Anna Beddoes to Davies Giddy, 26 January 1804 (copy)
Jany the 26th [1]
When I go to Bed I shall fancy you standing beside me with your head on my Pillow & your lips close to mine – If I can go to sleep with this sweet thought I shall be quite happy – will you think of me too, my dearest love? at the same time a referce to Dodsleys Coln [2] vol. 10 p.181. [3]
Notes
[1] This date may have been added by Giddy, rather than having formed part of Anna’s original note.
[2] The reference is to vol. IV of the 1770 four volume supplement to Robert Dodsley’s 1744 six volume Collection of Poems by Several Hands. John Harrington’s ‘Sonnet Made on Isabella Markhame, When I Firste Thought Her Fayer as She Stood at the Princess’s Windowe in Goodlye Attyre, and Talked to Dyvers in the Courte-Yard’ (1564):
Whence comes my love, O hearte, disclose,
’Twas from cheeks that shamed the rose;
From lips that spoyle the rubies prayse;
From eyes that mock the diamond’s blaze.
Whence comes my woe, as freely owne,
Ah me! ’twas from the hearte lyke stone.
The blushynge cheek speaks modest mynde,
The lipps befitting words most kynde;
The eye does tempte to love’s desire,
And seems to say, ’tis Cupid’s fire;
Yet all so faire, but speak my moane,
Syth nought doth saye the heart of stone.
Why thus, my love, so kynde bespeake,
Sweet lyppe, sweet eye, sweet blushynge cheeke,
Yet not a heart to save my paine,
O Venus, take thy gifts againe,
Make not so faire to cause our moane,
Or make a hearte that’s lyke our owne.
[3] This note survives as a fair copy in Giddy’s hand. It is written on a sheet on which Giddy had copied a series of similarly short notes dated 24 Jan 1804, evening of the 24 Jan 1804, 25 Jan 1805, 26 Jan 1804, 30 Jan 1804, 31 Jan 1804 (two notes), 1 Feb 1804, 7 Feb 1808. Towards the end of this document Giddy writes ‘The originals of these notes were some written in Ink others with Pencil on bits of paper & are all burnt — ʼ.