wift said that the poem "was written at Windsor near
fourteen years ago, and dated: it was a task performed on a frolic among
some ladies, and she it was addressed to died some time ago in Dublin,
and on her death the copy shewn by her executor." Several copies were in
circulation, and he was indifferent what was done with it; it was "only
a cavalier business," and if those who would not give allowances were
malicious, it was only what he had long expected.

From this letter it would appear that this remarkable poem was written
in the summer of 1712; whereas the title-page of the pamphlet says it
was "written at Windsor, 1713." Swift visited Windsor in both years,
but he had more leisure in 1712, and we know that Vanessa was also at
Windsor in that year. In that year, too, he was forty-four, the
age mentioned in the poem. Neither Swift nor Vanessa forgot this
intercourse: years afterwards Swift wrote to her, "Go over the scenes
of Windsor.... Cad thinks often of these"; and again, "Remember the
indisposition at Windsor." We know that this poem was revised in 1719,
when in all probability Swift added the lines to which most exception
can be taken. Cadenus was to be Vanessa's instructor:--

"His conduct might have made him styled
A father, and the nymph his child."

He had "grown old in politics and wit," and "in every scene had kept
his heart," so that he now "understood not what was love." But he
had written much, and Vanessa admired his wit. Cadenus found that her
thoughts wandered--

"Though she seemed to listen more
To all he spoke than e'er before."

When she confessed her love, he was filled with "shame, disappointment,
guilt, surprise." He had aimed only at cultivating the mind, and had
hardly known whether she was young or old. But he was flattered, and
though he could not give her love, he offered her friendship, "with
gratitude, respect, esteem." Vanessa took him at his word, and said she
would now be tutor, though he was not apt to learn:--

"But what success Vanessa met
Is to the world a secret yet.
Whether the nymph to please her swain
Talks in a high romantic strain;
Or whether he at last descends
To act with less seraphic ends;
Or, to compound the business, whether
They temper love and books together,
Must never to mankind be told,
Nor shall the conscious Muse unfold."

Such is the poem as we now have it, written,