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BLUE-STOCKING REVELS; OR,
Did Heav'n keep a boarding-school, these were its blushers;—
But Shakspeares would never have done for the ushers.
But Shakspeares would never have done for the ushers.
The women at table, I thought, at this sight,
For pure, tongue-tied bliss, would have fainted outright;
But Apollo in pity dismiss'd it; and brought
Richard Steele on the carpet, the heart of light thought;
Who pass'd, with his wit and his wig, midst a bevy
Of hoops and bright eyes, as if bound for a levee;
Some cheeks were among them, more sweet for a sprinkle
Of tears; and the dupe of that horrid beast, Inkle.
Steele led by the hand his own wife in the crowd,
And as if re-assuring her, kiss'd it, and bow'd.
For pure, tongue-tied bliss, would have fainted outright;
But Apollo in pity dismiss'd it; and brought
Richard Steele on the carpet, the heart of light thought;
Who pass'd, with his wit and his wig, midst a bevy
Of hoops and bright eyes, as if bound for a levee;
Some cheeks were among them, more sweet for a sprinkle
Of tears; and the dupe of that horrid beast, Inkle.
Steele led by the hand his own wife in the crowd,
And as if re-assuring her, kiss'd it, and bow'd.
In discourse of this kind, and such rapturous expressions
As perfectly scorn'd all the old self-possessions,
(For really I can't say which rattled most gaily,
Dear frank Lady Morgan, or quiet Miss Bailey;
Though somebody said, that tow'rds three, Mrs. Hall
Was, beyond any question, the merriest of all;
And I'm told that Miss Edgeworth became so vivacious,
The damsels from boarding-school whispered, "My gracious!")
In talk of this kind, and a world of sweet will,
Which turn'd all our heads ('tis in mine dancing still)
The delight ran its rounds, till 'twas time to break up;
When Apollo, instead of the old parting cup,
(Which with ladies might not have been quite so decorous)
Exclaim'd, "Set the new parting dishes before us."
As perfectly scorn'd all the old self-possessions,
(For really I can't say which rattled most gaily,
Dear frank Lady Morgan, or quiet Miss Bailey;
Though somebody said, that tow'rds three, Mrs. Hall
Was, beyond any question, the merriest of all;
And I'm told that Miss Edgeworth became so vivacious,
The damsels from boarding-school whispered, "My gracious!")
In talk of this kind, and a world of sweet will,
Which turn'd all our heads ('tis in mine dancing still)
The delight ran its rounds, till 'twas time to break up;
When Apollo, instead of the old parting cup,
(Which with ladies might not have been quite so decorous)
Exclaim'd, "Set the new parting dishes before us."
No sooner exclaim'd than accomplish'd. Behold
Ev'ry guest had a cover of exquisite mould,
Ev'ry guest had a cover of exquisite mould,
