Verses to absent Piozzi

Introduction by Hester Thrale

Gabriel Piozzi by George Dance

Gabriel Piozzi 1793 by George Dance

While Piozzi was gone to London worked at my Travel Book1 & wrote it in two Months complete. but ’tis all to correct & copy over again— While My Husband was away I wrote him these Lines he staid just a Fortnight.

I think I've worked exceeding hard
To finish fivescore pages;
I write you this upon a Card
In hopes you'll pay my Wages;
The Servants all get drunk and mad,
This Heat their Blood enrages;
But your Return will make me glad,
That Hope our pain asswages;
To shew more Kindness we defy
All Nations and all ages,
And quite prefer your Company,
To all the seven Sages:
Then hasten home, Oh Haste away!
And lengthen not your Stages;
We then will sing, and dance, & play
And quit a while our Cages.—

Written by Hester Lynch Thrale.
Thraliana entry dated 8 July 1788. 1= Observations and reflections made in the course of a Journey through France, Italy and Germany. Hester Thrale's spelling, grammar and capitalisation, some of which may not conform to today's standards, are reproduced faithfully throughout.