The PENITENT. Occasion'd by the Author's being asked if she would take Ten Pounds for her Poems. Mary Leapor Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
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Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
Taylor Institution Library St Giles' Oxford OX1 3NA UK info@eighteenthcenturypoetry.org https://www.eighteenthcenturypoetry.org/
Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T127827 p. 413 K101776.000 Leapor, Mrs. (Mary), 1722-1746. Poems upon several occasions: By Mrs. Leapor of Brackley in Northamptonshire. London printed: and sold by J. Roberts 1748 pp. 118-120. 15,[5],282p. ; 8⁰.

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The PENITENT . Occasion'd by the Author's being asked if she would take Ten Pounds for her Poems . WHEN Parthenissa talk'd to-day Of Profits and of Mira's Lay , And list'ning Mira heard the Sound Of number Ten with added Pound , The saucy Minx betray'd her Pride , And turn'd her scornful Head aside : You , doubtless , Madam , wonder'd why , And hardly could believe 'twas I : But all have Faults , and 'twou'd be vain To boast a Heart that's free from Stain . This Maxim Mira prov'd was true , No golden Apples lay in view Across her Path — and yet she fell : The Cause — have Patience and we'll tell , You saw not — no , to my Surprize It scap'd your penetrating Eyes ; The wicked Knot — 'twas new to-day , The Knot — what Colour was it , pray ? So gay , 'twou'd make a Hermit vain ; Then wonder not at Mira's Brain . But now disrob'd — with dirty Shoes And Apron ragged as the Muse , In Night-cap tight and wrapping Gown , No more is seen the haughty Frown ; The fatal Top-knot laid aside With its destructive Daughter Pride . The vain Chimeras all are flown , And Reason re-assumes her Throne . Now , could you find an honest Dealer , ( As an Attorney or a Taylor ) Who wants a Muse that's not too dear , Send him directly you know where : We for a Trifle shall not part , Nor from an easy Bargain start , And that his Purchase may'nt be hard , I'll add of Packthread half a Yard , To satisfy the greedy Lout , And bind the Papers round about .