Familiar letters and poems on several occasions By Mary Masters |
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An Answer to a poetical Letter from Miss ---, in which she informs me of a warm Debate, in
a Senate of Ladies, upon the Question, Whether I had ever been in Love?
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 | Familiar letters and poems on several occasions |  |
216
An Answer to a poetical Letter from Miss ---, in which she informs me of a warm Debate, in a Senate of Ladies, upon the Question, Whether I had ever been in Love?
And not being able to decide it by a Volume of POEMS I formerly publish'd, she appeals to me for a Determination.
My dear doubting Beauty,
I think it my Duty
To answer with Speed your last Letter;
Tho' if longer delay'd,
And for Study I'd stay'd,
Perhaps I had wrote something better.
I think it my Duty
To answer with Speed your last Letter;
Tho' if longer delay'd,
And for Study I'd stay'd,
Perhaps I had wrote something better.
But when Nymphs full of fire,
Are kindled with Ire,
And their lovely bright Eyes are in Danger;
Perhaps you'll excuse,
My not waiting for Muse,
And they'll wink at the Faults of a Stranger.
Are kindled with Ire,
And their lovely bright Eyes are in Danger;
Perhaps you'll excuse,
My not waiting for Muse,
And they'll wink at the Faults of a Stranger.
217
I've oft heard that the dull
And thick muddy Skull,
May puzzle a much wiser Head;
By Experience you,
Found it certainly true,
When my blund'ring Verses you read.
And thick muddy Skull,
May puzzle a much wiser Head;
By Experience you,
Found it certainly true,
When my blund'ring Verses you read.
By what you have writ,
I find it is fit,
I shou'd my own meaning explain;
And tell you in Truth,
If e'er in my Youth,
I felt a fond Lover's mix'd Pain.
I find it is fit,
I shou'd my own meaning explain;
And tell you in Truth,
If e'er in my Youth,
I felt a fond Lover's mix'd Pain.
And really, my Dear,
I'll be very sincere,
And make you an honest Reply;
For since Life began,
I ne'er knew the Man,
For whom I cou'd languish and die.
I'll be very sincere,
And make you an honest Reply;
218
I ne'er knew the Man,
For whom I cou'd languish and die.
No fav'rite Swain,
Gave me Pleasure or Pain,
By Love I was never distrest;
No am'rous Cares,
Warm Hopes, or cold Fears,
E'er robb'd me of one Moment's Rest.
Gave me Pleasure or Pain,
By Love I was never distrest;
No am'rous Cares,
Warm Hopes, or cold Fears,
E'er robb'd me of one Moment's Rest.
Yet I was not so stupid,
But I knew little Cupid
Was an Archer of wonderful Might;
Tho' stone-blind he be,
I could very well see,
His Arrows were all levell'd right.
But I knew little Cupid
Was an Archer of wonderful Might;
Tho' stone-blind he be,
I could very well see,
His Arrows were all levell'd right.
219
Some call him a God, but the blackest of Fiends,
Ne'er did so much Mischief among my good Friends,
As he with his Bow and his Darts;
Alas! what Distress, what Rage have I seen!
What Sighs, and what Tears! what Fits of the Spleen!
What Anguish and Torture of Hearts!
Ne'er did so much Mischief among my good Friends,
As he with his Bow and his Darts;
Alas! what Distress, what Rage have I seen!
What Sighs, and what Tears! what Fits of the Spleen!
What Anguish and Torture of Hearts!
Thought I, you young Elf,
I'll take Care of myself,
(If these be your Pranks) I declare,
I'll guard my fond Heart,
So I play'd a safe Part,
And kept myself out of the Snare.
I'll take Care of myself,
(If these be your Pranks) I declare,
I'll guard my fond Heart,
So I play'd a safe Part,
And kept myself out of the Snare.
| Familiar letters and poems on several occasions | |