WrittenforaGentlewomaninDistress.ToherGraceAdelida,DutchessofShrewsbury"The wife of Charles, first Duke of Shrewsbury, whom she married in 1705, Adelaide Paleotti was the widowed
daughter of the Marquess Paleotti of Bologna. [...] The Duchess was on excellent terms with Swift and
gave him his nickname 'Presto'."
(Tucker [1992], 211)
.MightIinquiretheReasonsofmyFate,OrwithmyMakerdareexpostulate;DidI,inprosp'rousDays,despisethePoor,OrdrivethefriendlessStrangerfrommyDoor?WasnotmySoulpour'doutfortheDistress'd?DidInotvindicatethePooroppress'd?DidnottheOrphan'sCrywithmeprevail?DidInotweeptheWoesIcouldnotheal?Whythen,Thougracious,Thouall-pow'rfulGod,WhydoIfeelth'Oppressor'sIronRod?WhythustheScornerscruelTauntsendure,WhobaselyfrettheWounds,theywillnotcure?OThou,whoseMercydoestoAllextend,Say,shallmySorrowsnever,never,end?LetnotmyTearsforever,fruitless,flow;CommiserateaWretch,o'erwhelm'dwithWoe;NolongerletDistressmyBosomtear:OshieldmefromtheHorrorsofDespair!Forgiveme,Madam,thatIthusimpartTheThrobs,theAnguish,ofabreakingHeart.Oft,whenmyweary'dEyescanweepnomore,TosoothmyWoes,IreadyourLetterso'er.Goodness,andWit,andHumour,thereIfind;AndviewwithJoythosePicturesofyourMind;WithPleasureonthelov'dResemblancegaze,TillpeacefulSlumbersonmyEye-lidsseize.Then,then,ImaginationgladsmySightWithtransientImagesofpastDelight;MyakingHeartofev'ryCarebeguiles;ThenTalbotlives,andAdelidasmiles.DelightfulForms!whywillyoufleetaway,AndleavemetotheTerrorsoftheDay?InvainfromReasonIexpectRelief;ForsadReflectiondoublesev'ryGrief.SomeofmyFriendsinDeath'scoldArmsIsee;Others,tho,living,yetaredeadtome?OfFriends,andChildrenboth,Iambereft,AndsoonmustlosetheonlyBlessingleft;AHusbandform'dforTendernessandTruth,Thelov'd,thekindCompanionofmyYouth;Withhim,thro'variousStormsofFateIpass'd;RelentlessFate!—Andmustwepartatlast?OKingofTerrors,IinvokethyPow'r;Oh!standbetweenmeandthatdreadfulHour;FromthatsadHourthywretchedSuppliantsave;Oh!shieldmefromit!—HidemeintheGrave!