William Stanley Braithwaite, ed. The Book of Georgian Verse. 1909.
Elegy on Madam BlaizeOliver Goldsmith (17301774)
G
Lament for Madam Blaize,
Who never wanted a good word—
From those who spoke her praise.
And always found her kind;
She freely lent to all the poor—
Who left a pledge behind.
With manners wondrous winning;
And never follow’d wicked ways,
Unless when she was sinning.
With hoop of monstrous size,
She never slumber’d in her pew—
But when she shut her eyes.
By twenty beaux and more;
The king himself has follow’d her—
When she has walk’d before.
Her hangers-on cut short all;
The doctors found, when she was dead—
Her last disorder mortal.
For Kent Street well may say,
That, had she lived a twelvemonth more,—
She had not died to-day.