Quæ Genus.
"Masters, an' please you, I had none,
And Mistresses, I had but one:
Indeed, Sir, it may not be civil,
But O, she is a very devil,
Which I am sure you will allow
Soon as you come her name to know,
Tho' oft and oft, and o'er and o'er,
You must have heard it spoke before,
But not in any pressing hour
Have you been subject to her power.
It might not be a thing of course
But I her servant was perforce,
For sure as my name is Quæ Genus
There seem'd a contract made between us;
And her sad service I must rue,
If I come not to live with you;
With her I must continue still,
If it proves not your gen'rous will,
To receive me, Sir, from her
With what she gives of character,
For she sometimes can make pretence
To ask heart-felt benevolence."