A PARTY AT QUADRILLE. Mary Alcock (née Cumberland) 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. T86344 Alcock [née Cumberland], Mary, 1741?–1798. Poems, &c. &c. by the Late Mrs. Mary Alcock [poems only]. London Printed for C. Dilly, Poultry 1799 pp. 139-144. vii,[25],183,[1]p.

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A PARTY AT QUADRILLE . LADY POOLE'S HOUSE . Enter Lady Wrangle , Mrs. Frett , and Mr. Carder . Lady P. Ladies , your servant , this indeed is kind To come to one so much distress'd in mind ; Since Friday last , the day poor Pompey died , No soul I've seen , nor left my fire-side . Lady W. Well , dearest Madam , talk no more of that , Nothing is like a game at cards , and chat , To ease the mind ; I'm sure I found it so When poor Sir Simon died ; you all well know How very much reliev'd I was by play ; When morn was over I began the day . Mr. C. Come ladies , then 'tis best to lose no time , To dwell on griefs I always deem a crime . Lady P. Pray , ladies , take your places as you chuse ; In every seat I know I'm sure to lose . Mrs. F. To lose ! dear Ma'am , I think to leave off play , Such cards I sat with all the other day , When in this very house your La'ship won ; 'Tis what I never do , I've such a run . Beasted such hands ! I lost on Tuesday night Three double mattadores , they broke me quite . Lady P. Ladies , your stakes , We play our usual rate . Mrs. F. Here , Madam's , mine ; 'tis gone as sure as fate . Lady P. Sir , you have pass'd , I now may shew my cards ; Six mattadores ; four fish are my reward . Lady W. Indeed ! this way the cards are sure to go , Whatever game I play , or high or low . The other night I lost at Lady Vole's My twenty shillings , now at Lady Poole's This night I'm like to lose three times that sum ; I swear I'll keep from Mrs. Fuzz's drum , Mrs. F. I take a king if no one plays alone . Lady W. Madam , I do ; I'll not sit like a drone With mattadores , six trumps ; 'tis monstrous hard To have a vole within one single card . Might I have took a king I'd had it clear , But some folks cards will always play severe . Mrs. F. Severe indeed ! Sure mine the hardest case is , To sit thus long , and never see the aces . And now , the first time I could take a king , I'm superseded , that's the very thing . I sometimes get a hand , but never play ; I owe your La'ship four , I've none to pay . Lady P. I'll mark you up , dear Ma'am , the usual way . Mrs. F. Well , now by chance at last I've got a game , And if you all give leave , my trump I'll name ; Hearts then it is ; spadille I lead , oh fie ! One hand without a trump ! now hard they lie . Lady P. Madam , you have your game , no trump is in . Mrs. F. Yes , Ma'am , because this hand of course must win . Lady P. Upon my honour , now , I've never play'd But one poor hand , and now six fish have paid . I vow next time I deal I'll make a fuz . Mrs. F. I wonder how your next door neighbour does ; I heard last week he lost his only son , Lady P. Yes , and his wife is dying . What is done ? I think your La'ship ask'd ? I pass of course ; Upon my life my cards get worse and worse . Mrs. F. I'm quite supriz'd , I'm really call'd this time . It is your La'ship's trick , 'tis none of mine ; For is not call'd I'd been a bitter foe . Let's see those cards , I know not how they go . Mr. C. Ladies , I think the vole's at your command , At least I can't prevent it by my hand . Lady W. Ma'am , you're to speak ; pray search the tricks again . Mrs. F. My dearest Ma'am , I fear 'tis all in vain , One fatal chance would overset the whole ; And yet 'twould make us both to win a vole . Can you forgive me ? May I now declare . Lady P. Madam , proceed ; this is not quite so fair . Lady W. Oh , Mrs. Frett , you've ruin'd me indeed ; How could it e'er be won , and you to lead ? My Lady Poole did well to bid us play . When she'd that knave ; we've all the world to pay . Mrs. F. Indeed , I think so too ; she drew me in ; Yet sure the chance was great that we should win . Lady W. By no means , Ma'am ; your play I can't excuse ; I'm sadly wrong'd , for I could not refuse . Lady P. Well , Ladies , please to lay your money down , The pool's my constant care , 'tis always known ; I'm sure you'd mattadores , so give us five ; Now this may turn my luck , and I may thrive . Poor Mr. Carder was without a fish , But now he's rich , and just as he could wish . Lady W. I know not who is rich , I'm sure I'm poor , And lay my ruin at that Lady's door . Mrs. F. Indeed , dear Ma'am , you see I'm quite undone ; 'Tis very hard to twit , when if we'd won You'd been the first to justify my paly ; But let it pass your Ladyship's own way ; This fine lone hand some of my debts will settle ; 'Tis but my due to ride on my own cattle . Lady W. 'Tis very lucky , Mrs. Fret , for you , But with these losses what am I to do ? I wish with all my heart the pool was out , For I'm engag'd to Lady Racket's rout . Lady P. That's quite distressing , Ma'am , but I submit ; 'Twill break our set ; but just as you think fit . The pool is out , upon my word I win . Lady W. Indeed , I thought your La'ship's pawn was in , Lady P. Oh no , I took that out an hour ago ; I'm sure , Sir , you will witness it was so . Mr. C. Madam , I always think your La'ship right ; I just have lost three guineas by the night . Lady P. O lack-a-day ! 'twas unpolite to beat Our only man — 'twas an unlucky seat . We've won an even share , or very nigh . The cards to-night have not run very high . Ladies , your humble servant , Sir , good bye .