98
Tales.
Her darling child she pinch'd; he squall'd;
In haste the fav'rite footman 's call'd 80
To pacify the peevish chit,
For who but he could do the feat?
He, smarting sore, refus'd to play,
But bade man Thomas beat Mamma!
She, laughing, soon avow'd her flame 85
By various signs that want a name.
The lacky saw, with trembling joy,
Gay humour dancing in her eye,
And straight, with equal fury fir'd,
Began th' attack. The dame retir'd; 90
And haply falling as she fled,
He beat her till she lay for dead;
But (with new vigour for the strife)
Soon, with a sigh, return'd to life.
Think ye she 'd e'er forgive her son 95
For what the naughty man had done?
She did; yet, spited with his pain,
He sounds th' alarm to charge again.
But, 'squire, consult your potent ally
Whether he's yet prepar'd to rally—100
Yes; blood is hot on either side;
Another combat must be try'd.
She knew the foe could do no more
Than at the first attack she bore;
So at his little malice smil'd,
And cry'd, "Come on!—to please the child." 106
In haste the fav'rite footman 's call'd 80
To pacify the peevish chit,
For who but he could do the feat?
He, smarting sore, refus'd to play,
But bade man Thomas beat Mamma!
She, laughing, soon avow'd her flame 85
By various signs that want a name.
The lacky saw, with trembling joy,
Gay humour dancing in her eye,
And straight, with equal fury fir'd,
Began th' attack. The dame retir'd; 90
And haply falling as she fled,
He beat her till she lay for dead;
But (with new vigour for the strife)
Soon, with a sigh, return'd to life.
Think ye she 'd e'er forgive her son 95
For what the naughty man had done?
She did; yet, spited with his pain,
He sounds th' alarm to charge again.
But, 'squire, consult your potent ally
Whether he's yet prepar'd to rally—100
Yes; blood is hot on either side;
Another combat must be try'd.
She knew the foe could do no more
Than at the first attack she bore;
So at his little malice smil'd,
And cry'd, "Come on!—to please the child." 106
