Classic Poem

Cardelia

The Bassette Table spread, the Tallier come,
Why stays Smilinda in the dressing room?
Rise, pensive Nymph! The Tallier stays for you—

Smilinda

Ah Madam! since my Sharper is untrue,
I joyless make my once ador'd Alpieu.
I saw him stand behind Ombrelia's Chair,
And whisper with that soft deluding Air
And those feign'd sighs that cheat the list'ning Fair.

Cardelia

Is this the cause of your Romantic Strains?
A mightier greife my heavy Heart sustains;
As you by Love, so I by Fortune crost,
In one bad deal three sept le va's I lost.

Smilinda

Is that a Greife that you compare with mine?
With ease the Smiles of Fortune I resign,
Would all my Gold in one bad Deal were gone
Were lovely Sharper mine, and mine alone.

Cardelia

A Lover lost is but a common Care
And prudent Nymphs against the Change prepare.
The Queen of Clubs thrice lost! Oh, who could guess
This fatal stroke, this unforeseen distress?

Smilinda

See Betty Loveit, very a propos!
She all the pains of Love and Play does know,
Deeply experienced many years ago.
Dear Betty shall th'Important point decide,
Betty, who oft the pains of each has try'd;
Impartial she shall say who suffers most,
By Cards' ill usage, or by Lovers lost.

Loveit

Tell, tell your Greife, attentive will I stay,
Tho' Time is precious, and I want some Tea.

Cardelia

Behold this Equipage by Mathers wrought,
With fifty Guineas (a great pen'north) bought.
See, on the Tooth pick Mars and Cupid strive,
And both the struggling Figures seem alive.
Upon the bottom, see the Queen's bright Face,
A Myrtle Foliage round the Thimble Case.
Jove, Jove himselfe does on the Scissars shine;
The Metal, and the Workmanship Divine!

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,
There first his Passion was in Public shown,
Hazardia blush'd, and turn'd her Head aside,
A Rival's envy, all in vain, to hide)
This Snuff box—on the hinge see Brillants shine!
This Snuff box will I stake, the Prize is mine.

Cardelia

Alas! far lesser Losses than I bear,
Have made a Soldier sigh, a Lover swear.
But oh what makes the Disapointment hard,
'Twas my own Lord, who drew the Fatal Card!
In complaisance I took the Queen he gave,
Thô my own secret Wish was for the Knave:
The Knave won Sonica that I had chose
And the next pull, my sept le va I lose.

Smilinda

But ah, what agravates the killing smart,
The cruel thought that stabs me to the Heart:
This curst Ombrelia, this undoing Fair,
By whose vile arts this heavy Greife I bear,
She, at whose Name, I shed these spitefull Tears,
She owes to me the very Charms she wears.
An aukard Thing when first she came to Town,
Her Shape unfashion'd, and her Face unknown,
She was my Freind; I taught her first to spread
Upon her sallow cheeks enlivening Red.
I introduced her to the Parks and Plays,
And by my Interest Cosins made her Stays.
Ungratefull Wretch! with Mimic airs grown pert,
She dares to steal my Fav'rite Lover's Heart.

Cardelia

Wretch that I was! how often have I swore
When Winnall tally'd, 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 deceiv'd?
How many curs'd the moment they beleiv'd?
Yet his known Falsehood could no warning prove,
Ah what are Warnings to a Maid in Love!

Cardelia

But of what Marble must that Breast be form'd,
Can gaze on Bassette and remain unwarm'd?
When Kings, Queens, Knaves, are set in decent Rank,
Expos'd in Glorious heaps, the tempting Bank!
Guineas, halfe guineas, all the shineing Train,
The Winners Pleasure, and the Losers pain;
In bright Confusion open Rouleaus lie,
They strike the Soul, and glitter in the Eye:
Fir'd by the sight, all Reason I disdain,
My passions rise, and will not bear the Rein.
Look upon Bassette, you who reason boast,
And see if Reason may not there be lost!

Smilinda

What more than Marble must the Breast compose
That listens coldly to my Sharper's vows?
Then, when he trembles, when his Blushes rise,
When Awfull Love seems melting in his Eyes!
With eager Beats, his Mechlin Cravat moves:
He loves! I whisper to my selfe, He loves!
Such unfeign'd Passion in his Looks appears,
I lose all mem'ry of my former Fears;
My panting Heart confesses all his Charms,
I yeild at once, and sink into his Arms.
Think of that Moment, you who Prudence boast;
For such a Moment, Prudence well were lost!

Cardelia

At the Groom Porter's, batter'd Bullys play;
Some Dukes at Marrow bone bowl Time away.
But who the Bowl or rattling Dice compares
To Bassette's heavenly Joys, and pleasing Cares?

Smilinda

Soft Semplicetta doats upon a Beau,
Prudina likes a Man, and laughs at Shew.
Their several graces in my Sharper meet,
Strong as the Footman, as the Master sweet.

Loveit

Cease your Contention, which has been too long,
I grow Impatient, and the Tea too strong,
Attend and Yeild to what I now Decide,
The Equipage shall grace Smilinda's side,
The Snuff Box to Cardelia I decree:
So, leave Complaining, and begin your Tea.