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> [!SUMMARY]
> [[Hester Maria Thrale]] (Queeney)’s and [[Hester Thrale née Salusbury]]'s first verses aged 12.
## Queeney's first verses
> [!QUOTE] Introductory commentary by [[Hester Thrale née Salusbury|Hester Thrale]]
> I will write down her[^1] first Attempt at Verses, & have done; She will be thirteen next September, and then they will be no Rareties; if I had not thought these past Specimens of her Wit tolerable in themselves I would not have inserted them—but _[Burke](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Burke)_ would have given a Crown apiece for the Quibbles, and as for the insolent Speeches they are very happy ones let who would have said them. The Verses are a Song from [Metastasio](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metastasio).
When the Rivers haughty Wave
Breaks from forth its wonted Bed;
Scarce th’affrighted Swain can save
From the Stream his little Shed.
Though he stop one open Shore
Were the Currents swiftly glide,
At a hundred Places more
Rushes the victorious Tide. ——
## Hester's first verses
> [!QUOTE] Commentary by [[Hester Thrale née Salusbury|Hester Thrale]] on verses by her aged 12.
These Verses of hers at twelve and a half are better than my own Translation of the Spanish Sonnet in the Novel of the Curious Impertinent[^2] done at thirteen, as for Example:
>
> > Since frail Woman’s made of Glass
> Can my friend be such an Ass
> To use brittle Ware like Brass?
> Knowing what may come to pass.
> Why hazard the Jewel you might defend?
> Why strive to ruin what none can mend?
> Why pine with needless Pain?
> When Generous Jove on Danae pours
> Resistless Love in Golden show’rs
> He shall not sigh in vain.
It is my Opinion they are likewise better than what follows from the Spanish of [Quevedo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francisco_de_Quevedo)—it was a Task I remember, & done [invita](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/invita) [Minerva](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Minerva) in the year 1758.—these however are quite litteral
> Old [Orpheus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orpheus) lost his Wife one Day
> Where should he seek her but in Hell!
> The likeliest Place to find one’s Wife
> As honest Orpheus knew full well.
> Singing he sought her all the Way
> And could it surpass your Belief,
> Had he sung on from Morning till Night
> At the Thoughts of so sweet a Relief.
> The Beasts that still crowded around
> His Voice and Intent to admire;
> Much wonder’d his Skill he’d employ
> To fetch his Wife out of the Fire.
> Pluto too though he gave him his Wife
> Thought his Song so uncommonly clever;
> That in Friendship he dropt him a hint
> How he surely might lose her forever.
> T’was therefore that as they return’d
> And fancying She stopt on the Road;
> He turn’d round at this lucky Excuse
> Miss’d his Wife and continued his Road.
> Thrice happy old Orpheus say I
> For to bury two Wives is not new;
> But twice to get quit of the same
> Is a Pleasure experienc’d by few.
## See also
![[hester-maria-thrale-1764-1857🔎#^hester-maria-thrale-infoblock]]![[hester-lynch-thrale-1741-1821🔎#^hester-lynch-thrale-infoblock]]
#history/person/THRALE/hester-maria-born-1764
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[^1]: Eldest child, [[Hester Maria Thrale]] - Queeney.
[^2]: In [Miguel de Cervantes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miguel_de_Cervantes)'s novel _Don Quixote_, the interpolated novella _The Curious Impertinent_ features a Spanish sonnet recited by the character Anselmo. The sonnet, which is not given a title in the novel, is a meditation on love and desire, and it has been the subject of much critical discussion.