No point but what he gained; the smiling dame
Resistance only showed to raise the flame;
Nor more nor less; each belle like art has got,
And practises at will, or maid or not.
Buttruly, it was never my intent
To
count each favour she to Reynold lent;
Particulars
exact of ev’ry kiss,
And
all the preludes incident to bliss;
Both,
doubtless, knew more ways than one to please;
And
sought, with anxious care, love’s charms to seize.
On
recollection of the wretched state
In
which our traveller had moved of late,
Some
favour was bestowed:—there, cried the dame,
Is
something to repay the road you came;
This
for the cold; that fear; there thieves disgraced;
So,
one by one, the whole was soon effaced.
In
this way to be paid for ills we meet,
Who’d
not be satisfied with boons so sweet?
And
we conclude, that Reynold on the spot,
Love’s
am’rous recompense of pleasures got.
Now
easy conversation was renewed;
Then
mutual kisses; ev’ry sweet pursued.
’Twas
time for bed; howe’er, the widow fair
Determined
that her own the spark should share;
’Twas
prudent, doubtless; like a lady wise;
Gallantly
done: one room would well suffice.
Whatfurther passed betwixt the pair that night;
I
cannot say, though we’ll believe ’twas
right;
Between
the clothes when laid, and unrestrained,
Most
clearly, Reynold all his wishes gained.
There
he was recompensed for ev’ry grief;
The
lady too, received so much relief,
That
she desired his company again,
But
still these visits secrets should remain;
’Twas
requisite the governor to see;
Howe’er
the dame delighted seemed to be,
And
not content with what she had bestowed,
A
purse well stored with gold to Reynold showed:
He
took no more, indeed, than what would pay
The
bare expenses on his homeward way;
Then
sought the street that to the tavern led,
Where
still his lazy servant was in bed;
The
fellow mauled; then changed throughout his dress;
Since
to the cloak-bag now he had access.
His
fortune to complete, that day they took
The
very wretches that he wished to hook.
He
to the judge repaired with ev’ry haste;
In
such a case you never time should waste;
For,
once the things are into court received,
’Tis
like the lion’s den: naught e’er ’s
retrieved;
Their
hands are closed, not ’gainst what may be brought
But
to secure what from their grasp is sought.
Who
seeks redress by law, facts oft have shown,
May
bless his stars if he but keep his own.