You know Camilla-o'er the plain She guides the fiery hunter's rein; First in the chase she sounds the horn, Trampling to earth the farmer's corn, That hardly deign'd to bend its head, Beneath her namesake's lighter tread. With Bob the Squire, her polish'd lover, She wields the gun, or beats the cover; And then her steed!-why! every clown Tells how she rubs Smolensko down, And combs the mane, and cleans the hoof, While wondering hostlers stand aloof. At night, before the Christmas fire She plays backgammon with the Squire ; Shares in his laugh, and his liquor, Mimics her father and the Vicar; Swears at the grooms-without a blush Dips in her ale the captured brush, Until her father duly tired The parson's wig as duly fired— The dogs all still-the Squire asleep, And dreaming of his usual leap She leaves the dregs of white and red, And lounges languidly to bed; And still in nightly visions borne, She gallops o'er the rustic's corn; And this is bliss-the story runs, Camilla never wept-save once; Yes! once indeed Camilla cried 'Twas when her dear Blue-stockings died. Pretty Cordelia thinks she's illShe seeks her med'eine at Quadrille ; With hope, and fear, and envy sick, She gazes on the dubious trick, As if Eternity were laid Upon a diamond, or a spade. And I have seen a transient pique Blighting the soil where Beauty grew, In eyes that ought to beam with love. Turn we to Fannia-she was fair As the soft fleeting forms of air, Her lip has lost its fragrant dew, Her cheek has lost its rosy hue, Her eye the glad enlivening rays That glitter'd there in happier days, Her heart the ignorance of woe Which Fashion's votaries may not know. The city's smoke-the noxious airThe constant crowd-the torch's glafe— The morning sleep-the noonday call— The late repast-the midnight ball, Bid Faith and Beauty die, and taint Her heart with fraud, her face with paint. And what the boon, the prize enjoy'd, For fame defaced, and peace destroyed! Queen of the modes, she reigns alike O'er rouge and ribbons, combs and curls, Circled by beaux behold her sit, While Dandies tremble at her wit; "A devil!" cries the shy Cantab; The glance of her sarcastic eye, For well he knows she looks him o'er, To stamp him "buck," or dub him "bore." Such is her life-a life of waste, A life of wretchedness-and taste. At once are reckon'd up, in one One word of bliss and folly-Ton. Not these the thoughts that could perplex The fancies of our fickle sex, When England's favourite, good Queen Bess, Was Queen alike o'er war and dress. Then ladies gay play'd chesse-and ballads, And learnt to dress their hair-and salads; Sweets and sweet looks were studied then, And both were pleasing to the men; For cookery was allied to taste, And girls were taught to blush-and baste. Then Valour won the wavering field, By dint of hauberk, and of shield; |