Rhymes of Northern Bards / Being a Curious Collection of Old and New Songs and Poems, Peculiar to the Counties of Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, and Durham

THE NEWCASTLE BEAUTIES.

J. J. Bell

These beauties must be now of some age, as they are unknown to the editor.

Designed to be sung to the Harpsicord or Spinet, &c.

Tho’ lofty bards sublimer sing,

And boldly tune their lays;

Not less renown attends the string,

Which sounds to beauty’s praise.

Ye muses then lend me your aid,

Whilst I attempt to prove,

That in Newcastle many a maid

Excells the queen of love.

II.

Ye bards, forbear your partial lays,

Ye who so lofty sing,

Nor longer only Venus praise,

But here your numbers bring.

No more shall blinded mortals pray,

Or bow before her shrine;

No more in Cyprus seek the bay,

But find it here on Tyne.

III.

First of yon throng, see Delia[18] shine,

That matchless nonpareil!

All eyes confess her form divine,

Such graces round her dwell.

Dame nature has herself outdone,

In that most beauteous fair,

And lavish’d all those charms on one,

Which thousands only share.

IV.

Next her, behold the lovely Cloe[19],

Ye gods! what killing eyes!

See how her charming ringlets flow,

Where wanton Cupid lies:

The rose, compar’d to her, shall fade,

The lily lose its white:

E’en Sol himself must own the maid,

And shine with beams less bright.

Thee, lovely Cynthia[20], next we sing,

Charm’d with thy beauteous face,

More blooming than the verdent spring,

Adorn’d with ev’ry grace;

Thy comely shape and genteel air,

Our admiration raise,

Thou stands confess’d a perfect fair,

And worthy all our praise.

VI.

Thy mien, sweet Daphne[21], next we view,

And as we view, approve;

Thy blooming charms all hearts subdue,

And kindle them to love:

Those charming breasts, and sparkling eyes,

What mortal can oppose?

Still as we gaze, new beauties rise,

And still the passion grows.

VII.

Gay Sylvia[22] next appears in sight,

Surrounded by her charms,

Her handsome form which shines so bright,

Each youthful bosom warms.

Ye youths withdraw your wishful eyes,

Nor longer on her gaze;

For were your hearts as cold as ice,

Her beams would make them blaze.

VIII.

Sweet Celia[23] next demands our care,

That lovely nut-brown maid!

Behold her charming flowing hair,

In jetty locks display’d:

She fills each bosom with desire,

So graceful is her mein;

Her comely features all admire,

Where thousand loves are seen.

IX.

See Flavia[24], the young, the gay,

For graceful air renown’d,

Her mien more bright than flow’ry May,

With ev’ry beauty crown’d.

Her beauteous sister[25] next appears,

Whom wond’rous charms adorn;

The lovely doe each bosom chears,

With beauties like the morn.

The next we view is Julia’s[26] face,

For comely features lov’d;

Her golden locks still add a grace,

To what all hearts approv’d.

Her friend no less inspires the lay,

The lovely DanÆ[27] fair,

To whom all tongues their praises pay,

Charm’d with her shape and air.

XI.

Thee, Phoebe[28], with Ophelia[29] join’d,

We can’t too much admire,

Your blooming charms, it must be own’d,

All hearts to love inspire.

To handsome Pat[30], and lovely Stell[31],

Our praises too belong;

These, who in various charms excel,

Close up the beauteous throng.

XII.

As now ador’d you pass your bloom,

Your autumn you may live;

Let me, ye beauteous fair, presume,

This one advice to give;

Virtue pursue—or vain ye’re bright,

“In vain your eyes may roll;

’Tis true that charms do strike the sight,

But merit wins the soul.”

[18] Miss P——y T——n.

[19] Miss H——le.

[20] Miss H——y.

[21] Miss B——p.

[22] Miss H——m.

[23] Miss S——s.

[24] Miss F——tt

[25] Miss F——tt.

[26] Miss H——h.

[27] Miss J—— B——ll.

[28] Miss P—— S——t.

[29] Miss L——s.

[30] Miss A——n.

[31] Miss M——y G——n.

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