Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ADDRESS FOR MISS FONTENELLE, by ROBERT BURNS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ADDRESS FOR MISS FONTENELLE, by                 Poet's Biography
First Line: Still anxious to secure your partial favour
Last Line: And as we're merry, may we still be wise.
Subject(s): Actors & Actresses; Actresses


Still anxious to secure your partial favour,
A Prologue, Epilogue, or some such matter,
'Twould vamp my bill, said I, if nothing better;
So sought a poet, roosted near the skies,
Told him I came to feast my curious eyes;
Said, nothing like his works was ever printed;
And last, my prologue -- business slily hinted.
"Ma'am, let me tell you," quoth my man of rhymes,
"I know your bent -- these are no laughing times:
Can you -- but, Miss, I own I have my fears --
Dissolve in pause, and sentimental tears;
With laden sighs, and solemn-rounded sentence,
Rouse from his sluggish slumbers, fell Repentance;
Paint Vengeance as he takes his horrid stand,
Waving on high the desolating brand,
Calling the storms to bear him o'er a guilty land?"

I could no more -- askance the creature eyeing,
"D'ye think," said I, "this face was made for crying?
I'll laugh, that's poz-nay more, the world shall know it;
And so, your servant! gloomy Master Poet!"

Firm as my creed, Sirs, 'tis my fix'd belief,
That Misery's another word for Grief:
I also think -- so may I be a bride!
That so much laughter, so much life enjoy'd.

Thou man of crazy care and ceaseless sigh,
Still under bleak Misfortune's blasting eye;
Doom'd to that sorest task of man alive --
To make three guineas do the work of five:
Laugh in Misfortune's face -- the beldam witch!
Say, you'll be merry, tho' you can't be rich.

Thou other man of care, the wretch in love,
Who long with jiltish airs and arts hast strove;
Who, as the boughs all temptingly project,
Measur'st in desperate thought -- a rope -- thy neck --
Or, where the beetling cliff o'erhangs the deep,
Peerest to meditate the healing leap:
Would'st thou be cur'd, thou silly, moping elf?
Laugh at her follies -- laugh e'en at thyself:
Learn to despise those frowns now so terrific,
And love a kinder -- that's your grand specific.

To sum up all, be merry, I advise;
And as we're merry, may we still be wise.





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