[Illustration: RICHARDSON’S. _Derby. Published for T Richardson._ NEW VALENTINE WRITER] RICHARDSON’S NEW _LONDON FASHIONABLE_ GENTLEMAN’S Valentine Writer OR, THE _LOVER’S OWN BOOK_ FOR THIS YEAR: Containing a very choice selection of _ORIGINAL AND POPULAR VALENTINES_, WITH _APPROPRIATE ANSWERS_. Love rules the court, the camp, the grove, And men below, and saints above; For love is heaven, and heaven is love. DERBY: THOMAS RICHARDSON; SIMPKIN AND MARSHALL, LONDON. THE _NEW LONDON FASHIONABLE_ _GENTLEMAN’S_ VALENTINE WRITER. FROM A GENTLEMAN. As I wander’d about ’tother day full of thought, With the subject of love I was very much caught; Whether best to live single, or best with a wife, I assure you within me was terrible strife. Thinks I to myself, one is stupid alone, And I’m sure I have read, “two is better than one;” So a wife I have fixed on, that wife shall be you, If it please you, and I will be constant and true. LADY’S ANSWER. “To be constant and true”--your promise is fair, And I with your lines am quite smit I declare; So I, at your word, take you, and send you this line, To say I rejoice to be your Valentine. FROM A YOUNG MAN NEARLY OUT OF HIS TIME, TO HIS FAVOURITE LADY. I have only a few months to serve, When I shall be out of my time; To keep thee I’ll strain every nerve, Devoting to thee all my prime. Then spite of relations and friends, Consent, my dear girl, to be mine; I’ll make for their loss great amends, If you’ll be my fond Valentine. ANSWER OF COMPLIANCE. That you promise fair, I confess, And shall not your offer decline; Indeed I want words to express, That you’re my approv’d Valentine. ANSWER OF REJECTION. You ought to have patience indeed, Until you’re in bus’ness awhile; For how do you know you’ll succeed, So many now fail in their toil? Then you’d be a bankrupt in love, If business began to decline; And, oh! what a burthen would prove Your hasty and rash Valentine! FROM A SERVANT TO HIS FAVOURITE LASS. Altho’ I have a charming place, Yet I’d that place resign, My dearest fair one to embrace, And be her Valentine.