Thomas Rowlandson (1757-1827) after a design by George Moutard Woodward (1760-1809), A Parody on Milton!, 1808. Etching. Graphic Arts Rowlandson Collection. Gift of Dickson Q. Brown, Class of 1895.
On she came—such as I saw her in my dream—
Grease was in all her steps—Geneva [gin] in her hand,
and every Gesture, reeling ripe for fun!!
This is a slight variation on lines from Paradise Lost (Book 8):
…When out of hope, behold her, not far off,
Such as I saw her in my dream, adorn’d
With what all Earth or Heaven could bestow
To make her amiable; on she came,
Led by her heavenly Maker, though unseen,
And guided by his voice; nor uninform’d
Of nuptial sanctity and marriage rites:
Grace was in all her steps, Heaven in her eye,
In every gesture dignity and love.
