A LAY OF LEAP YEAR.

BACHELORS who hold it true “Misfortunes never single come,”
And, dreading Ill-Luck’s knocks, believe that troubles with the ring’ll come;
“Tis Leap Year now! Your liberty is threatened, so take care of it,
Or some young girls will marry you, before you are aware of it;
Both doors and windows bar, for out you not to show your nose’ll date,
Unless you would the risk of some fair damsel’s fond proposal dare.

Leap Year, to the ladies
Sovereign power conveyed is
Over question men alone propounded heretofore!
Eyeing, sighing,
Sueing, wooing,
Bowing, vowing,
Clipping, lipping,
Pining, whining
Compliments a score: -

For, although it scarce seems proper, yet the fair sex is the popper
Of the matrimonial question, in the Leap year, Sixty-four.
Peelers, fascinating men, now scarce along their beat’ll get,
Because so many offers they from cooks all down the street’ll get;
The Guards will have to shun the parks, lest charmers from the nursery
Should claim the license granted them on each fourth anniversary;
While Thomas, who’s mid footmen known unrivalled for his calves to be,
May find that his young missusses all wish his better halves to be.

Leap Year, &c.

And single clerks, to offices who early in the morning go,
Through Regent-street and Oxford-street, must not without a warning go;
But, seeing in shop-windows beauties wares engaged in setting out,
Should bless their stars the good plate-glass prevents the dears from getting out,
From, down upon their knee’s before them, falling on the paving-stones,
To woo them in their sweetest (to make sure of their enslavings) tones!

Leap Year, &c.

So, bachelors be on your guard! Forewarned now in my rhymes are are,
That Leap Year in ascendant is, and fall’n on ticklish times you are;
I’ve pointed out the silken fetters crafty Cupid forges you,
And, after that, if any fair inveigles to St. George’s you,
Despite the wise monitions that I’ve given in this ditty, you
Must take your chance; but don’t expect that any one will pity you!

Leap Year, &c.

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