Presently a maid
Enters with the liquor,
(Half a pint of ale
Frothing in a beaker).
Gods! I didn’t know
What my beating heart meant,
Hebe’s self I thought
Enter’d the apartment.
As she came she smiled,
And the smile bewitching,
On my word and honour,
Lighted all the kitchen!
With a curtsey neat
Greeting the new-comer,
Lovely, smiling Peg
Offers me the rummer;
But my trembling hand
Up the beaker tilted,
And the glass of ale
Every drop I spilt it;
Spilt it every drop
(Dames, who read my volumes,
Pardon such a word)
On my whatd’yecall’ems!
Such a silver peal!
In the meadows listening,
You who’ve heard the bells
Ringing to a christening;
You who ever heard
Caradori pretty,
Smiling like an angel
Singing ‘Giovinetti,’
Fancy Peggy’s laugh,
Sweet, and clear, and cheerful,
At my pantaloons
With half-a-pint of beer full!
Witnessing the sight
Of that dire disaster,
Out began to laugh
Missis, maid, and master;
Such a merry peal,
‘Specially Miss Peg’s was
(As the glass of ale
Trickling down my legs was),
That the joyful sound
Of that ringing laughter
Echoed in my ears
Many a long day after.
When the laugh was done.
Peg, the pretty hussy,
Moved about the room
Wonderfully busy;
Now she looks to see
If the kettle keep hot,
Now she rubs the spoons,
Now she cleans the teapot:
Now she sets the cups
Trimly and secure,
Now she scours a pot,
And so it was I drew her.
Thus it was I drew her
Scouring of a kettle,[33]
(Faith! her blushing cheeks
Redden’d on the metal!)
Ah! but ‘tis in vain
That I try to sketch it;
The pot perhaps is like,
But Peggy’s face is wretched.
No: the best of lead,
And of Indian rubber,
Never could depict
That sweet kettle-scrubber!
See her as she moves!
Scarce the ground she touches,
Airy as a fay,
Graceful as a duchess;
Bare her rounded arm,
Bare her little leg is,
Vestris never show’d
Ankles like to Peggy’s;
Braided is her hair,
Soft her look and modest,
Slim her little waist
Comfortably boddiced.