The gallant D, handsome and polite,
Who always sought my hand to grace his night,
Till, tired of ceremony, state, and wife,
He chose a younger queen and rural life':—
By nature form'd director of the ball;
Who, skill'd in rank, deep vers'd in etiquette,
E'er named me for the final minuet2:
I, who have triumph'd here so many years,
Admir'd, ador'd, by baronets, and peers;
Caress'd, but envied by the female throng:
Now led the dance; now patroniz'd the song3:
Shall I, in silence, brook the foul disgrace
To mushroom citizens of giving place?
Believe it not: your ladyship shall see
The dire revenge of injur'd dignity:
They who are conversant with the annals of the monarchy of the Upper-rooms need not be reminded of the elopement which occasioned a change in the dynasty about seventeen or eighteen years ago.
For, sooner shall her hand forget the art
Of laying paint on every proper part,
Than scorn'd RATTANA the offence forgive,
Or longer let the mad offender live."
So spake the fair one, big with bitter anguish, Whose eyes, till now, were only known to languish, Save when the offer of untitled swain
Had caus'd her wounded pride a moment's pain.
With equal fury lady Lorry flames,
And, "Vengeance, instant vengeance," each exclaims;
Should'ring and pushing through the crowd the while
To reach poor RAMROD, and discharge their bile.
As tigresses with rage and anguish stung
When robb'd by daring hunters of their young,
The pathless sands in each direction cross,
Their whelps to rescue, or revenge their loss;
And, roaring as they roam, the monsters fell,
To the wild wastes their grief and madness tell*:
Ωι ρα θ' υπο σκυμνους ελαφηβολος ασπαση άνηρ
So, rush'd the furious pair, and as they went
Pour'd forth reproachful names and “loud lament;”
Now 'gainst the monarch venting all their spleen,
Now railing loudly at his fav'rite queen;
Calling" to arms,” and bidding all arise
To seize his diadem, and put out her eyes.
A genʼral tumult instant shook the place, And indignation fir'd each female face: "Old friends forsaken;"-" Pedigree despis'd;"“Statutes neglected;”—and, “ Strange rules devis'd;” Such are the charges which, in thunder tost
From mouth to mouth, infuriate the host',
And, suddenly, the paradise of joys
Transform into a scene of rage, abuse, and noise.
So, in the summer-tide, may oft be seen,
When all around is lovely and serene,
Ύλης εκ πυκίνης· ο δε τ' αχνυται υστερος ελθών
Πολλα δε τ' αγχε' επήλθε μετ' ανέρος ιχνι ερευνών,
Ειπόθεν εξεύροι μελα γαρ δριμυς χόλος αιρεί.
Jamque magis atque magis, serpitque per agmina murmur.
The unexpected storm malignant rise,
And quickly spread its burthen o'er the skies.
Sudden darts out the light'ning's vivid flash,
Succeeded by the thunder's awful crash:
Then rushes prone the deluge from above,
Floods the enamell'd mead, and shakes the grove;
Whilst ruffian winds from ev'ry quarter pour
To aid the mischief, and increase the roar.
Now had RATTANA and the peeress proud
Elbow'd and squeez'd through the tumultuous crowd,
And reach'd with labour huge, the bench of state
Where, plac'd by RAMROD, WILHELMINA sate.
Still the weak monarch linger'd at the spot,
(His duties all neglected or forgot)
And thinking he had yet not done enough
To shew his high respect for lady PUFF;
He still bows, simpers, and with due grimace
Repeats the tricks of his exalted place.
Impatient at the sight, RATTANA flies,
Swift as a vulture, on her destin'd prize:
And seizing, fast, the KING's dependent tail
With one soft hand, the other 'gan assail
His smiling face, (averted from the crowd)
With slaps reiterated hard and loud.
"Take that," cried the virago, "that, and that;" (Whilst the roof echoed back each sounding pat) "And think not, puppy, we will patient see Such mark'd contempt of all propriety; Or, let a fellow, whom we rais'd so late From vile society to rank and state, Longer abuse the kindness of his friends, On whose sole will his royal sway depends."
Thus saying, from his breast she strives to tear
The bright medallion given him to wear;
The sacred emblem of his sov'reign rule
O'er coxcomb, male and female, flirt and fool;
Whilst lady LOFTY, on the other side,
In all the strength of irritated pride,
Her eyes on fire, her neck with fury red,
Darts at the powder'd honours of his head.
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