Formerly Known As...

It was a dark and stormy night,
I make no apology.
And yes, the costume's quite a sight,
I cannot but agree.
Rosina loved the cut of it,
but I forbade it her:
though had I foreseen Cheveley writ
-that bitter wicked slur-
the exposure of the slattern's legs
I would have borne with pride.
Love's potion turns to bitter dregs
from a bitter, bartered bride.
Still, some savant blessed soul
has named me now unknown:
the part has quite disowned the whole,
though the image is my own.

http://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/largerimage.php?search=ap&title...