THE BASSET-TABLE. AN ECLOGUE. Only this of all the town eclogues was Mr. Pope's; and is here printed from a copy corrected by his own hand.—The humour of it consists in this, that the one is in love with the game, and the other with the sharper.- Warburton. CARDELIA. SMILINDA. CARDELIA. THE basset-table spread, the tallier come; SMILINDA. Ah, madam, since my Sharper is untrue, And those feigned sighs which cheat the listening fair. CARDELIA. Is this the cause of your romantic strains? SMILINDA. Is that the grief, which you compare with mine? With ease, the smiles of fortune I resign: Would all my gold in one bad deal were gone; CARDELIA. A lover lost, is but a common care; ΙΟ And prudent nymphs against that change prepare; SMILINDA. See Betty Lovet! very à propos, She all the cares of love and play does know; LOVET. Tell, tell your griefs; attentive will I stay, Though time is precious, and I want some tea. CARDELIA. Behold this equipage, by Mathers wrought, SMILINDA. This snuff-box,-once the pledge of Sharper's love, When rival beauties for the present strove; At Corticelli's he the raffle won; Then first his passion was in public shown: Hazardia blushed, and turned her head aside, A rival's envy (all in vain) to hide. This snuff-box,-on the hinge see brilliants shine: CARDELIA. Alas! far lesser losses than I bear, Have made a soldier sigh, a lover swear. And oh what makes the disappointment hard, 30 40 'Twas my own lord that drew the fatal card. SMILINDA. But ah! what aggravates the killing smart, I introduced her to the park and plays; CARDELIA. Wretch that I was, how often have I swore, When Winnall tallied, I would punt no more? I know the bite, yet to my ruin run; And see the folly, which I cannot shun. SMILINDA. How many maids have Sharper's vows deceived? CARDELIA. But of what marble must that breast be formed, 50 60 70 To gaze on basset, and remain unwarmed? When kings, queens, knaves, are set in decent rank: SMILINDA. What more than marble must that heart compose, Can hearken coldly to my Sharper's vows? Then, when he trembles! when his blushes rise ! When awful love seems melting in his eyes! CARDELIA. At the Groom-porter's, battered bullies play, SMILINDA. Soft Simplicetta doats upon a beau : 1 Alluding to the Duke of Buckinghamshire (Sheffield). So 90 100 Prudina likes a man, and laughs at show. LOVET. Cease your contention, which has been too long; Now leave complaining, and begin your tea. TO LADY MARY WORTLEY MONTAGU. I. IN beauty, or wit, No mortal as yet To question your empire has dared: But men of discerning Have thought that in learning, To yield to a lady was hard. II. Impertinent schools, With musty dull rules, Have reading to females denied; So Papists refuse The Bible to use, Lest flocks should be wise as their guide. III. 'Twas a woman at first (Indeed she was curst) In knowledge that tasted delight, And sages agree The laws should decree To the first possessor the right. ΙΙΟ |