The Granny Grey, a Love Tale
DAME DOWSON, was a granny grey, Who, three score years and ten, Had pass’d her busy hours away, In talking of the Men ! They were her theme, at home, abroad, At wake, and by the winter fire, Whether it froze, or blew, or thaw’d, In sunshine or in shade, her ire Was never calm’d; for still she made Scandal her pleasure--and her trade! A Grand-daughter DAME DOWSON had-- As fair, as fair could be! Lovely enough to make Men mad; For, on her cheek’s soft downy rose LOVE seem’d in dimples to repose; Her clear blue eyes look’d mildly bright Like ether drops of liquid light, Or sapphire gems,--which VENUS bore, When, for the silver-sanded shore, She left her native Sea! ANNETTA, was the damsel’s name; A pretty, soft, romantic sound; Such as a lover’s heart may wound; And set his fancy in a flame: For had the maid been christen’d JOAN, Or DEBORAH, or HESTER,-- The little God had coldly prest her, Or, let her quite alone! For magic is the silver sound-- Which, often, in a NAME is found! ANNETTA was belov’d; and She To WILLIAM gave her vows; For WILLIAM was as brave a Youth, As ever claim’d the meed of truth, And, to reward such constancy, Nature that meed allows. But Old DAME DOWSON could not bear A Youth so brave--a Maid so fair. The GRANNY GREY, with maxims grave Oft to ANNETTA lessons gave: And still the burthen of the Tale Was, ”Keep the wicked Men away, ”For should their wily arts prevail ”You’ll surely rue the day!” And credit was to GRANNY due, The truth, she, by EXPERIENCE, knew! ANNETTA blush’d, and promis’d She Obedient to her will would be. But Love, with cunning all his own, Would never let the Maid alone: And though she dar’d not see her Lover, Lest GRANNY should the deed discover, She, for a woman’s weapon, still, From CUPID’S pinion pluck’d a quill: And, with it, prov’d that human art Cannot confine the Female Heart. At length, an assignation She With WILLIAM slily made, It was beneath an old Oak Tree, Whose widely spreading shade The Moon’s soft beams contriv’d to break For many a Village Lover’s sake. But Envy has a Lynx’s eye And GRANNY DOWSON cautious went Before, to spoil their merriment, Thinking no creature nigh. Young WILLIAM came; but at the tree The watchful GRANDAM found! Straight to the Village hasten’d he And summoning his neighbours round, The Hedgerow’s tangled boughs among, Conceal’d the list’ning wond’ring throng. He told them that, for many a night, An OLD GREY OWL was heard; A fierce, ill-omen’d, crabbed Bird-- Who fill’d the village with affright. He swore this Bird was large and keen, With claws of fire, and eye-balls green; That nothing rested, where she came; That many pranks the monster play’d, And many a timid trembling Maid She brought to shame For negligence, that was her own; Turning the milk to water, clear, And spilling from the cask, small-beer; Pinching, like fairies, harmless lasses, And shewing Imps, in looking-glasses; Or, with heart-piercing groan, Along the church-yard path, swift gliding, Or, on a broomstick, witchlike, riding. All listen’d trembling; For the Tale Made cheeks of Oker, chalky pale; The young a valiant doubt pretended; The old believ’d, and all attended. Now to DAME DOWSON he repairs And in his arms, enfolds the Granny: Kneels at her feet, and fondly swears He will be true as any ! Caresses her with well feign’d bliss And, fearfully , implores a Kiss-- On the green turf distracted lying , He wastes his ardent breath, in sighing. The DAME was silent; for the Lover Would, when she spoke, She fear’d, discover Her envious joke: And she was too much charm’d to be In haste,--to end the Comedy! Now WILLIAM, weary of such wooing, Began, with all his might, hollooing:-- When suddenly from ev’ry bush The eager throngs impatient rush; With shouting, and with boist’rous glee DAME DOWSON they pursue, And from the broad Oak’s canopy, O’er moonlight fields of sparkling dew, They bear in triumph the Old DAME, Bawling, with loud Huzza’s, her name; ”A witch, a witch !” the people cry, ”A witch !” the echoing hills reply: ’Till to her home the GRANNY came, Where, to confirm the tale of shame, Each rising day they went, in throngs, With ribbald jests, and sportive songs, ’Till GRANNY of her spleen, repented; And to young WILLIAM’S ardent pray’r, To take, for life, ANNETTA fair,-- At last ,--CONSENTED. And should this TALE, fall in the way Of LOVERS CROSS’D, or GRANNIES GREY,-- Let them confess, ’tis made to prove-- The wisest heads ,--TOO WEAK FOR LOVE!
Mary Robinson’s other poems:
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