University of Virginia Library

HERO's Answer.

Leander , thank you kindly for your Letter,
Though if y'ad come your self it had been better;
I cannot rest, I know not what's the matter,
I'm all afire, to have you cross the Water.
We Women when we've any thing to do,
Are ten times more desirous of't than you;
Having dismist your little Boyes from School,
You can walk out i'th' the Evening when 'tis cool:
You can divert your self a hundred wayes,
I only stand upon the shoar and gaze:
You have a Green in which you bowl or bett,
And now and then three or four shillings get;
Or to the Tavern, when you please you go
And drink a Bottle with a Friend or so;
While I sit moap'd—like a neglected Cat,
And now and then with old dry Nurse I chat:
What's your opinion, Nurse, and tell me truly,
D'ye think the Wind to Night will be unruly?
What will Leander come? or keep away?
'Faith I don't know, sayes she, 'tis like he may;
Such drousie answers I do seldom miss,
D'ye think I han't a blessed time of this?
Up to my Chamber, when 'tis Night, I get,
And in the Window is my Candle set;
Perhaps I read a Play, or some Romances,
I soon grow weary of such Idles Fancies:
Then I peruse your Letter o're again,
And more and more admire your learned strain;
Then I ask Nurses Judgment in the case,
But she old Soul's, as dull as e're she was;
I make her stand uprigh (there I mistake,
She can't stand so—for sh' as a huckle back)
I mean, I set her somewhere in the Room,
And she's to act as if you just were come;
My only Joy (say I) thou'rt welcome hither,
How didst thou swim to me this stormy wheather?
Speak, let me hear some Musick from thy mouth,
Nurse nods, and says—I'm pritty well forsooth:
Thus I beguile the time till Morning—peep,
Then I go into Bed and fall asleep.
And there I do enjoy you in my dreams,
Spite of the Devil or the rougher Thames.
Methought I saw you come stark naked in,
Wet were your locks, and dropping was your Skin
I with an Apron rub'd you up and down,
And dry'd you from the toe unto the crown;
Then presently we hugg'd with such a force,
I shook the Bed, and wak'd and startled Nurse;
And finding it to be a Dream—no more,
I grew as melancholy as before.
If in a dream such tickling Joyes appear,
Much pleasanter 'twou'd be, if you were here;
I don't know what to think: you us'd to say,
Ten Thousand Devils should not stop your way:
Why should the danger at this time be more?
The Wind blows hard, and so it did before;
But now I see which way 'tis like to drive,
A Richmond Wench as sure as I'm alive;
Ah! say ye so? why then it is for her
This Storm is rais'd, Leander cannot stir.
But hang't that cannot be, I'm turn'd a fool,
Leander was and is an honest Soul:
As soon as I had said these words of you,
The Candle burn't not as it us'd to do;
Sayes Nurse, there is a stranger in the Light,
Master Leander will be here to Night;
With that she took the Brandy bottle up,
And pull'd from thence a very hearty sup,
Sayes she—if what I say should prove untrue,
I wish this blessed draught may ne're go through;
Therefore let's see you hear to night dear Nandy,
Or else poor Nurse must never more drink Brandy.
Perhaps you fancy you take double pains,
And make to great a trespass on your Reins,
To swim so far as you have us'd to do,
And after that to please a Mistress too;
Half of one half I'd ease you if I cou'd,
And meet you in the middle of the flood;
But from the latter service never flinch,
I should be loath to bait you half an inch;
But after all excusing what I'ave said,
Pray do not cross the River hand o're head;
I dream't last night, I hope 'tis no ill Luck,
A Spaniel Dog was hunting of a Duck,
There were some reads which under Water grew,
And more, perhaps, than the poor Spaniel knew.
He was entangled there, and there was found,
I came to help him, but the Curr was drown'd.
I do not tell this dream to make you tardy,
But as a Caution not to be fool-hardy.
The Wind will soon be laid, the Thames be clear,
Then you may cross it, without wit or fear;
Make much of this, for if you fail me, then
By all the Gods I'll never write agen.