ABSTRACT
[…] Ere blooming Mira left her humble home, Or ever dreamed from native bower to roam, Then every Sunday decked in best array, Prayer-book in hand, to Church she tripped away; Smiled, as she caught each young admirer’s stare, 5 And read their eyes more deeply than the prayer. Full many a dashing clerk had sighed his pain, Full many a spruce apprentice owned her reign: At home – her samplers ranged in order fair, And counterpanes of patch-work, proved her care; 10 Her younger brother’s shirts, so neatly made, So neatly marked, her industry betrayed; While smiling Guests declared her tarts and pies, Confessed her skill, and claimed the housewife’s prize. Such was fair Mira – when an Uncle came, 15 Rich as a Nabob – fraught with wealth and fame, Fresh from the East; and then her heart was fired, The dream of Indian pomp her soul inspired: Nor long her wishes vain – her Uncle’s care Bade his loved niece some masters’ lessons share; 20 Till soon, how changed in every art to please! She painted skies all blue, and bright green trees; 146Could rattle, ‘Ah vous dirai-je’8 with an air, And dressed in newest, gayest ‘style of Hair!’ Thus all accomplished, next o’er seas conveyed, 25 Mid gay Calcutta’s scenes, appeared the maid, Where, first attacks of fierce Musquitos o’er, The damsel learned to prize her Beauty’s power; And ere one year could steal upon her charms, A wealthy suitor gained her to his arms! 30 Now see glad Mira – blest in wish of pride, The fair one’s envy – and a Judge’s bride! She, who once passed each hackney-coaches’ stand, And sighed in vain, – hath chariots at command; She, to whom frock of chintz gave happiness, 35 Now shines in lace, and scorns a humbler dress; With crowds of vain admirers at her sway, Mid listless elegance consumes the day; To think of once-dear Friends can never deign, And lives the gayest of Calcutta’s train. 40 But mark fair Stella – ornament of worth! Of milder manners – tho’ of prouder birth; In her the Lady – Sister – Friend combine, In her the Wife’s more moral virtues shine; How bright the welcome of her sparkling eye, 45 How kind her greeting in Society! And (blest the truth!) that where a Mira’s seen, A Stella yet can deck our Indian scene. Virginia sees a spark in every swain, Sighs oft for Marriage, and may sigh in vain, 50 The hated name of Miss – would still remove, And throws dear looks in languishment of love! And yet when first the Maiden’s charms appeared, To what a height her Marriage-views were reared, Twas then, indeed – ‘the wonder of her life, 55 How paltry Subalterns could keep a wife! It seemed quite strange, that foolish girls could bend Their thoughts so vilely low, – and condescend To marry, where perhaps a Palankeen, Or Buggy9 at the best, might chance be seen.’ 60 These thoughts of Grandeur lasted for a year, No suitor came – no husband would appear; 147And now alas! when year on year creeps by, And still Virginia breathes th’ unechoed sigh, Fain would the Fair, her former views forget, 65 And condescend to – catch at a Cadet! Precedence is Superba’s dear delight, Her busy thought by day – her dream by night; But see Superba plunged in saddest tears! Is fair Superba ill? – nay cease your fears; 70 The Lady only weeps, and sobs to see Honoria married to a rich C. B.;10 And, – death to think – dire incident of woe! ‘That thing Honoria! takes precedence now!’ Senessa – still as blooming damsel gay, 75 Intent to catch each Fashion of the day, Hath scarce a thought, beyond some newer dress, Or varied robe, her dear loved form to bless: How happy fly her busy morning-hours, At Smith’s – Balmanno’s11 millinery bowers, 80 Each Europe-letter that arrives, displays Some novel Fashion’s pattern, and its praise: No matter then – the season, be it hot, The mode, unsuiting to our sultry spot, Still in that dress she decks her fainting frame! 85 French hats and bonnets now her fancy claim, And now young Beauty’s style attracts her care, Its sylphid dress, that floats upon the air, Its arms of snowy white, to view displayed, Its shape in Houris’ loveliness betrayed: 90 Senessa sees – and thinks her form might prove Alike the semblance of aerial love! She gives to view her long and shrivelled arms, Her shortened robe each gazer’s eye alarms; Till all be-dizened forth, to woo the sight, 95 What is Senessa then? – a worse than fright! Olivia is so delicate, her sigh Betrays the helplessness of infancy; So lifeless, and alas! her nerves so weak, She scarcely can respire! to hear her speak, 100 You think it is the whisper of some breeze Wooing the trembling foliage of the trees; ‘The punkah is too much, – then heat o’erpowers – Oh vile, vile hookah! pest of social hours!’ How languishing she looks; can such a form 105 Withstand the least approach of earthly storm? And yet Olivia hath a babe each year, – 148Each day unseen – a bottle of strong beer! Metissa too is mild; mid circling friends, The softest languor every look attends; 110 No angry glance e’er glistens from her eye, No inward passion can her words imply. One fatal day, she dreamed no step was near, No guest at hand, to lend a listening ear. Ah me! she gave a loose to angry tongue 115 A wild alarum in her chamber rung! Her Ayah she chided, scolded, beat, abused, And frantic ire her angel-face suffused. Good heav’ns – what language! if Metissa guessed One half the meaning, her abuse expressed, 120 She’d shrink in shame, and inly conscious pain, And never dare an Eastern term again. Laura is lovely as the breathing morn, While yet the sun’s young tints the East adorn, Image of sweetest delicacy’s flower, 125 At every period – save the Tiffen-hour;12 And why not then? – nay prithee, cease to ask, For how unpleasing is the poet’s task, To paint at such an hour a pouting lip, Where late the fancy seemed but Love to sip, 130 Now all besmeared with Curry – hideous fright! We turn in terror from the fearful sight. Where is the eye, so blind to every charm, That hath not gazed on Aramantha’s arm? Who hath not said – ‘May such an arm as this 135 Wreathe round my form, in some lone hour of bliss!’ – And yet that arm can lose its power to please, Its fairness vanish, – and its beauty cease, When, half-dismay’d, within her grasp we see The Hookah’s monstrous snake held fearlessly: 140 That type of eastern Luxury’s excess, – Emblem of aught, but female Loveliness. When proud Cecilia condescends to play, What seraph sounds allure the soul away: How sweet, to catch the magic of her song, 145 While o’er her seat, the breathless listeners throng! But then alas! how sad to view the maid, In all the consciousness of Pride arrayed Which, ’mid its affectation, seems to say, ‘Thus for applause, my sanctioned due, I play.’ 150 Unwise Cecilia learn the better part – 149To please the Ear, and yet secure the Heart: Would you for ever charm the fleeting hour, Prove but the wish to please, nor boast the power. Ah me! – if women knew their faultless worth, 155 When modest grace can draw each beauty forth; When unaffected softness seems to bless, And brightens still the charm of loveliness: When Pride repels not, and no lure betrays, But unreserve to all its ease conveys: – 160 Silenced were then the Satirist’s complaint, Fled were the faults, that social pleasure taint. The heartless Poet, – deaf to Beauty’s sigh, Durst not to Woman Character deny;13 And Bards, too full of heart in every theme, 165 In every Fair would realise their dream!
