Quæ Genus.

"An ever-varying form she wore,

As ever changeful Proteus bore:

But or in motion she, or still;

Her ev'ry hour is mark'd with ill.

She looks best pleas'd when sorrow flows,

She can disdain when virtue bows:

Labour and penury and pain

And sad disease compose her train,

While vain complaint and discontent

Form her pale-fac'd establishment."

Sir Jeff'ry now let loose a smile

As if some fancy did beguile

And play upon his easy thought,

With light, amusive mischief fraught;

And this sarcastic question prov'd

The pleasantry Sir Jeff'ry lov'd.

"When she was in a spiteful humour,

What said she of that pretty tumour?

The which without a wish to pry,

Must sometimes meet her wand'ring eye.

Did she ne'er stroke your circling back,

Nor e'er salute it with a smack;

Or when she was dispos'd to sneer

Compare it to a Hemisphere,

Deck it with sun and moon and stars,

With Venus, Mercury and Mars,

Or cover with her liv'ry's robe

The Continents of half the Globe;

Or like an Atlas, did she flout you

As you bore half the world about you,

When you might show it as a sight,

And gain no common profit by't;

Blend with the Panorama's skill,

In all the pride of printed bill,

Deliver'd with a ready hand

Through Leic'ster-fields or in the Strand."

The Knight's loud laughter then succeeded,—

And Johnny laughing too, proceeded.

"How happy you who thus can joke

And wrap me in your funny cloak,

Nay, when your mirth, Sir, may think fit,

Can fill my crooked back with wit;

Can even make me almost proud,

Of that self-same prepost'rous load.

You may, perhaps, be not aware,

But 'tis the truth which I declare,

I would serve you for half the wages

Which common servitude engages,

Provided you would pay the rest

In such nice puns and merry jest;

I would with joy sign the receipt,

For half in cash, and half in wit."

"Well, well, go on," Sir Jeff'ry said,
While his glad, twinkling eyes betray'd,
How much Quæ Genus pleas'd his fancy
At this so flatt'ring necromancy.
—While the Knight his cold coffee quaffing,
But still at his own fancies laughing,
Exclaim'd, "proceed, but be it known,
I wish the lady's hist'ry done,
And then you will conclude your own."		}