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Poem
July 5, 1836
Richmond Enquirer
Richmond, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
Humorous satirical poem by Mrs. Aedy in which a sister lists impossible qualifications for a new governess, offering low pay, and her brother replies that he would marry such a paragon rather than hire her as governess.
Clipping
OCR Quality
75%
Good
Full Text
POETRY.
"XCCH rET sEMAINS exIxG."
(From the London Metropolitan, for May.)
A GOVERNESS WANTED.
BY MRS. AEDY.
"Our governess left us, dear brother,
Will you kindly look out for another?
Last night, in a strange fit of pique,
But I'll give you a few plain credentials,
We want her at latest next week:
Take a pen—just set down the particulars,
The bargain with need to complete;
With care and modest decision,
And begin it at top of the sheet!
She must understand French with precision,
She ever must more, not, and speak,
She must play the piano divinely,
Italian, and Latin, and Greek:
Do all sorts of needlework finely,
Excel on the harp; and the lute,
And make feather-flowers and wax-fruit.
She must answer all queries directly,
Paint in oil, sketch from nature correctly,
And all sciences well understand,
She must sing with power, science, and concise,
And write German text, and short-hand:
Yet her concerns must not sigh at all.
She must dance with ethereal sweetness,
Yet never must go to a ball.
She must not have needy relations,
Her discourse must abound in quotations,
Her dress must be tasteful, yet plain,
She must point out each author's chief beauties,
In her memory all dates must retain;
Her pleasures must lie in her duties,
She must manage all nature with skill.
She must never be nervous or ill:
If she write essays, odes, themes, and sonnets,
If she wear none but drop cottage bonnets,
Yet be not pedantic or pert,
If to wildness she add sense and spirit,
If she keep a high tone to her fort,
Engage her at once without fear,
I love to reward modest merit,
And I give—thirty guineas a-year!"
"I accept, my dear sister, your mission,
Tomorrow my search I'll begin,
In all circles, in every condition,
I'll strive such a treasure to win;
And if, after years of probation,
My eyes on this wonder should rest,
I'll engage her without hesitation,
But not on the terms you suggest.
Of a bride I have ne'er made reflection,
On an object so near to perfection.
For my bachelor thoughts would still dwell
Now this list that you kindly have granted,
That I blush half my fancies to tell;
But just blot out—'A Governess Wanted:
I'll quote so refer to through it.
And head it with—'Wanted Wife!'"
"XCCH rET sEMAINS exIxG."
(From the London Metropolitan, for May.)
A GOVERNESS WANTED.
BY MRS. AEDY.
"Our governess left us, dear brother,
Will you kindly look out for another?
Last night, in a strange fit of pique,
But I'll give you a few plain credentials,
We want her at latest next week:
Take a pen—just set down the particulars,
The bargain with need to complete;
With care and modest decision,
And begin it at top of the sheet!
She must understand French with precision,
She ever must more, not, and speak,
She must play the piano divinely,
Italian, and Latin, and Greek:
Do all sorts of needlework finely,
Excel on the harp; and the lute,
And make feather-flowers and wax-fruit.
She must answer all queries directly,
Paint in oil, sketch from nature correctly,
And all sciences well understand,
She must sing with power, science, and concise,
And write German text, and short-hand:
Yet her concerns must not sigh at all.
She must dance with ethereal sweetness,
Yet never must go to a ball.
She must not have needy relations,
Her discourse must abound in quotations,
Her dress must be tasteful, yet plain,
She must point out each author's chief beauties,
In her memory all dates must retain;
Her pleasures must lie in her duties,
She must manage all nature with skill.
She must never be nervous or ill:
If she write essays, odes, themes, and sonnets,
If she wear none but drop cottage bonnets,
Yet be not pedantic or pert,
If to wildness she add sense and spirit,
If she keep a high tone to her fort,
Engage her at once without fear,
I love to reward modest merit,
And I give—thirty guineas a-year!"
"I accept, my dear sister, your mission,
Tomorrow my search I'll begin,
In all circles, in every condition,
I'll strive such a treasure to win;
And if, after years of probation,
My eyes on this wonder should rest,
I'll engage her without hesitation,
But not on the terms you suggest.
Of a bride I have ne'er made reflection,
On an object so near to perfection.
For my bachelor thoughts would still dwell
Now this list that you kindly have granted,
That I blush half my fancies to tell;
But just blot out—'A Governess Wanted:
I'll quote so refer to through it.
And head it with—'Wanted Wife!'"
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Satire Society
What keywords are associated?
Governess Wanted
Impossible Qualifications
Satirical Poem
Sister Brother Dialogue
Marriage Proposal
What entities or persons were involved?
By Mrs. Aedy.
Poem Details
Title
A Governess Wanted
Author
By Mrs. Aedy.
Form / Style
Rhymed Verse Dialogue
Key Lines
She Must Understand French With Precision,
She Ever Must More, Not, And Speak,
She Must Play The Piano Divinely,
Italian, And Latin, And Greek:
Engage Her At Once Without Fear,
I Love To Reward Modest Merit,
And I Give—Thirty Guineas A Year!
But Just Blot Out—'A Governess Wanted:
I'll Quote So Refer To Through It.
And Head It With—'Wanted Wife!'