Shades of those Belles whose reign began of yore, With George the Third's--and ended long before!-- Though in your daughters' daughters yet you thrive, [v] Burst from your lead, and be yourselves alive! Back to the Ball-room speed your spectred host, Fool's Paradise is dull to that you lost. [vi] No treacherous powder bids Conjecture quake; No stiff-starched stays make meddling fingers ache; [vii] 140 (Transferred to those ambiguous things that ape Goats in their visage, [15] women in their shape;) No damsel faints when rather closely pressed, But more caressing seems when most caressed; Superfluous Hartshorn, and reviving Salts, Both banished by the sovereign cordial "Waltz." Seductive Waltz!--though on thy native shore Even Werter's self proclaimed thee half a whore; Werter--to decent vice though much inclined, Yet warm, not wanton; dazzled, but not blind-- 150 Though gentle Genlis, [16] in her strife with Staël, Would even proscribe thee from a Paris ball; The fashion hails--from Countesses to Queens, And maids and valets waltz behind the scenes; Wide and more wide thy witching circle spreads, And turns--if nothing else--at least our _heads_; With thee even clumsy cits attempt to bounce, And cockney's practise what they can't pronounce. Gods! how the glorious theme my strain exalts, And Rhyme finds partner Rhyme in praise of "Waltz!" 160 Blest was the time Waltz chose for her _début_! The Court, the Regent, like herself were new; [17] New face for friends, for foes some new rewards; New ornaments for black-and royal Guards; [viii] New laws to hang the rogues that roared for bread; New coins (most new) [18] to follow those that fled; New victories--nor can we prize them less, Though Jenky [19] wonders at his own success; New wars, because the old succeed so well, That most survivors envy those who fell; 170 New mistresses--no, old--and yet 'tis true, Though they be _old_, the _thing_ is something new; Each new, quite new--(except some ancient tricks), [20] New white-sticks--gold-sticks--broom-sticks--_all new sticks_! With vests or ribands--decked alike in hue, New troopers strut, new turncoats blush in blue: So saith the Muse: my----, [21] what say you? Such was the time when Waltz might best maintain Her new preferments in this novel reign; Such was the time, nor ever yet was such; 180 Hoops are _ more_, and petticoats _not much_; Morals and Minuets, Virtue and her stays, And tell-tale powder--all have had their days. The Ball begins--the honours of the house First duly done by daughter or by spouse, Some Potentate--or royal or serene-- With Kent's gay grace, or sapient Gloster's mien, [ix] Leads forth the ready dame, whose rising flush Might once have been mistaken for a blush.