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BLUE-STOCKING REVELS; OR,
So Irish, so modish, so mixtish, so wild,
So committing herself, as she talks, like a child,
So trim yet so easy, polite yet big-hearted,
That truth and she, try all she can, won't be parted.
She'll put on your fashions, your latest new air,
And then talk so frankly, she'll make you all stare:—
Mrs. Hall may say "Oh," and Miss Edgeworth say "Fie,"
But my lady will know all the what and the why.
Her books, a like mixture, are so very clever,
The god himself swore he could read them for ever;
Plot, character, freakishness, all are so good;
And the heroine's herself, playing tricks in a hood.
So he kiss'd her, and call'd her "eternal good wench;"
But ask'd, why the devil she spoke so much French?
So committing herself, as she talks, like a child,
So trim yet so easy, polite yet big-hearted,
That truth and she, try all she can, won't be parted.
She'll put on your fashions, your latest new air,
And then talk so frankly, she'll make you all stare:—
Mrs. Hall may say "Oh," and Miss Edgeworth say "Fie,"
But my lady will know all the what and the why.
Her books, a like mixture, are so very clever,
The god himself swore he could read them for ever;
Plot, character, freakishness, all are so good;
And the heroine's herself, playing tricks in a hood.
So he kiss'd her, and call'd her "eternal good wench;"
But ask'd, why the devil she spoke so much French?
"Mrs. Norton." The god, stepping forward a pace,
Kiss'd her hand in return, with respect in his face,
But said, "Why indulge us with nothing but sighs?
You best prove your merits when cheerful and wise:
Be still so; be just to the depth of your eyes."
Then he turn'd to us all, and repeated, in tones
Of approval so earnest as thrill'd to one's bones,
Some remarks of hers (bidding us learn them all too)
On the art of distinguishing false love from true.
After which, as he seated her near him, he cried,
"'Twas a large heart, and loving, that gave us this guide."[1]
Kiss'd her hand in return, with respect in his face,
But said, "Why indulge us with nothing but sighs?
You best prove your merits when cheerful and wise:
Be still so; be just to the depth of your eyes."
Then he turn'd to us all, and repeated, in tones
Of approval so earnest as thrill'd to one's bones,
Some remarks of hers (bidding us learn them all too)
On the art of distinguishing false love from true.
After which, as he seated her near him, he cried,
"'Twas a large heart, and loving, that gave us this guide."[1]
- ↑ The following is the passage alluded to. It is from one of the lady's novels, but I cannot remember which, having made the extract some time ago, without adding the reference. As it is a female who speaks, the caution is given with respect to men only; but it need not be added, that it equally applies to the love professed by man or woman:—
"We are too apt to think only how we are treated; too little accustomed to observe what is the treatment of others by the same person. Watch and weigh. If a man speak evil of his friends to you, he will also speak evil of you to his friends. Kind and caressing words are easily spoken, and pleasant to
