Calais and Dover
Introduction by Hester Thrale
The Verses I left at the opposite Inns of Calais & Dover1 have been picked up & printed in the Newspapers—
Written by Hester Lynch Thrale.Calais
Over Mountains, Rivers, Valleys,
Here are we return’d to Calais;
After all their Taunts and Malice,
Entering safe the Gates of Calais:
While constrain’d our Captain dallies
Waiting for a Wind at Calais,
Wandring Muse! prepare some Sallies
To divert Ennui at Calais.—
Turkish Ships, Venetian Gallies
Have We seen since last at Calais,
Yet tho' Hogarth—Rogue who raillies
Ridicules the French at Calais,
We who have walked o’er many a Palace
Quite well content return to Calais:
For striking honestly the Tallies
There's little Choice ‘twixt them and Calais.Dover
He who fair Winds have wafted over,
First hail his native Land at Dover;
And doubts not but he shall discover
Pleasure in ev’ry Path round Dover:
Envies the happy Crows that hover
About old Shakespear’s Cliff at Dover,
Nor once reflects that each young Rover
Feels just the same return’d to Dover.
From this fond Dream he'll soon recover
When Debts shall drive him back to Dover,
Hoping tho’ poor to live in Clover
Once safely pass’d the Streights of Dover.
But he alone's his Country’s Lover
Who absent long, returns to Dover;
And can by fair Experience prove her
The best he has found since last at Dover.
Thraliana entry dated 21 May 1787. 1 = Calais and Dover are interconnecting sea ports between France and England. Hester Thrale's spelling, grammar and capitalisation, some of which may not conform to today's standards, are reproduced faithfully throughout.
