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108
BLUE-STOCKING REVELS; OR,
CANTO II.
How the Visitors were presented to Apollo, and what sort of a Ball he gave them.
Now as to the names (how much less then the natures,
And writings, and beauties!) of all the dear creatures,
I boast not to mention the whole of them;—nay,
I live so sequester'd, so out of the way,
That perhaps I don't know them,—perhaps shall omit
Some bud of such promise, such sweet virgin wit,
Or for want of due reading, shall fail in due notice
Of some such delight of all earth's epiglottis,
That when I am told what I've done, I shall tear
From my head, in pure anguish, whole masses of hair:
You will think it a barber's shop all round my chair.
And yet, when I vow that I'll seize all occasion
Of loading "the love" with my best reparation,
My "startling," "intense," "truly new," "soul-subduing,"
And other fond truths of impartial reviewing,
I fancy I hear her, in tones of caresses,
Exclaim, "God preserve his dear elderly tresses!"
And writings, and beauties!) of all the dear creatures,
I boast not to mention the whole of them;—nay,
I live so sequester'd, so out of the way,
That perhaps I don't know them,—perhaps shall omit
Some bud of such promise, such sweet virgin wit,
Or for want of due reading, shall fail in due notice
Of some such delight of all earth's epiglottis,
That when I am told what I've done, I shall tear
From my head, in pure anguish, whole masses of hair:
You will think it a barber's shop all round my chair.
And yet, when I vow that I'll seize all occasion
Of loading "the love" with my best reparation,
My "startling," "intense," "truly new," "soul-subduing,"
And other fond truths of impartial reviewing,
I fancy I hear her, in tones of caresses,
Exclaim, "God preserve his dear elderly tresses!"
Lo! first then (for not in stern order of fame,
But in blest alphabetical order they came,
Though she that first enter'd, well headed the dears)
Mrs. Adams,[1] rare mistress of thought and of tears;
Then Aikin judicious;—discreet Mrs. Austin,
Whose English her German you'll never find lost in;—
And Madame d'Arblay, mighty grave all the while,
Yet at heart smitten still betwixt fun and a style,
But in blest alphabetical order they came,
Though she that first enter'd, well headed the dears)
Mrs. Adams,[1] rare mistress of thought and of tears;
Then Aikin judicious;—discreet Mrs. Austin,
Whose English her German you'll never find lost in;—
And Madame d'Arblay, mighty grave all the while,
Yet at heart smitten still betwixt fun and a style,
- ↑ Authoress of the tragedy founded on early Christian history entitled "Vivia Perpetua."
