Here’s to the maiden of bashful fifteen;
Here’s to the widow of fifty;
Here’s to the flaunting extravagant quean,
And here’s to the housewife that’s thrifty.
Chorus
Let the toast pass,—
Drink to the lass,
I’ll warrant she’ll prove an excuse for the glass.
Here’s to the charmer whose dimples we prize;
Now to the maid who has none, sir:
Here’s to the girl with a pair of blue eyes,
And here’s to the nymph with but one, sir.
Chorus
Let the toast pass,—
Drink to the lass,
I’ll warrant she’ll prove an excuse for the glass.
Here’s to the maid with a bosom of snow;
Now to her that’s as brown as a berry:
Here’s to the wife with her face full of woe,
And now to the damsel that’s merry.
Chorus
Let the toast pass,—
Drink to the lass,
I’ll warrant she’ll prove an excuse for the glass.
For let ’em be clumsy, or let ’em be slim,
Young or ancient, I care not a feather;
So fill a pint bumper quite up to the brim,
And let us e’en toast them together.
Chorus
Let the toast pass,—
Drink to the lass,
I’ll warrant she’ll prove an excuse for the glass.
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Analysis (ai): The poem, “Here’s to the Maiden of Bashful Fifteen” by Richard Brinsley Sheridan, is a playful and lighthearted celebration of women, focusing on their diversity rather than their specific virtues, suggesting that all women, regardless of their age or appearance, deserve to be toasted and appreciated.
Compared to Sheridan’s other works, the poem is relatively simple and straightforward, lacking the political satire and social commentary that characterized his plays. It is also distinct from the prevailing literary trends of the time, which typically emphasized melancholy and sentimentality, instead offering a cheerful and inclusive perspective.
The poem is structured around a series of toasts, each celebrating a different type of woman, from the young and innocent to the old and experienced, and from the beautiful to the plain. The chorus, which follows each toast, encourages the audience to drink to each woman, emphasizing the excuse that she provides for drinking.
Overall, the poem is a lighthearted and celebratory exploration of the diversity of women, offering a humorous and inclusive perspective that sets it apart from both Sheridan’s other works and the literary conventions of its tim
