Victorian valentines
Delicately crafted odes of love
Alex Q. Arbuckle
1890
The tradition of exchanging romantic greeting cards on Valentine’s Day first emerged in 18th century England, and rapidly grew from there. Most valentines were made by hand out of paper and inscribed with sentimental poems to one’s beloved. As the tradition became more popular, a mass-production greeting card industry emerged.By the time these delicate, hand-crafted valentine cards were made, commercialized greeting cards had already overtaken bespoke love notes.
My fair have you really decided your lot
Would be happily fated with love in a Cot?
Can you the frustrations of solitude bear
Nor ever regret to have industry near?If tender affection preside in your heart
If your heart's warmest feelings by duty are blest
If to this ex domestic your wishes are lent
Your mansion or cot will be that of contentMiss Ann Rafell
What joys your happy lot betide!
For you affection kindles Pride
Nor scorn with angers eye unkind
Shall mark your actions too severely
For love tho often depicted blind
Has hear distinguish'd very clearly
A gentle heart, a spotless mind
My Richard
So, my poor bird, you're caught at last!
The lime twig holds your plumage fast
No hopping now from tree to tree
No more on giddy wing you rove
From bower to bower; from grove to grove
And boast the charms of liberty
But feel not sullenness or rageFor you shall have so fair a cage
And such a cheerful happy home
That you more merrily shall sing
Than any bird of freer wing
Nor ever wish again to roam
Look not with hate nor ruder mirth
On this your valentine's harsh feature
In sooth she is the gentlest creature
That ever walked the peopled earth!Playful and meek as infant joy
Each bliss of pure affection giving
Her heart on airy [illegible] living
Upon a glance, a smile, a sighAnd tenderness is sure her due
Who all her joys, and all her sorrows
May ev'ry hue of feeling borrow
Each light and shade of mind, from you
These useful implements well tried
Foretell a meek domestic bride
Where shall we find a jewel rare
To treasure in the casket fair
Pearls, emerald, rubies, shall we master
Or bring the diamonds brighter lustre. No lady noThere is a gem whose brilliant sheen,
Does wealth or [unclear] this gem supply
Transcends all those whose May serene
Or wit or beauty's sparkling eye.
Far [unclear] show.
No lady no.Set truth, the sacred gift in part
It is an honest faithful heart
With tender sure affection giv'n
This richest gem does bounteous Heav'n on you bestow
The pen and the pencil your valentine true
With garlands of roses has circled for you
But deems not presumptuous their magic combin'd
Can picture the charms of the valentine mind
Three magpies! Bless us! What's their matter?
Sure thus I hear the gossips chatter
"So, neighbour where have you been gadding
While all the world for news is madding?"
"O I'm so tired - I've really flown
"Quite round the village and the town
"And heard such news" "I know it all;
"That strange flirtation at the ball"
"No, no, not that" "O then you mean
"The joke about a lady's screen"
"Indeed I don't" "Miss Fidget's Fever"
...
"Perhaps some folks apply the lines
"In Mrs Cobbold's valentines,
"And whisper satire fram'd the day?
"No, that I'm sure they cannot say
"You'll never guess it" "O I die
"To hear the news" "And so do I"
"Well then they say a lady fair
"Of virtues and endowments rare
"Has made a conquest" "Tell us, who?"
"Why of the very worthiest beau
"Such graceful, blest with ev'ry merit"
...
"Their names, their names" "I may not tell
"But mark me and you'll know them well
"She to whom fortune shall assign
"Three magpies for a valentine
"The lady is" - "I guess the rest -
"The lover? "Hush! Whom she loves best.”
Our saint tonight is proud to bring
The choicest beauties of the spring
To breathe their fragrance here
In splendor each carnation vies
To be esteemed the fairest prize
That decks the growing prizeEach sheltered from the sun's rude power
Protected from the ruder shower
In cloistered safety dwells
Many the rose and pink admire
Or yellow daffodil desire
And some the fair blue-bellsBut you sir I would dare surmise
Will not disdain to take the prize
Now offer'd to your view
The fairest, finest, opening flow'r
That here adorns this festive hour
May haply fall to youIf then, within a mile or so
Which is not very far to go
You see such beauties grown
Within a twelve month deign to wed
The fairest from its native bed
And transplanted to your own
Twas not Cecilia's notes alone
That from the seraph circled throne
Drew choirs of blessed angels downBut 'twas her heart with feeling fraught
Her tender love, her heavenly thought
That such celestial inmates broughtTo you such mental concord given
Such sweet affection, spirits even
Must make your earthly home a heaven
Eye not with scorn the rural Cot
The woodland glade, the meadow fair,
Since love and peace shall bless your lot
And form for you an Eden there
Pickest more
From China's shores
Treasures of the East
Wait on thy behest
Gold and gems before thee laid
Are but offerings duly paid
And all the treasures faithful love
To thee can tender, here shall prove
No idol worship, but the duty
Affection vows to worth and beauty
Ah dreamer not by the moon that inconstant moon
Say slander not this planet bright
She changes well does science know it
But from the sun to borrow light
And faithful on the world bestow it
Her charms to wear, your valentine
May sometimes vary, never err
So shall she from your judgement shine
Your love be all the world to her
This emblem, sir, is sent to shew
That fortune means to use you well
What valentine can with beau
Go very fairly as a Belle?And you with triumph and delight
Your lot to all the world may tell
And boast that you have found tonight
That paragon a silent Belle!
Fate thoughtful and kind
O joyous has consign'd
These rosebuds of virtue to-nightO there safe in your breast
Give them shelter and rest
And they'll blow with transcendent delight
Say have you with our soothing bard
To sentiment and mem'ry true
Wish'd "Lucy at her wheel might sing
In russet gown and apron blue
And if to mild domestic laceShe add that soul subduing tone
That like a "Spirit of the air"
Speaks to our hearts and breathes her ownThen all the joys of home for you
And life's best bliss, shall daily prove
In soften'd voice of song, how true
That "love is Heav'n and Heav'n is love”
These birds though strong of wing to roam
In shades and rural scenery blest
Nor storm nor art can drive from home
And from the dear accustomed nestSuch be your wiser choice and soon
May you select a mate, to share
With you kind heaven's immediate boon
Parental bliss, parental care