Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE SPRIGHTLY BALLAD OF MISTRESS MOLLY, by RAYMOND W. WALKER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE SPRIGHTLY BALLAD OF MISTRESS MOLLY, by                    
First Line: Twas back in the reign of the good queen anne
Last Line: "I'll be cursed but I love the young dog for his wit."
Subject(s): Yale University


'TWAS back in the Reign of the good Queen Anne
When the vogue of the Gentleman Wit began,
When trouble with Spain was beginning to brew,
And the bucks sat at Ombre the whole night through,
That the portly Lord Clive brought his daughter to town
To offer her royal respects to the Crown.
Such, at least, was his Lordship's ostensible reason,
But since they had lodgings engaged for the Season
A whisper was started, which spread with despatch,
That they came rather hoping to make a fine Match.
Be that as it may, she was duly presented
Resplendent in Satin, patched, powdered, and scented,
Till even her vain little heart was contented.
Then she sparkled at Levee, Ridotto, and Ball,
Was ogled by many, but out of them all
To whom should this silly Maid's favor be shown
But an Ensign, with never a groat of his own.
'Twas amazing, and so thought her choleric Sire,
Who denied him admittance with threatenengs dire,
And ('tis hard to believe, but the gossips all swear it),
Hurled straight at his head a half-bottle of Claret,
And offended two guests, who expected to share it.
'Twas a delicate Scandal, a Morsel most rare
For the Wits and the Dowagers everywhere.

But the Season rolled on as all town Seasons do,
And the tale was forgot in a fortnight or two,
For Miss Molly, uptilting her pert little nose,
Still smiled and made eyes at a score of the Beaux,
And as for the luckless young Ensign, 'twas said
No thought of him lodged in her gay little head.

But one night, or to speak more correctly, one morning,
As home from a Ball in the gray of the dawning
Went fair Mistress Molly, just outside the town
Her Chair was attacked, honest Terence knocked down,
Stout James and the Link-boy belabored most soundly,
While they bawled for the watch till they fell, cursing roundly,
And Miss Molly, I learn from the very best Source,
Carried off in a Coach by -- the Ensign, of course.
Then indeed all the Town was agog with the tale,
And, "O Lud," cried the Ladies, and promptly turned pale,
While the Wits chuckled heartily over their Ale.

But as for Milord, when they told him the News,
First he swore at his men till they shook in their shoes,
And then, "Damme," cried he, after thinking a bit,
"I'll be cursed but I love the young Dog for his wit."





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