Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, FANNY'S REMOVAL IN 1714, by JOHN WINSTANLEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

FANNY'S REMOVAL IN 1714, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Alas! Poor fanny! Wretched girl, alas!
Last Line: And so, to clear herself in time, I leave her.
Subject(s): Farewell; Parting


ALAS! poor Fanny! wretched girl, alas!
Her fatal exit too is come to pass!
Among the many changes made of late,
Her turn is now, and she must share the fate
Of judges, privy counsellors and ministers of state.
The Fates decreed, 'tis folly to repine;
I heard her mistress cry, 'My slave is mine';
Then, flourishing the poker in her hand,
Said, 'Queen I am, this sceptre shall command';
With which poor Fanny out of door she banged.
Poor wench! alas! far happier had she been
If her past happy days she ne'er had seen,
Nor stood so fair in th' graces of her queen.
The time no later was than t' other day
(But royal favour will like time decay),
When Madam's most important nice affairs
Were done by Fanny, passed through Fanny's ears;
When fierce competitors for Madam's love
For Fanny's favour vehemently strove,
And gained a mighty point, if Fanny did approve.
And, cunning gypsy, she could coax with ease,
For of her mistress she had learned to please;
With all her courtiers, whether Whig or Tory,
Had curried favour, and could tell her story.
One was her charming dear, and one her honey;
But he most dear, be sure, who gave most money.
Such was her conduct, such her int'rest deemed,
More like a mistress than a maid she seemed.
Thus Fanny lived, a day or two ago;
But now, alas! poor girl! it is not so:
Her cup of pleasant joy is dashed with bitter woe.
Her mistress will (and she will be obeyed,
For who against her will dare intercede?)
Turn Fanny off, and take another maid.
No matter why, for 'tis enough she'll do't;
Her power o'er her servant's absolute,
And, sure, no servant dare dispute the sway
Of her whom princes would be proud t' obey:
Besides, so mild, so good she is, that still
The world must needs conclude of Fanny ill,
Though Madam give no other reason than her will.
Methinks I hear one say, 'What, Fanny gone?
Turned off! no sure! why then, the girl's undone:
But so all servants prove, they ne'er can tell
When mistresses or masters use them well.'
Another misses Fanny, and then cries,
'What, Madam! sh' as told tales, I warrant lies,
About I don't know who nor what, whereby
Some darling fav'rite's nose is put awry;
So I suppose your ladyship intends,
By turning her away, to make amends.'
Another, hearing Fanny is turned off
(Some wretched, senseless, self-conceited calf),
Condoles her thus, in ribaldry and scoff:
'Sad slut! I ne'er expected better on her!
She always primmed, and took so much upon her,
Praised men of manners, sense, true love, forsooth, and honour!'
One (something smart and perter than the rest)
Cries, 'Fanny's only gone to make a jest.'
Others, whose wond'rous parts profoundly range
Through all the dark mysterious turns of change,
Thinking that they the secret cause have got,
Conclude poor Fanny has been in a plot:
Cry, 'Madam! faith, 'tis well she's gone, for who
But we could tell the ills she'd bring you to?'
One very gravely cries, 'Now I remember
I saw her plodding with a smart pretender;
And 'tis as certain as that same's a sin,
Her only bus'ness was to bring him in.'
Another swears, 'By _____, that's true', for he
Something like that did hear, did someone see;
And then, a third goes on, 'The case is plain,
The jade was bribed—for her sole idol's gain';
'Damn her,' another cries, 'to th' pit of hell!
A b_____, a w_____, I always said she'd sell
Her mistress, self and all, to him would pay her well.'
Thus all condemn, few pity, none excuse her;
Some seem surprised a little, most abuse her;
Tax her with faults, high crimes and misbehaviour,
All which poor Fanny will forswear by'r Saviour:
And so, to clear herself in time, I leave her.





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