A Letter to the Right Honourable the Lady Russel. Written at her Ladyship's Desire, on the Conversation at Breakfast. Mary Chandler Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
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Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
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Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T63103 Chandler, Mary, 1687-1745. The Description Of Bath. A Poem. Humbly Inscribed To Her Royal Highness the Princess Amelia. By Mrs. Mary Chandler. The Third Edition. To which are added, Several Poems by the same Author [poems only]. London Printed for James Leake, Bookseller in Bath 1736 pp. 24-27. 77p.

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A Letter to the Right Honourable the Lady Russel . Written at her Ladyship's Desire , on the Conversation at Breakfast . At my low Cottage , on a chearful Morn , When slanting Beams did ev'ry Scene adorn ; By Goodness prompted , native of their Breasts , Sir Harry and my Lady were my Guests . My Treat was homely , and my Table small , My Cloth and Dishes clean , and that was all : For thus it suited to my low Estate , 'Twere insolent to imitate the Great . Hum'rous our Talk , and innocently gay ; Our Subjects various ; Manners , Men , and Play , And Love , and Wedlock ; This our fav'rite Theme , And each to their own Fancy form'd the Scheme : " Maid ! said Sir Harry , come , it's Time to wed ; " By Sympathy chuse C— to be your Head . " Two Bodies so exactly pair'd ! 'tis plain " Heav'n made the Match , and destin'd him the Man . " My Lady offer'd me her Farmer's Son . Sir Harry positive for C— alone . Soon I accepted , either was my Choice ; " Most Votes shall carry't . — Mine's a neutral Voice . " So I may wed , I'm not exceeding nice ; " My humble Wishes , Sir , no higher rise , " Than that the Man be honest , free from Vice ; " Improv'd by Learning both of Books and Men ; " His Genius witness'd by his well-known Pen ; " True to his Country , and fair Virtue's Cause ; " Unaw'd , unbrib'd , by Pow'r or by Applause ; " From Superstition and Prophaneness free ; " His Fortune equal to himself and me . " This Praise to C— his Friends allow is due ; " And Part , dear Farmer , I believe of you . " The P— , absent , could not speak his Mind ; But the young Farmer , complaisant and kind , Bow'd , smil'd , and drank my Health . An Omen fair ! But , ah ! a young and fairer Maid was there ; I fear my Rival's Charms , I fear her Art , Each serve to move , and both to win his Heart . Thus far in Mirth . — But now for steady Truth ; I'm climb'd above the Scale of fickle Youth . From Pain of Love I'm perfectly at Ease , My Person Nature never form'd to please . Friendship's the sweetest Joy in human Life , 'Tis that I wish — and not to be a Wife . Thus , Madam , your Command I have obey'd In artless Lines : Of Censure not afraid : Your Goodness will accept my humble Lays ; Content with this , I seek no better Praise . Rough as the Road on which I gave them Birth , Dull as the clouded Morn , or barren Heath . Vainly I wish , oh could I tune my Song Sweet as your Name , and as your Virtue strong ! With Pleasure I'd the grateful Theme pursue , But , I despair — And humbly bid , Adieu .