You think, indeed, that, as you pleafe, you rule us
And with a ftrange importance often school us!
Yet let each citizen describe a brother,
I'll tell you what you fay of one another:
My neighbour leads, poor foul, a woeful life,
A worthy man-but govern'd by his wife!
How fay you?-what all filent!-then 'tis true;
We rule the city-Now, great Sirs, to you.
[To the Boxes, your boaft-Wou'd yon like me have done
To free a captive wife, or save a fon?
Rather than run fuch dangers of your lives,
You'd leave your children—and lock up your wives.
When with your nobleft deeds a nation rings,
You are but puppets, and we play the ftrings.-
We plan no battles-true-but out of fight,
Crack goes the fan-and armies halt or fight!
You have the advantage, ladies! wifely reap it,
And let me hint the only way to keep it :
Let men of vain ideas have their fill,
Frown, bounce, ftride, ftrut, while you with happy fkill,
Like anglers, use the fineft filken thread,
Give line enough-nor check a tugging head:
The fish will flounder-you, with gentle hand,
And foft degrees, muft bring the trout to land:
A more specific noftrum cannot be―
Probatum efl-and never fails with me.
TO THE SCHOOL FOR GUARDIANS.
PRAY, may I, Ladies, touch your modish life,
And thew good sense and fashion there at ftrife?
"Oh! do, Mifs Elliot, fays a prude with spite,
Pull 'em to pieces, bring their faults to light;
Pulling to pieces is my dear delight."
Why then each fair one feems a diff'rent creature
From what she's meant, and travefties her nature.
Proud of defects, Flirtilla fwims along
Politely weak, and elegantly wrong.
Thro' the gay round of time, her only care
To fix the patch, and guide a ftraggling hair.
Lady Camilla, form'd to feize the rein,
To rival John, and fmack along the plain :
In London fickens with diffembled airs,
And help me-help me up these odious ftairs."
Nature's beft gifts we all with pride disclaim, We lifp, we totter, deaf, and blind, and lame, The tongue, indeed, we women ne'er confine; -Scandal's too dear a pleasure to refign.
Scandal, and cards, tea, mirth, and spleen, a ball,
Comus; the monkey too! and there's the life of all.
A life of whim!-till from the faded eye,
And wither'd form, the trembling graces fly.
There's a true picture!-how do you like it, ladies ?
How is the light? and how do you think the shade is ?
A copy hence our fimple girl may make,
Unless the fhould this wifer counsel take,
Be rul'd by reafon for your beauty's fake.
Reafon ftill gives to radiant eyes their grace,
Warren's Imperial Milk-for ev'ry face.
Beauty, ye fair, may forge the lover's chain;
But the mind's charms your empire must maintain.
BEAUTY! thou pretty play thing, dear deceit,
That fteals fo foftly o'er the ftripling's heart,
And gives it a new pulse, unknown before,
The grave difcredits thee: thy charms expung'd,
Thy rofes faded, and thy lillies foil'd;
What haft thou more to boast of? will thy lovers
Flock round thee now, to gaze and do thee homage ?
Methinks, I fee thee with thy head low laid;
Whilft furfeited upon the damask cheek,
The high fed worm, in lazy volumes roll'd,
Riots unfcar'd. For this was all thy caution?
For this, thy painful labours at thy glass?
To improve those charms, and keep them in repair,
For which the spoiler thanks thee not.
Coarfe fare and carrion please thee full as well,
And leave as keen a relish on the fenfe.
Look, how the fair one weeps! the confcious tears
Stand thick as dew drops on the bells of flowers:
Honest effufion! the fwoln heart in vain
Works hard to put a glofs on its distress.
ADVICE TO A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG
BEAUTY's a flower will foon decay,
It only bloffoms for a day,
A vain and empty thing;
Its bloom is quickly pafs'd its prime,
It foon will wither and decline,
Nor knows returning fpring.
Learn hence, my fair one, not to prize
Too much those radiant sparkling eyes,
Nor yet that voice divine;
Those vermeil lips, that neck fo fair,
Those rofy cheeks, that lovely hair,
Muft yield to ruthless time.
Thy gentle breaft let virtue fire,
And all thy heavenly foul inspire
With love of gen'rous deeds;
To reach the height of noble fame,
Attend bright wisdom, lovely maid,
And follow where the leads.
So fhall thou ftill have pow'r to charm,
When time your beauties fhall difarm,
And leave you unadorn'd:
Ev'n in the winter of your days,
Each tongue fhall celebrate your praife,
With admiration warm'd.
A friendly precept, Laura, take
From him, who often, for thy fake,
Has fhed the filent tear ;
Who oft mov'd by parental love,
In thy behalf, to God above,
Has pour'd the ardent pray❜r.
Whene'er romorfelefs fickness came,
And feiz'd thy weak defenceless frame,
No joys could pleasure give:
At every groan I felt thy smart,
Till heav'n had bleft the healing art,
Look'd down, and bid thee live.
The toiling Florist thus extends
His kind protection, and defends
From ev'ry hurtful foe
The tender plant, till winter's o'er,
And blustering winds no longer roar :
Then, fmiling, fees it blow,
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