Paired verses with Fanny Burney

Posted 14 September 2009 - 10:34pm by David Thrale

Hester Lynch Thrale: by Henry MeyerHester Lynch Thrale: by Henry MeyerThe fourth volume of the Thraliana has Bartolozzi’s engraving of Johnson’s head pasted inside its front cover, and two small disks of paper, pasted side by side on the first fly-leaf, minutely inscribed, in the respective hands of Fanny Burney and Mrs. Thrale, with the following verses.

1. ’Soon as I saw those beaut’ous Eyes
They play’d a roguish part;
You first enthralled me by surprise,
Then robb’d me of my Heart.

Since now you fairly boast of two,
Disputing were in vain;
Render to me your own in lieu
Or give me mine again.

’If not though you’re by all confess’d
A masterpiece of Nature,
I’ll paint you to the World at best
A double-Hearted Creature.

F.B.’

2. ’This Tale a Sibyl Nurse ared,
She softly stroked my youngling Head
And when the Tale was done;
Thus some are born my Son, She cries
With base Impediments to rise
And some are born with none.

’But virtue can herself advance
To what the fav’rite fools of Chance
By Fortune seem’d designed;
Virtue can gain the odds of Fate
And from herself shake off the Weight
Upon th’unworthy Mind.’

Thraliana entry dated 1 February 1781.

Hester Thrale's spelling, grammar, punctuation and capitalisation, some of which may not conform to today's standards, are reproduced faithfully throughout. More writings by her »