ToMr.F.nowEarlofW.Heneage Finch (1657-1726), Anne's ("Ardelia") husband, who became fifth earl of Winchilsea in 1712.
Whogoingabroad,haddesiredARDELIAtowritesomeVersesuponwhateverSubjectshethoughtfit,againsthisReturnintheEvening.WrittenintheYear1689.NOsooner,FLAVIO,wasyougone,But,yourInjunctionthoughtupon,ARDELIAtookthePen;DesigningtoperformtheTask,HerFLAVIOdidsokindlyask,Erehereturnedagen.UntoParnassusstraitshesent,AndbidtheMessenger,thatwentUntotheMusesCourt,Assurethem,shetheirAiddidneed,Andbegg'dthey'dusetheirutmostSpeed,BecausetheTimewasshort.ThehastySummonswasallow'd;Andbeingwell-bred,theyroseandbow'd,Andsaid,they'dposteaway;ThatwelltheydidARDELIAknow,AndthatnoFemale'sVoicebelowTheysoonerwou'dobey:ThatmanyofthatrhimingTrain,OnlikeOccasions,soughtinvainTheirIndustryt'excite;ButforARDELIAallthey'dleave:Thusflatt'ringcantheMusedeceive,Andwheedleustowrite.Yet,sincetherewassuchhasterequir'd;ToknowtheSubject'twasdesir'd,Onwhichtheymustinfuse;ThattheymighttemperWordsandRules,AndwiththeirCounselcarryTools,AsCountry-Doctorsuse.WhereforetocutoffallDelays,'Twassoonreply'd,aHusband'sPraise(Tho'intheselooserTimes)ARDELIAgladlywou'drehearseAHusband's,whoindulg'eherVerse,Andnowrequir'dherRimes.AHusband!eccho'dallaround:AndtoParnassussurethatSoundHadneveryetbeensent;AmazementineachFacewasread,Inhasteth'affrightedSistersTheMuses—Erato,Melpomene,Thalia,Urania,&c.fled,AnduntoCouncilwent.Eratocry'd,sinceGrizel'sDays,SinceTroy-Townpleas'd,andChivey-chace,NosuchDesignwasknown;And'twastheirBus'nesstotakecare,Itreach'dnottothepublickEar,OrgotabouttheTown:NorcamewhereEveningBeauxweremetO'erBillet-douxandChocolate,Lestitdestroy'dtheHouse;ForinthatPlace,whocou'ddispence(ThatworehisCloathswithcommonSense)WithmentionofaSpouse?'TwasputuntotheVoteatlast,AndintheNegativeitpast,NonetoherAidshou'dmove;YetsinceARDELIAwasaFriend,Excuses'twasagreedtosend,Whichplausiblemightprove:ThatPegasusoflatehadbeenSooftenridthro'thickandthin,WithneitherFearnorWit;InPanegyrickbeensospurr'd,Hecou'dnotfromtheStallbestirr'd,Norwou'denduretheBit.MelpomenehadgivenaBond,BythenewHousealonetostand,AndwriteofWarandStrife;Thalia,shehadtakenFees,AndStipendsfromthePatentees,AnddurstnotforherLife.UraniaUraniaistheHeavenlyMuse,andsuppos'dtoinspireThoughtsofVertue.onlylik'dtheChoice;YetnottothwartthepublickVoice,Shewhisp'ringdidimpart:TheyneednoForeignAidinvoke,NohelptodrawamovingStroke,WhodictatefromtheHeart.Enough!thepleas'dARDELIAcry'd;Andslightingev'ryMusebeside,ConsultingnowherBreast,Perceiv'dthatev'rytenderThought,Whichfromabroadshe'dvainlysought,DidthereinSilencerest:Andshou'dunmov'dthatPostmaintain,TillinhisquickReturnagain,Metinsomeneighb'ringGrove,(WhereVicenorVanityappear)HerFLAVIOthemalonemighthear,InalltheSoundsofLove.ForsincetheWorlddo'ssodespiseHymen'sEndearmentsanditsTies,Theyshou'dmysteriousbe;TillWethatPleasuretoopossess(Whichmakestheirfancy'dHappiness)OfstollenSecrecy.