 | Poems on several occasions |  |
153
AN EPILOGUE of THANKS.
Spoken on the Benefit of Miss Bowman, the Widow Lloyd and her two Children, at Woodstock, 1771.
Th' enjoyment of your favours here this night
To cheer Distress, calls on us to requite
Our gen'rous friends, with thanks from hearts sincere
That glow with Gratitude, a virtue dear!
Deign then acceptance of our joint endeavours
To please this night, as some return of favours.
But hush! —
I saw Ill-nature, with his envious brow,
This day look o'er the bill, 'tis true I vow:
He look'd—and mutt'ring spoke—A benefit
For Ma'ams Bowman and Lloyd; his lips then bit.
Mumbling he thus proceeded—Mrs. Lloyd:
Ha—some hussy perhaps with virtue cloy'd:
And her two children—here Detraction flew,
His soul dissolv'd at this heart-touching view.
Ill go, he cry'd; a benefit indeed,
If by this means two innocents are freed
From Sorrow's bands; nay worse, from Famine's train:
When babes are starving, who can tears refrain?
To cheer Distress, calls on us to requite
Our gen'rous friends, with thanks from hearts sincere
That glow with Gratitude, a virtue dear!
Deign then acceptance of our joint endeavours
To please this night, as some return of favours.
But hush! —
I saw Ill-nature, with his envious brow,
This day look o'er the bill, 'tis true I vow:
He look'd—and mutt'ring spoke—A benefit
For Ma'ams Bowman and Lloyd; his lips then bit.
154
Ha—some hussy perhaps with virtue cloy'd:
And her two children—here Detraction flew,
His soul dissolv'd at this heart-touching view.
Ill go, he cry'd; a benefit indeed,
If by this means two innocents are freed
From Sorrow's bands; nay worse, from Famine's train:
When babes are starving, who can tears refrain?
Thus he. Now I a widow's loss explore;
Her sole support, her comfort is no more.
She unexpected sunk into distress,
She earnest strove her evils to redress,
But all in vain: till thinking that the age
To pity was inclin'd; she took the stage.
And this night's favour animates her choice,
Makes Grief avaunt, and deaden's Sorrow's voice,
Renews her hopes and bids her babes rejoice!
Her sole support, her comfort is no more.
She unexpected sunk into distress,
She earnest strove her evils to redress,
But all in vain: till thinking that the age
To pity was inclin'd; she took the stage.
And this night's favour animates her choice,
Makes Grief avaunt, and deaden's Sorrow's voice,
Renews her hopes and bids her babes rejoice!
| Poems on several occasions | |