"She now learn'd those mysterious arts / Which Fashion plies to conquer hearts"
— Combe, William (1742 -1823)
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Published by R. Ackerman [etc.]
Date
1817
Metaphor
"She now learn'd those mysterious arts / Which Fashion plies to conquer hearts"
Metaphor in Context
Near sixty years were gone and o'er,
Since, she an Orphan girl and poor,
First pass'd the stately Mansion's door.
In ev'ry duty little Sue
Did all that she was bid to do.
In Kitchen, Laundry, Dairy she
Wore the blithe form of Industry:
Did through her daily work rejoice,
And chirrup with a chearful voice:
She too could spin, and knit, and sew,
And Village Scholarship she knew.
--The Pet of Kitchen, Parlour, Hall,
Thus little Sue was loved by all;
And many a chuck, beneath the chin,
Did the young Maid's affections win:
For she possess'd, devoid of art,
The feelings of a grateful heart.
--Of all the birds she was the guard,
And govern'd the whole poultry yard:
But she would sigh, when call'd, 'tis said,
To pick the chickens she had fed:
For many a tale or false or true,
Brought up a laugh 'gainst little Sue,
--When her young Misses sought the plain
To form a sprightly, sportive train,
She was call'd forth to join the play,
And cheer it with a rustic lay.
--She had a weighty charge, I ween,
To keep my Lady's lap-dog clean;
For none but her dare comb a lock,
Or wash the silky coat of Shock.
--When sorrow, or disease, or pain
Did 'mong the neighb'ring poor complain,
The little Almoner was seen
Tripping, in haste, across the Green;
To learn what might the history be
That ask'd her Lady's charity;
Whose feeling heart ne'er fail'd to grant
What ev'ry kind of woe might want;
And all agreed that little Sue
Wish'd to have nothing else to do.
My Lady's pitying Angel she
Was nam'd by all the peasantry;
For she had been, at Sorrow's call,
A welcome Messenger to all.
--At length a comely woman grown
She was as Mrs. Susan known,
And now became th'attendant maid
Of those with whom she oft had play'd.
Still treated as an humble friend,
She did the Toilette's cares attend.
Susan, in all she had to do,
Was pleasing as in Little Sue.
--She now learn'd those mysterious arts
Which Fashion plies to conquer hearts:
She could arrange, in contrast due,
Each varying colour to the view;
And had attain'd the skill to place
The Ribbon, with superior grace,
To deck the Hat--t'adorn the Bonnet,
And fix the waving Plume upon it:
The Flounce's flow, its depth, its border,
And all the artful, gay disorder
Which studious Milliners possess,
To scatter Taste o'er female dress.
Since, she an Orphan girl and poor,
First pass'd the stately Mansion's door.
In ev'ry duty little Sue
Did all that she was bid to do.
In Kitchen, Laundry, Dairy she
Wore the blithe form of Industry:
Did through her daily work rejoice,
And chirrup with a chearful voice:
She too could spin, and knit, and sew,
And Village Scholarship she knew.
--The Pet of Kitchen, Parlour, Hall,
Thus little Sue was loved by all;
And many a chuck, beneath the chin,
Did the young Maid's affections win:
For she possess'd, devoid of art,
The feelings of a grateful heart.
--Of all the birds she was the guard,
And govern'd the whole poultry yard:
But she would sigh, when call'd, 'tis said,
To pick the chickens she had fed:
For many a tale or false or true,
Brought up a laugh 'gainst little Sue,
--When her young Misses sought the plain
To form a sprightly, sportive train,
She was call'd forth to join the play,
And cheer it with a rustic lay.
--She had a weighty charge, I ween,
To keep my Lady's lap-dog clean;
For none but her dare comb a lock,
Or wash the silky coat of Shock.
--When sorrow, or disease, or pain
Did 'mong the neighb'ring poor complain,
The little Almoner was seen
Tripping, in haste, across the Green;
To learn what might the history be
That ask'd her Lady's charity;
Whose feeling heart ne'er fail'd to grant
What ev'ry kind of woe might want;
And all agreed that little Sue
Wish'd to have nothing else to do.
My Lady's pitying Angel she
Was nam'd by all the peasantry;
For she had been, at Sorrow's call,
A welcome Messenger to all.
--At length a comely woman grown
She was as Mrs. Susan known,
And now became th'attendant maid
Of those with whom she oft had play'd.
Still treated as an humble friend,
She did the Toilette's cares attend.
Susan, in all she had to do,
Was pleasing as in Little Sue.
--She now learn'd those mysterious arts
Which Fashion plies to conquer hearts:
She could arrange, in contrast due,
Each varying colour to the view;
And had attain'd the skill to place
The Ribbon, with superior grace,
To deck the Hat--t'adorn the Bonnet,
And fix the waving Plume upon it:
The Flounce's flow, its depth, its border,
And all the artful, gay disorder
Which studious Milliners possess,
To scatter Taste o'er female dress.
Categories
Provenance
Searching "conque" and "heart" in HDIS (Poetry)
Date of Entry
02/09/2005
