THE BOROUGH. LETTER XV. INHABITANTS OF THE ALMS-HOUSE. CLELIA. She early found herself mistress of herself. All she did was right: all she said was admired. Early, very early, did she dismiss blushes from her cheek: she could not blush because she could not doubt: and silence, whatever was her subject, was as much a stranger to her as diffidence. RICHARDSON. Quo fugit Venus? heu! Quove color? decens Quo motus? Quid habes illius, illius, Quæ spirabat amores, Quæ me surpuerat mihi?-HORAT. lib. iv. od. 18. Her lively and pleasant Manners-Her Reading and Decision Her Intercourse with different Classes of Society - Her Kind of Character The favoured Lover- Her Management of him: his of her - After one Period, Clelia with an Attorney: her Manner and Situation there- Another such Period, when her Fortune still declines Mistress of an Inn A Widow Another such Interval: she becomes poor and infirm, but still vain and frivolous- The fallen Vanity - 247 THE BOROUGH. LETTER XV. CLELIA. (1) We had a sprightly nymph-in every town Are some such sprights, who wander up and down; She had her useful arts, and could contrive, In Time's despite, to stay at twenty-five ;"Here will I rest; move on, thou lying year, "This is mine age, and I will rest me here." Arch was her look, and she had pleasant ways Your good opinion of her heart to raise ; Her speech was lively, and with ease express'd, And well she judged the tempers she address'd : If some soft stripling had her keenness felt, She knew the way to make his anger melt; Wit was allow'd her, though but few could bring Direct example of a witty thing; (1) [Clelia, like Blaney, is a strong resemblance of an individual known to Mr. Crabbe in early life. She has been dead nearly half a century; but, having relatives, it would be wrong to be more particular.] 'Twas that gay, pleasant, smart, engaging speech, Novels and plays, with poems old and new, She with the London stage familiar grew, And every actor's name and merit knew ; She told how this or that their part mistook, And of the rival Romeos gave the look; Of either house 'twas hers the strength to see, Then judge with candour-“Drury Lane for me.” What made this knowledge, what this skill comA fortnight's visit in Whitechapel Street. [plete? Her place in life was rich and poor between, With those a favourite, and with these a queen; She could her parts assume, and condescend To friends more humble while an humble friend; And thus a welcome, lively guest could pass, Threading her pleasant way from class to class. "Her reputation ?"-That was like her wit, And seem'd her manner and her state to fit; Something there was, what, none presumed to say, Clouds lightly passing on a smiling day,Whispers and hints which went from ear to ear, And mix'd reports no judge on earth could clear. But of each sex a friendly number press'd To joyous banquets this alluring guest: There, if indulging mirth, and freed from awe, If pleasing all, and pleased with all she saw, |