Unluckily, a neighbour’s prying eyes
          Beheld their playful pranks with great surprise,
          She, from her window, could the scene o’erlook;
          When this the fond gallant observ’d, he shook;
          Said he, by heav’ns! our frolicking is seen,
          By that old haggard, envious, prying quean;
          But do not heed it; instantly he chose
          To run and wake his wife, who quickly rose;—­
          So much the dame he fondl’d and caress’d,
          The garden walk she took at his request,
          To have a nosegay, where he play’d anew
          Pranks just the same as those of recent view,
          Which highly gratified our lady fair,
          Who felt dispos’d, and would at eve repair,
          To her good neighbour, whom she bursting found,
          With what she’d seen that morn upon the ground.

          Theusual greetings o’er, our envious dame,
          With scowling brow exclaim’d,—­my dear, your fame,
          I love too much not fully to detail,
          What I have witnessed, and with truth bewail;
          Will you continue, in your house to keep
          A girl, whose conduct almost makes me weep? 
          Anon I’d kick her from your house, I say;
          The strumpet should not stay another day. 
          The wife replied, you surely are deceiv’d;
          An honest, virtuous creature she’s believ’d. 
          Well, I can easily, my friend, suppose,
          Rejoin’d the neighbour, whence this favour flows;
          But look about, and be convinc’d, this morn
          From my own window (true as you are born,)
          Within the garden I your husband spi’d
          And presently the servant girl I ey’d;
          At one another various flow’rs they threw,
          And then the minx a little graver grew. 
          I understand you, cried the list’ning fair;
          You are deceiv’d:—­myself alone was there.

Neighbour

But patience, if you please:  attend I pray
You’ve no conception what I meant to say: 
The playful fair was actively employ’d,
In plucking am’rous flow’rs—­they kiss’d and toy’d.

Wife

’Twas clearly I, howe’er, for her you took.

Neighbour

The flow’rs for bosoms quickly they forsook;
Large handfuls frequently they seem’d to grasp,
And ev’ry beauty in its turn to clasp.

Wife

But still, why think you, friend, it was not I? 
Has not your spouse with you a right to try
What freaks he likes?

Neighbour

But then, upon the ground
This girl was thrown, and never cried nor frown’d;
You laugh.—­

Wife

Indeed I do, ’twas myself.

Neighbour

A flannel petticoat display’d