Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Poem
March 23, 1739
The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
A riddle in verse describing an entity seen in its initial state, pleasing above a sparkling eye in various colors, worthless when dead, intent on mischief at assemblies wrapped in billet-doux like ambushing armies, freed by day but imprisoned at night, guarding closed eyes in sleep to herald the new day, with a prideful sister sharing partnership for a crown.
Clipping
OCR Quality
92%
Excellent
Full Text
A RIDDLE.
W H O sees me in my first Estate
But, without Trouble, guess me straight
No One my Duty Can deny,
I please above a sparkling Eye;
I'm brown, or yellow, black, or red;
I'm worth no Money when I'm dead:
If to Assemblies I'm sent,
Still on some Mischief I'm bent
And, better to effect it too,
Am every Night before I go,
Wrapp'd up within a Billadeaux
( As Armies which in Ambush lie
To issue out to Victory. )
If for a Day I Freedom gain,
'Tis to be Prisoner made again
As Debtors from Confinement let,
Return at Night into the Fleet.
When Cebia's Eyes are Clos'd in Sleep;
O'er them I still my Station keep
And, like an Ev'ning Sun display
Th' Glories of the ensuing Day.
I have a Sister so like me,
You'd think we ne'r cou'd disagree;
And yet, alas! such is her Pride,
I never knew her on my Side;
Tho' it's no Wonder I must own,
Since both are Partners for a Crown.
W H O sees me in my first Estate
But, without Trouble, guess me straight
No One my Duty Can deny,
I please above a sparkling Eye;
I'm brown, or yellow, black, or red;
I'm worth no Money when I'm dead:
If to Assemblies I'm sent,
Still on some Mischief I'm bent
And, better to effect it too,
Am every Night before I go,
Wrapp'd up within a Billadeaux
( As Armies which in Ambush lie
To issue out to Victory. )
If for a Day I Freedom gain,
'Tis to be Prisoner made again
As Debtors from Confinement let,
Return at Night into the Fleet.
When Cebia's Eyes are Clos'd in Sleep;
O'er them I still my Station keep
And, like an Ev'ning Sun display
Th' Glories of the ensuing Day.
I have a Sister so like me,
You'd think we ne'r cou'd disagree;
And yet, alas! such is her Pride,
I never knew her on my Side;
Tho' it's no Wonder I must own,
Since both are Partners for a Crown.
What sub-type of article is it?
Riddle
What themes does it cover?
Love Courtship
Satire Society
What keywords are associated?
Riddle
Sparkling Eye
Assemblies
Mischief
Billet Doux
Sleep
Sister
Crown
Poem Details
Title
A Riddle.
Key Lines
W H O Sees Me In My First Estate
But, Without Trouble, Guess Me Straight
I Please Above A Sparkling Eye;
I'm Brown, Or Yellow, Black, Or Red;
I'm Worth No Money When I'm Dead:
If To Assemblies I'm Sent,
Still On Some Mischief I'm Bent
When Cebia's Eyes Are Clos'd In Sleep;
O'er Them I Still My Station Keep
I Have A Sister So Like Me,
You'd Think We Ne'r Cou'd Disagree;
...Since Both Are Partners For A Crown.