"My dearest friend, you are so clever,
That I could hear you talk for ever.
Let not Quæ Genus be afraid,
He ne'er shall want my ready aid; |
For surely to his heart 'tis known,
His ev'ry interest is my own,
At least I feel that we are one. | } |
O yes, I comprehend him well!"
But now she heard her Lady's bell,
A summons that must be attended,—
So here the conversation ended. |
| |
Thus Valcour and his brilliant dame
Attain'd their folly's highest aim,
To scale the ladder of the Ton
As many wealthy fools have done,
And laugh, if they should hear the call,
"Your foot may slip and you may fall."
They did in every thing agree,
With the same eye each object see.
"Whate'er you fancy must appear
So very right my dearest dear!—
And whatsoe'er you do approve,
Cannot be wrong, my sweetest love!"
—Such was their billing and their cooing,
As they were hast'ning on to ruin;
Nor did they see that Fashion laugh'd,
While she their costly nectar quaff'd;
Or 'mid the crowds that might attend
Their banquets, they had not a friend.
But such too often is the case
Where Folly takes the highest place;
And upstart fortune fain would be
The ape of rank and family.
There vulgar wealth pays dear for places
With Lordships, Ladyships and Graces, |
Who at its table may appear
Or once or twice or thrice a year,
When luxury does the feast prepare; | } |
And yet their host but coldly greet,
If they should meet him in the street.
—But true or not, howe'er that be,
In this career of vanity,
Winter's fine pleasures pass'd away
And Summer made the country gay,
While fashion now set out to grace
The Country seat and Wat'ring place,
Valcour and Madame now were seen
Parading on the Brighton Stein,
But where, though envied and admir'd,
With the same scenes they soon were tir'd:
Besides 'twas decent to retreat
And give life to their ancient seat.
Thus while th' astonish'd Natives stare
Woodlands receiv'd the tonish pair; |
While they the rural 'Squires surprise
With splendid hospitalities;
And even here the money flies. | } |
The Knight when sporting in the East,
Was wont to hunt the brindled beast,
Or the long, pointed jav'lin plant
From castled back of elephant,
In the fierce tiger's spotted side,
And gloried when the savage died:
He therefore would not deign to share
The conquest o'er a tim'rous hare;
Nor push on in a break-neck pace
Through all his wiles the fox to chace.
But when the sportsmen left their game,
And weary to his mansion came,
Which they were always glad to do,
Whene'er that mansion was in view,
Quæ Genus heard the orders gay
To be fulfill'd without delay,
As the loud and welcome brawl
Re-echoed through the lofty hall,—
"Prepare, that my good friends may dine,
The turkey and the smoking chine,
The pasty and whate'er is best
To furnish out an instant feast! |
Be sure 'tis your attentive task,
To give them all that they may ask,
The bowl, the tankard and the flask;" | } |
But then the Knight in whispers hinted,
"When you perceive my time is stinted,
And both my deafen'd ears no more
Can bear the Bacchanalian roar;
When it appears the stupid asses
Scarce know the bottles from the glasses,
Nor can perceive, 'mid boosing laughter,
That I am only sipping water; |
When I shall unperceiv'd retire,
Remember it is my desire,
They do not set the house on fire." | } |
—Thus, when o'erwhelm'd with sporting guest,
Sir Charles his constant wish express'd,
And, after many a vain essay,
Contriv'd at last to steal away,
With something like an aching head,
To seek the refuge of his bed. |
