The PROPOSAL. Mary Leapor Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Broad Street Oxford OX1 3BG UK
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. 173-175. 15,[5],282p. ; 8⁰.

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The PROPOSAL . WITH aking Fingers , twinging Nose , And vex'd , dear Madam , we'll suppose : ( To leave yourself and Parlour-fire ) Trudg'd Mira to her own good Sire ; Beneath a cold and gloomy Sky Walk'd cheek by jole the Muse and I : The list'ning Gossip , tho' unseen , Had watch'd the Talk that pass'd between Myself and you : And much offended ( It seems ) at what was there intended . ' So cries the peevish Maid , ( and squinting ) ' Methinks I heard you talk of Printing : ' Have I bestow'd a world of Pains , ' To spirit up your blockish Brains , ' To get from thence an idle Rhyme , ' That made me blush to call it mine ? ' And shall I see the crippl'd Crew ' Discarded from their Seat and you , ' Turn'd out to skip from hand to hand ' In dirty Gazettes round the Land , ' To grace the Knee of ev'ry Sot , ' And catch the Droppings of his Pot , ' While in a Rage the drowsy Swains ' Perhaps may curse you for your Pains , ' Protesting with a Critick's Spite , ' That none since Durfey knew to write ? ' But , Mira , if you want a Muse , ' To grace the Page of weekly News , ' The Task is much too low for me , ' Yet I've a Maid of less Degree , ' ( With Spirit suiting to her State ) ' Will serve you at an easy Rate : ' Whose Voice , tho' hoarse , is loud and strong , ' An Artist at a ranting Song , ' Can chaunt Lampoons without much straining , ' Or Epigrams with double Meaning , ' To join the Tavern-Harp or Viol : ' Now if you'll take her upon trial , ' To her Deservings suit your Pay , ' And then you take the safest way : ' Perhaps you'll prosper in the End , ' I'll say no more : But ask your Friend , ' Here ends the Muse — Dear Madam , say , ' Shall I reject her or obey ?