jen.
Why, really, Madam, I was passing by,
Thinking no harm, not in the least, not I;
And somebody or other that I met—

Mrs.
What somebody?

Jen.
Indeed now, I forget;—
Said what a handsome Man he was; and so,
Begging your Pardon, Madam, I did go;
But had no ill Intention in the Thing.
A Cat may look, as Folks say, at a King.

Mrs.
“King” do you call him, ye rebellious Slut?

Jen.
I did not call him so, good Madam, but—

Mrs.
But me no butting; not another Day
Shall any Rebel in my Service stay;
I owe you Twenty Shillings,—there's a Guinea;
Pack up, and go about your Business, Jenny!
Matters are come indeed to a fine Pass!
The next Thing, I suppose, you'll go to Mass.

Jen.
“To Mass?” What Road? For I don't know the Place,
Nor could I tell which Way to turn my Face.

Mrs.
“Turn?” You'll turn Papist, and believe Black's White.

Jen.
Why, bless me, Madam, I han't lost my Sight!

Mrs.
And then the Priest will bid you cut my Throat.

Jen.
Dear loving Mistress; how you talk by Rote!
I would not hurt a Hair of your dear Head,
Were all the Priests in Mass to kill me dead;
And,—I don't say it with Design to brag,—
Since I've been with you, you han't lost a Rag.
I “cut your Throat” because I saw the P---e,
And never thought of “Black” or “White” e'er since!

Mrs.
Good! This is you that did not call him K---g;
And is not P---e, ye Minx, the self-same Thing?

Jen.
You are so hasty, Madam, with your Snarls!
Would you have me call the Gentleman plain Ch---s?

Mrs.
“P--- Ch---” again! Speak out your Treason Tales:
“His R---l H---s Ch---s the P--- of W---s!”

Jen.
Oh, Madam! You say more of him than me;
For I said nothing of his Pedigree.

Mrs.
“Pedigree!” Fool! What would the Wench be at?
What Pedigree has any Bastard Brat?

Jen.
Nay, I'm no Harold; be he what he will,
He is a charming Man to look at still.
When I was got in there, amongst the Throng,
His R---l H---s—

Mrs.
Hussy, hold your Tongue!

Jen.
You call'd him so yourself but just e'en now.

Mrs.
Yes, so I did; but then, the Manner how?

Jen.
And will you turn a Servant out o' Doors,
Because her Manners ben't so fine as yours?

Mrs.
Jenny! I say, you had no Business neither
To see the Creature, or go near him either.

Jen.
“Creature?” Nay, Pardon, Madam, he's no Creature.
But a sweet comely Christian, ev'ry Feature.

Mrs.
“No Creature!” Would you worship him, you Dunce?

Jen.
I would you were to see his Worship once!

Mrs.
How can the Girl cross Questions like a Fool!
Or think that I should go and see the Tool!
Jenny! tho' you have done so much amiss,
I pity such an Ignorance as this.
If you'll go mind your Work as heretofore,
And keep at home, I'll pass the Matter o'er.

Jen.