Hester Lynch SALUSBURY

I was intimate when about fourteen with a Young Lady then very eminent for Beauty and in the full Bloom of it; She was 18. in short it was Fanny Wynne¹ who for Admirers counted every Man She saw almost & justly too. on the 1^st of April 1758 therefore I got a new neat large Bandbox and writing the following Verses upon a Sheet of Gilt Paper laid it in the Box, then tying the Box up nicely with red Tape & sending it directed to Miss Wynne by a Chairman I fancied myself the most cunning of Mortals: I kept my own Counsel as it is called, & when She repeated the Lines to me for I soon followed my Bandbox, did not give her the least hint that they were mine—She never knew it to this Hour here are the Verses.

With the Simple ’tis a Rule
Once a Year to make a Fool;
And Horace’ Self as well you know
Loves to fool it—a prospòs.
Oh then how great my Wisdom’s Fame
When I shew fair Fannia’s Name !
Fannia! by the Gods design'd
To make a Fool of half Mankind.
Glory of her Ancient Race,
Envy of Each beauteous Face !
Happy he who once a Year
Can make a Fool of such a Fair
But the happiest Lot will fall
To him who fools her—once for all.

                Corydon.

Footnotes

1. Later Mrs Henry Soamme.↩︎