Part of a LETTER to my Sisters at CRUX-EASTON, wrote from CAIRO in EGYPT, AUGUST 1734. Thomas Lisle Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
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Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T131163 K104099.006 Dodsley, Robert, 1703-1764. A Collection of Poems in Six Volumes. By Several Hands. Vol. VI. London printed by J. Hughs, for R. and J. Dodsley 1763 [1st ed. 1758] pp. 172-174. 6v.: music; 8⁰.

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Part of a LETTER to my Sisters at CRUX-EASTON , wrote from CAIRO in EGYPT , AUGUST 1734. By the Same . WHILE you , my dear girls , in your paradise stray , Diverting with innocent freedom the day , I wander alone in a barbarous land , Half bak'd by the sun , half blind by the sand . Then your wood too and grotto so swim in my sight , They give me no respite by day nor by night ; No sooner asleep but I'm dreaming of you ; I am just wak'd from one , — wou'd to God it were true . Methought I was now a fine gentleman grown , And had got , Lord knows how , an estate of my own . Good-bye to plain Tom , I was rais'd a peg higher ; Some call'd me his worship , and others the squire . 'Twas a place , I remember , exactly like Easton , A scene for an emperor's fancy to feast on . There I built a fine house with great cost and great care , ( Your la'ships have form'd many such in the air ) Not of stucco , nor brick , but as good Portland stone As Kent wou'd desire to be working upon . The apartments not small , nor monstrously great , But chiefly for use , and a little for state ; So begilt , and becarv'd , and with ornaments grac'd , That ev'ry one said , I'd an excellent taste . Here I liv'd like a king , never hoarded my pelf , Kept a coach for my sisters , a nag for myself , With something that's good when our Highclear friends come , And , spite of 'squire Herbert , a fire in each room . A canal made for profit as well as for pleasure , That's about , let me see , two acres in measure ; Both the eye to delight , and the table to crown With a jack , or a perch , when my uncles come down . An exceeding great wood , that's been set a great while , In length near a league , and in breadth near a mile . There ev'ry dear girl her bright genius displays , In a thousand fine whimsies a thousand fine ways . O how charming the walks to my fancy appear ! What a number of temples and grottos are here ! My soul was transported to such an extreme , That I leap'd up in raptures , — when lo ! 'twas a dream ; Then vexing I chid the impertinent day For driving so sweet a delusion away . Thus spectres arise , as by nurse-maids we're told , And hie to the place where they buried their gold : There hov'ring around until morning remain ; Then sadly return to their torments again .