The second morn of May

Introduction by Hester Thrale

I never disputed with my Husband in my Life, but to save my Wood in Wales1 from being cut down as Mr Thrale apparently intended to do: after about a Week’s Intreaties, Tears, and Sullens on my part, he promised me their Lives; and the next Morning I shewed him and Johnson, (who had helped me fight for them) the following Verses: they are written in Imitation of a Triolet commended by Ménage and called Le Roy des Triolets—here is the Original & the Imitation.

Original verses

Le premier Jour du Mois de Mai
Fut le plus heureux de ma Vie:
Le beau Dessein que Je formai
Le premier Jour du Mois de Mai !
Je vous vu, et vous aimai,
Et ce Dessein vous plût Sylvie:
Le premier Jour du Mois de Mai
Fût le plus heureux de ma Vie.

Hester’s imitation verses

T’was the second Morn of May!
That my fairest Day begun;
I shall make a Triolet
On this second Mom of May;
Since t’was on that happy Day
Favour for my Woods I won;
T’was the second Morn of May
That my fairest Day begun.—

Written by Hester Lynch Thrale. May 1777.
Published in Thraliana entry dated December 1777. 1 = Hester’s victory was short-lived, the wood in Bachgraig was eventually cut down by her husband to raise income of £4,000. Hester Thrale's spelling, grammar and capitalisation, some of which may not conform to today's standards, are reproduced faithfully throughout.