Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

TH

HOUGH Artemifia talks, by fits,
Of councils, clafficks, fathers, wits;
Reads Malbranche, Boyle, and Locke:
Yet in some things, methinks, she fails ;
'Twere well, if she wou'd pare her nails,
And wear a cleaner fmock.

Haughty and huge as High-Dutch bride;
Such naftiness, and fo much pride,
Are oddly join'd by fate:

On her large fquab you find her spread,
Like a fat corpfe upon a bed,

That lies and ftinks in ftate.

She wears no colours (fign of grace)
On any part, except her face;
All white and black befide:
Dauntless her look, her gefture proud,
Her voice theatrically loud,

And masculine her ftride.

So have I feen, in black and white,
A prating thing, a magpye height,
Majestically stalk;

A ftately, worthless animal,

That plies the tongue, and wags the tail, All flutter, pride, and talk.

* PHRYNE.

PHRY

HRYNE had talents for mankind;
Open fhe was, and unconfin'd,
Like fome free port of trade:
Merchants unloaded here their freight,
And agents from each foreign state
Here first their entry made.

Her learning and good breeding fuch,
Whether th Italian or the Dutch,
Spaniard or French came to her,
To all obliging fhe'd appear;
'Twas fi fignior, 'twas yaw mynheer,
'Twas s'il vous plait, monfieur.

Obfcure by birth, renown'd by crimes,
Still changing names, religions, climes,
At length fhe turns a bride :

In di'monds, pearls, and rich brocades,
She shines the first of batter'd jades,
And flutters in her pride.

So have I known those infects fair,
Which curious Germans hold fo rare,
Still vary fhapes and dyes;

Still gain new titles with new forms;
Firft grubs obfcene, then wrigling worms,
Then painted butterflies.

ON

OR, THE

Receipt to form a BEAUTY.

HEN Cupid did his grandfire Jove

WHE

intreat

To form some beauty by a new receipt, Jove fent, and found far in a country scene Truth, innocence, good-nature, look fe

rene :

From which ingredients first the dex'trous boy

Pick'd the demure, the aukward, and the

coy.

The Graces from the court did next provide Breeding, and wit, and air, and decent pride: Thefe Venus cleans'd from ev'ry fpurious grain

Of nice, coquet, affected, pert, and vain. Jove mix'd up all, and his best clay employ'd;

Then call'd the happy compofition Lloyd.

[blocks in formation]

To the Honourable Mrs. FINCH,

PHO

Afterwards countess of Winchelsea,

Under her name of Ardelia.

HOEBUS, now fhort'ning ev'ry fhade,
Up to the northern tropick came,

And thence beheld a lovely maid,
Attending on a royal dame.

The God laid down his feeble rays,
Then lighted from his glitt'ring coach;
But fenc'd his head with his own bays,
Before he durft the nymph approach.

Under those facred leaves, fecure
From common light'ning of the fkies,
He fondly thought he might endure
The flashes of Ardelia's eyes.

The nymph, who oft had read in books
Of that bright God whom bards invoke,
Soon knew Apollo by his looks,

And guefs'd his bus'nefs a're he spoke.

He in the old celeftial cant

Confefs'd his flame, and fwore by Styx Whate'er fhe would defire to grant---But wife Ardelia knew his tricks.

Ovid had warn'd her to beware

Of ftroling Gods, whofe ufual trade is, Under pretence of taking air,

To pick up fublunary ladies.

Howe'er, fhe gave no flat denial,

As having malice in her heart; And was refolv'd upon a trial

To cheat the God in his own art.

Hear my request, the virgin faid;
Let which I please of all the nine
Attend, whene'er I want their aid,
Obey my call, and only mine.

By vow oblig'd, by paffion led,

The God could not refufe her pray'r: He wav'd his wreath thrice o'er her head, Thrice mutter'd fomething to the air.

And now he thought to feize his due:
But the the charm already try'd:
Thalia heard the call, and flew
To wait at bright Ardelia's fide.

On fight of this celeftial prude,
Apollo thought it vain to stay,
Nor in her presence durft be rude,
But made his leg, and went away.

« AnteriorContinuar »