Britain
in winter only knows its Aid,
To guard from chilly Show’rs the walking Maid.
But, O! forget not, Muse, the Patten’s Praise,forget not, Muse, the Patten’s Praise: ironic reverence for ordinary footwear.
That female Implement shall grace thy Lays:
Say, from what Art Divine th’ Invention came,
And from its Origine deduce the Name.
Where
LincolnLincoln: a district situated to the north of the Fens, a large area of wetlands.
wide extends her fenny Soil,
An Episode of the Invention of Pattens.
A goodly YeomanYeoman: a man with a small estate in land; who perhaps also is a farmer and farms his land; a
gentleman farmer.
liv’d grown white with Toil;
One only Daughter blest his nuptial Bed,
Who from her infant Hand the Poultry fed:
Martha
(her careful Mother’s Name) she bore,
But now her careful Mother was no more.
Whilst on her Father’s Knee the Damsel play’d,
PattyPatty: an ignoble nickname based on the pattens.
he fondly called the smiling Maid;
As Years increas’d, her ruddyruddy: a rosy complexion.
Beauty grew,
And Patty’s Fame o’er all the Village flew.
4
Soon
Soon as the blushing Morning warms the Skies,
And in the doubtful Daydoubtful Day: early; it is still too dark to see well. the WoodcockWoodcock: a migratory bird with a long bill easily captured in a snare or net. “It is a word ludicrously used for a dunce,” according to Johnson. Here, it is appropriate as a reference to gullibility or folly.
flies,
Her cleanly Pail the pretty Huswife bears,
And singing to the distant Field repairs:
And when the Plains with ev’ning Dews are spread,
The milky BurthenBurthen: or Burden is a heavy load.
smokes upon her Head.
Deep, thro’ a miry Lane she pick’d her Way,
Above her Ankle rose the chalky Clay.
Vulcan,Vulcan: the mythological Roman god of fire,
metalworking, and the forge.
by chance the bloomy Maiden spies,
With Innocence and Beauty in her Eyes,
He saw, he lov’d; for yet he ne’er had known
Sweet Innocence and Beauty meet in One.
Ah
Mulciber!Mulciber: an alternate name for the Roman god Vulcan. recall thy
nuptial Vows, ’
Think on the Graces of thy PaphianPaphian: adjective referring to the goddess Aphrodite, known also as the Roman goddess Venus,
who is a Greek goddess of love, lust, beauty, pleasure, passion, procreation, and sex.
Spouse,
Think how her Eyes dart inexhausted Charms,
And canst thou leave her Bed for
Patty’s Arms?
The