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diff --git a/39499.txt b/39499.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d3ccd79 --- /dev/null +++ b/39499.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3342 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Moores Fables for the Female Sex, by Edward Moore + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license + + +Title: Moores Fables for the Female Sex + +Author: Edward Moore + +Illustrator: Henry Brooke + +Release Date: April 22, 2012 [EBook #39499] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MOORES FABLES FOR THE FEMALE SEX *** + + + + +Produced by Bryan Ness and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive.) + + + + + + + + + + Moores Fables + for + _The Female Sex_ + Embellished with Engravings + + + [Illustration: "_Ye wretches, hence the Eagle cries,_ + _Page 5._] + + London, + + _Printed for Scatchard & Letterman, Ave Maria Lane; + Longman, Hurst, Rees & Orme, + and H.D. Symonds, Paternoster Row. + 1806._ + + (Printed by C. Whittingham) + + + + +FABLES FOR _THE FEMALE SEX_. + + + + +FABLE I. + +THE EAGLE AND THE ASSEMBLY OF BIRDS. + +To her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales. + + + The moral lay, to beauty due, + I write, FAIR EXCELLENCE, to you; + Well pleas'd to hope my vacant hours + Have been employ'd to sweeten your's. + Truth under fiction I impart, + To weed out folly from the heart, + And shew the paths that lead astray + The wand'ring nymph from wisdom's way. + + I flatter none. The great and good + Are by their actions understood; + Your monument if actions raise, + Shall I deface by idle praise? + I echo not the voice of Fame; + That dwells delighted on your name: + Her friendly tale, however true, + Were flatt'ry, if I told it you. + + The proud, the envious, and the vain, + The jilt, the prude, demand my strain; + To these, detesting praise, I write, + And vent in charity my spite: + With friendly hand I hold the glass + To all, promiscuous, as they pass: + Should folly there her likeness view, + I fret not that the mirror's true; + If the fantastic form offend, + I made it not, but would amend. + + +[Illustration: + + _With friendly hand I hold the glass + To all promiscuous, as they pass;_ + +_Page 2._ + +_London: Published May 1st 1799 by T. Heptinstall. No. 304 High Holborn._] + + + Virtue, in ev'ry clime and age, + Spurns at the folly-soothing page; + While satire, that offends the ear + Of vice and passion, pleases her. + + Premising this, your anger spare; + And claim the fable you who dare. + + The BIRDS in place, by faction press'd, + To JUPITER their pray'rs address'd; + By specious lies the state was vex'd, + Their counsels libellers perplex'd; + They begg'd (to stop seditious tongues) + A gracious hearing of their wrongs. + JOVE grants their suit. The EAGLE sate, + Decider of the grand debate. + + The PYE, to trust and pow'r preferr'd, + Demands permission to be heard. + Says he, 'Prolixity of phrase + You know I hate. This libel says, + "Some birds there are, who, prone to noise, + Are hir'd to silence WISDOM'S voice; + And, skill'd to chatter out the hour, + Rise by their emptiness to pow'r." + That this is aim'd direct at me, + No doubt, you'll readily agree: + Yet well this sage assembly knows, + By parts to government I rose; + My prudent counsels prop the state; + MAGPIES were never known to prate.' + + The KITE rose up. His honest heart + In VIRTUE'S suff'rings bore a part. + That there were birds of prey he knew; + So far the libeller said true, + "Voracious, bold, to rapine prone, + Who knew no int'rest but their own; + Who, hov'ring o'er the farmer's yard, + Nor pigeon, chick, nor duckling spar'd." + This might be true--but if apply'd + To him, in troth, the sland'rer ly'd. + Since IGN'RANCE then might be misled, + Such things, he thought, were best unsaid. + + The CROW was vext. As yester-morn + He flew across the new-sown corn, + A screaming boy was set for pay, + He knew, to drive the CROWS away: + SCANDAL had found him out in turn, + And buzz'd abroad--that CROWS love corn. + + The OWL arose, with solemn face, + And thus harangu'd upon the case: + 'That MAGPIES prate, it may be true; + A KITE may be voracious too; + CROWS sometimes deal in new-sown pease; + He libels not, who strikes at these; + The slander's here--"But there are birds, + Whose wisdom lies in looks, not words; + Blund'rers who level in the dark, + And always shoot beside the mark." + He names not me; but these are hints + Which manifest at whom he squints; + I were indeed that blund'ring fowl, + To question if he meant an OWL.' + "Ye wretches, hence!" the EAGLE cries, + "'Tis conscience, conscience that applies; + The virtuous mind takes no alarm, + Secur'd by innocence from harm; + While GUILT, and his associate, FEAR, + Are startled at the passing air." + + + + +FABLE II. + +THE PANTHER, HORSE, AND OTHER BEASTS. + + + The man who seeks to win the fair, + (So custom says) must truth forbear; + Must fawn and flatter, cringe and lie, + And raise the goddess to the sky; + For truth is hateful to her ear, + A rudeness which she cannot bear-- + A rudeness?--Yes,--I speak my thoughts, + For truth upbraids her with her faults. + + How wretched, CHLOE, then am I, + Who love you, and yet cannot lie; + And still, to make you less my friend, + I strive your errors to amend! + But shall the senseless fop impart + The softest passion to your heart, + While he who tells you honest truth, + And points to happiness your youth, + Determines, by his cares, his lot, + And lives neglected and forgot? + + Trust me, my dear, with greater ease, + Your taste for flatt'ry I could please. + And similes in each dull line, + Like glow-worms in the dark, should shine. + What if I say your lips disclose + The freshness of the op'ning rose? + Or that your cheeks are beds of flow'rs, + Enripen'd by refreshing show'rs? + Yet certain as these flow'rs shall fade, + Time ev'ry beauty will invade. + The BUTTERFLY of various hue, + More than the flow'r, resembles you: + Fair, flutt'ring, fickle, busy thing, + To pleasure ever on the wing, + Gayly coquetting for an hour, + To die, and ne'er be thought of more. + + Would you the bloom of youth should last? + 'Tis virtue that must bind it fast; + An easy carriage, wholly free + From sour reserve, or levity; + Good-natur'd mirth, an open heart, + And looks unskill'd in any art; + Humility, enough to own + The frailties which a friend makes known; + And decent pride, enough to know + The worth that virtue can bestow. + + These are the charms which ne'er decay, + Tho' youth and beauty fade away; + And time, which all things else removes, + Still heightens virtue and improves. + + You'll frown, and ask to what intent + This blunt address to you is sent; + I'll spare the question, and confess + I'd praise you, if I lov'd you less; + But rail, be angry, or complain, + I will be rude, while you are vain. + + Beneath a LION'S peaceful reign, + When beasts met friendly on the plain, + A PANTHER, of majestic port, + (The vainest female of the court) + With spotted skin, and eyes of fire, + Fill'd ev'ry bosom with desire; + Where'er she mov'd, a servile crowd + Of fawning creatures cring'd and bow'd; + Assemblies ev'ry week she held, + (Like modern belles) with coxcombs fill'd, + Where noise and nonsense, and grimace, + And lies and scandal, fill'd the place. + + Behold the gay, fantastic thing, + Encircled by the spacious ring; + Low-bowing, with important look, + As first in rank, the MONKEY spoke: + + "Gad take me, madam! but I swear + No angel ever look'd so fair---- + Forgive my rudeness, but, I vow, + You were not quite divine till now; + Those limbs! that shape! and then those eyes, + O close them, or the gazer dies!" + + 'Nay, gentle PUG, for goodness hush, + I vow and swear you make me blush; + I shall be angry at this rate---- + 'Tis so like flatt'ry, which I hate.' + + The FOX, in deeper cunning vers'd, + The beauties of her mind rehears'd, + And talk'd of knowledge, taste, and sense, + To which the fair have most pretence; + Yet well he knew them always vain + Of what they strive not to attain, + And play'd so cunningly his part, + That PUG was rival'd in his art. + + The GOAT avow'd his am'rous flame, + And burnt--for what he durst not name; + Yet hop'd a meeting in the wood + Might make his meaning understood. + Half angry at the bold address, + She frown'd; but yet she must confess, + Such beauties might inflame his blood; + But still his phrase was somewhat rude. + + The HOG her neatness much admir'd; + The formal ASS her swiftness fir'd; + While all to feed her folly strove, + And by their praises shar'd her love. + + The HORSE, whose gen'rous heart disdain'd + Applause by servile flatt'ry gain'd, + With graceful courage silence broke, + And thus with indignation spoke: + + +[Illustration: + + _From public view her charms will screen + And rarely in the crowd be seen_ + +_Page 12._ + +_London: Published by Scatcherd & Letterman, Ave Maria Lane._] + + + "When flatt'ring MONKEYS fawn and prate, + They justly raise contempt, or hate; + For merit's turn'd to ridicule, + Applauded by the grinning fool. + The artful FOX your wit commends, + To lure you to his selfish ends; + From the vile flatt'rer turn away, + For knaves make friendship to betray. + Dismiss the train of fops and fools, + And learn to live by wisdom's rules. + Such beauties might the LION warm, + Did not your folly break the charm; + For who would court that lovely shape, + To be the rival of an APE?" + He said; and snorting in disdain, + Spurn'd at the crowd, and sought the plain. + + + + +FABLE III. + +THE NIGHTINGALE AND GLOW-WORM. + + + The prudent nymph, whose cheeks disclose + The lily and the blushing rose, + From public view her charms will skreen, + And rarely in the crowd be seen: + This simple truth shall keep her wise, + "The fairest fruits attract the flies." + + One night a GLOW-WORM, proud and vain, + Contemplating her glitt'ring train, + Cry'd sure there never was in nature, + So elegant, so fine a creature; + All other insects that I see, + The frugal ANT, industrious BEE, + Or SILK-WORM, with contempt I view; + With all that low, mechanic crew, + Who servilely their lives employ + In business, enemy to joy. + Mean, vulgar herd! ye are my scorn, + For grandeur only I was born; + Or sure am sprung from race divine, + And plac'd on earth to live and shine. + Those lights, that sparkle so on high, + Are but the GLOW-WORMS of the sky; + And kings on earth their gems admire, + Because they imitate my fire. + + She spoke. Attentive on a spray, + A NIGHTINGALE forbore his lay; + He saw the shining morsel near, + And flew, directed by the glare; + Awhile he gaz'd with sober look, + And thus the trembling prey bespoke: + + Deluded fool, with pride elate, + Know, 'tis thy beauty brings thy fate; + Less dazzling, long thou might'st have lain, + Unheeded on the velvet plain; + Pride, soon or late, degraded mourns, + And beauty wrecks whom she adorns. + + + + +FABLE IV. + +HYMEN AND DEATH. + + + Sixteen, d'ye say? Nay, then 'tis time; + Another year destroys your prime. + But stay--The settlement? "That's made?" + Why then's my simple girl afraid? + Yet hold a moment, if you can, + And heedfully the fable scan. + + The shades were fled, the morning blush'd, + The winds were in their caverns hush'd, + When HYMEN, pensive and sedate, + Held o'er the fields his musing gait, + Behind him, thro' the green-wood shade, + DEATH'S meagre form the GOD survey'd, + Who quickly with gigantic stride, + Out-went his pace, and join'd his side. + The chat on various subjects ran, + Till angry HYMEN thus began: + + "Relentless DEATH, whose iron sway + Mortals reluctant must obey, + Still of thy pow'r shall I complain, + And thy too partial hand arraign? + When CUPID brings a pair of hearts, + All over struck with equal darts, + Thy cruel shafts my hopes deride, + And cut the knot that HYMEN ty'd. + + "Shall not the bloody, and the bold, + The miser, hoarding up his gold, + The harlot, reeking from the stew, + Alone thy fell revenge pursue? + But must the gentle, and the kind, + Thy fury, undistinguish'd find?" + + The monarch calmly thus reply'd: + 'Weigh well the cause, and then decide. + That friend of your's, you lately nam'd, + CUPID, alone, is to be blam'd; + Then let the charge be justly laid; + That idle boy neglects his trade, + And hardly once in twenty years + A couple to your temple bears. + The wretches, whom your office blends, + SILENUS now, or PLUTUS sends; + Hence care, and bitterness, and strife, + Are common to the nuptial life. + + 'Believe me; more than all mankind, + Your vot'ries my compassion find. + Yet cruel am I call'd, and base, + Who seek the wretched to release; + The captive from his bonds to free, + Indissoluble, but for me. + + ''Tis I entice him to the yoke; + By me your crowded altars smoke; + For mortals boldly dare the noose, + Secure, that DEATH will set them loose.' + + + + +FABLE V. + +THE POET AND HIS PATRON. + + + Why, CELIA, is your spreading waist + So loose, so negligently lac'd? + Why must the wrapping bed-gown hide + Your snowy bosom's swelling pride? + How ill that dress adorns your head, + Disdain'd and rumpled from the bed! + Those clouds, that shade your blooming face, + A little water might displace, + As NATURE every morn bestows + The crystal dew to cleanse the rose. + Those tresses, as the raven black, + That wav'd in ringlets down your back, + Uncomb'd, and injur'd by neglect, + Destroy the face which once they deck'd. + + Whence this forgetfulness of dress! + Pray, madam, are you married? Yes. + Nay! then indeed the wonder ceases, + No matter now how loose your dress is; + The end is won, your fortune's made, + Your sister now may take the trade. + + Alas! what pity 'tis to find + This fault in half the female kind! + From hence proceed aversion, strife, + And all that sours the wedded life. + BEAUTY can only point the dart, + 'Tis NEATNESS guides it to the heart; + Let NEATNESS then, and BEAUTY strive + To keep a wav'ring flame alive. + + 'Tis harder far (you'll find it true) + To keep the conquest than subdue; + Admit us once behind the screen, + What is there farther to be seen? + A newer face may raise the flame, + But ev'ry woman is the same. + + Then study chiefly to improve + The charm that fix'd your husband's love; + Weigh well his humour. Was it dress + That gave your beauty pow'r to bless? + Pursue it still; be neater seen, + 'Tis always frugal to be clean; + So shall you keep alive desire, + And TIME'S swift wing shall fan the fire. + + In garret high (as stories say) + A POET sung his tuneful lay; + So soft, so smooth his verse, you'd swear + APOLLO and the MUSES there; + Through all the town his praises rung, + His sonnets at the playhouse sung; + High waving o'er his lab'ring head, + The goddess WANT her pinions spread, + And with poetic fury fir'd, + What PHOEBUS faintly had inspir'd. + + A noble youth, of taste and wit, + Approv'd the sprightly things he writ, + And sought him in his cobweb dome, + Discharg'd his rent, and brought him home. + + Behold him at the stately board, + Who but the POET and my LORD! + Each day deliciously he dines, + And greedy quaffs the gen'rous wines; + His sides were plump, his skin was sleek, + And PLENTY wanton'd on his cheek; + Astonish'd at the change so new, + Away th' inspiring goddess flew. + + Now, dropt for politics and news, + Neglected lay the drooping MUSE, + Unmindful whence his fortune came, + He stifled the poetic flame; + Nor tale nor sonnet, for my lady, + Lampoon, nor epigram was ready. + + With just contempt his PATRON saw, + (Resolv'd his bounty to withdraw) + And thus, with anger in his look, + The late-repenting fool bespoke:-- + + "Blind to the good that courts thee grown, + Whence has the sun of favour shone? + Delighted with thy tuneful art, + Esteem was growing in my heart, + But idly thou reject'st the charm + That gave it birth, and kept it warm. + Unthinking fools alone despise + The arts that taught them first to rise." + + + + +FABLE VI. + +THE WOLF, THE SHEEP, AND THE LAMB. + + + Duty demands the parent's voice + Should sanctify the daughter's choice; + In that is due obedience shewn; + To choose belongs to her alone. + + May horror seize his midnight hour + Who builds upon a parent's pow'r, + And claims, by purchase vile and base, + The loathing maid for his embrace; + Hence virtue sickens, and the breast, + Where peace had built her downy nest, + Becomes the troubled seat of care, + And pines with anguish and despair. + + A WOLF, rapacious, rough, and bold, + Whose nightly plunders thinn'd the fold, + Contemplating his ill-spent life, + And cloy'd with thefts, would take a wife. + His purpose known, the savage race + In num'rous crouds attend the place; + For why, a mighty WOLF he was, + And held dominion in his jaws. + Her fav'rite whelp each mother brought, + And humbly his alliance sought; + But cold by age, or else too nice, + None found acceptance in his eyes. + + It happen'd, as at early dawn, + He, solitary, cross'd the lawn, + Stray'd from the fold, a sportive LAMB + Skip'd wanton by her fleecy DAM; + When CUPID, foe to man and beast, + Discharg'd an arrow at his breast. + The tim'rous breed the robber knew, + And trembling o'er the meadow flew; + Their nimblest speed the WOLF o'ertook, + And, courteous, thus the DAM bespoke: + Stay, fairest, and suspend your fear, + Trust me, no enemy is near; + These jaws, in slaughter oft imbru'd, + At length have known enough of blood, + And kinder business brings me now, + Vanquish'd, at beauty's feet to bow. + You have a daughter--Sweet, forgive + A WOLF'S address--In her I live; + Love from her eye like lightning came, + And set my marrow all on flame; + Let your consent confirm my choice, + And ratify our nuptial joys. + Me ample wealth and pow'r attend, + Wide o'er the plains my realms extend; + What midnight robber dare invade + The fold, if I the guard am made? + At home the shepherd's cur may sleep, + While I secure his master's sheep. + Discourse like his attention claim'd; + Grandeur the MOTHER'S breast inflam'd; + Now fearless by his side she walk'd, + Of settlements and jointures talk'd; + Propos'd and doubled her demands, + Of flow'ry fields and turnip lands. + The WOLF agrees.--Her bosom swells; + To MISS her happy fate she tells; + And, of the grand alliance vain, + Contemns her kindred of the plain. + + The loathing LAMB with horror hears, + And wearies out her DAM with pray'rs, + But all in vain; mamma best knew + What unexperienc'd girls should do: + So, to a neighb'ring meadow carry'd, + A formal ass the couple marry'd. + + Torn from the tyrant-mother's side, + The trembler goes, a victim-bride; + Reluctant meets the rude embrace, + And bleats among the howling race. + With horror oft her eyes behold + Her murder'd kindred of the fold; + Each day a sister-lamb is serv'd, + And at the glutton's table carv'd; + The crashing bones he grinds for food, + And slakes his thirst with streaming blood. + + Love, who the cruel mind detests, + And lodges but in gentle breasts, + Was now no more.--Enjoyment past, + The savage hunger'd for the feast; + But (as we find in human race, + A mask conceals the villain's face) + Justice must authorize the treat: + Till then he long'd, but durst not eat. + + As forth he walk'd, in quest of prey, + The hunters met him on the way; + Fear wings his flight; the marsh he sought, + The snuffing dogs are set at fault. + His stomach baulk'd, now hunger gnaws, + Howling he grinds his empty jaws; + Food must be had--and lamb is nigh; + His maw invokes the fraudful lie. + Is this, dissembling rage, he cry'd, + The gentle virtue of a bride? + That, leagu'd with man's destroying race, + She sets her husband for the chase? + By treach'ry prompts the noisy hound + To scent his footsteps o'er the ground? + Thou trait'ress vile, for this thy blood + Shall glut my rage, and dye the wood! + + So saying, on the LAMB he flies: + Beneath his jaws the victim dies. + + + + +FABLE VII. + +THE GOOSE AND THE SWANS. + + + I hate the face, however fair, + That carries an affected air; + The lisping tone, the shape constrain'd, + The study'd look, the passion feign'd, + Are fopperies, which only tend + To injure what they strive to mend. + With what superior grace enchants + The face which NATURE'S pencil paints! + Where eyes, unexercis'd in art, + Glow with the meaning of the heart! + Where FREEDOM and GOOD-HUMOUR sit, + And easy GAIETY and WIT! + Though perfect BEAUTY be not there, + The master lines, the finish'd air, + We catch from every look delight, + And grow enamour'd at the sight; + For beauty, though we all approve, + Excites our wonder more than love; + While the agreeable strikes sure, + And gives the wounds we cannot cure. + + Why then, my AMORET, this care, + That forms you, in effect, less fair? + If NATURE on your cheek bestows + A bloom that emulates the rose, + Or from some heav'nly image drew + A form APELLES never knew, + Your ill-judg'd aid will you impart, + And spoil by meretricious art? + Or had you, NATURE'S error, come + Abortive from the mother's womb, + Your forming care she still rejects, + Which only heightens her defects. + When such, of glitt'ring jewels proud, + Still press the foremost in the crowd, + At every public shew are seen, + With look awry, and aukward mien, + The gaudy dress attracts the eye, + And magnifies deformity. + + +[Illustration: + + _The wretch with thrilling horror shook, + Loose ev'ry joint, and pale his look._ + +_Page 39._ + +_London: Published by Scatcherd & Letterman, Ave Maria Lane._] + + + NATURE may underdo her part, + But seldom wants the help of ART; + Trust her, she is your surest friend, + Nor made your form for you to mend. + + A GOOSE, affected, empty, vain, + The shrillest of the cackling train, + With proud and elevated crest, + Precedence claim'd above the rest. + Says she, I laugh at human race, + Who say, geese hobble in their pace; + Look here!--the sland'rous lie detect; + Not haughty man is so erect. + That PEACOCK yonder, lord, how vain + The creature's of his gaudy train! + If both were stript, I'd pawn my word, + A GOOSE would be the finer bird. + NATURE, to hide her own defects, + Her bungled work with fin'ry decks; + Were GEESE set off with half that show, + Would men admire the PEACOCK? No. + + Thus vaunting, 'cross the mead she stalks, + The cackling breed attend her walks. + The SUN shot down his noontide beams, + The SWANS were sporting in the streams; + Their snowy plumes, and stately pride, + Provoke her spleen. Why, there, she cry'd, + Again what arrogance we see! + Those creatures! how they mimic me! + Shall ev'ry fowl the waters skim, + Because we GEESE are known to swim? + Humility they soon shall learn, + And their own emptiness discern. + + So saying, with extended wings, + Lightly upon the wave she springs; + Her bosom swells, she spreads her plumes, + And the SWAN'S stately crest assumes. + Contempt and mockery ensu'd, + And bursts of laughter shook the flood. + + A SWAN, superior to the rest, + Sprung forth, and thus the fool address'd: + Conceited thing! elate with pride, + Thy affectation all deride; + These airs thy aukwardness impart, + And shew thee plainly as thou art. + Among thy equals of the flock, + Thou hadst escap'd the public mock. + And, as thy parts to good conduce, + Been deem'd an honest hobbling GOOSE. + + Learn hence to study WISDOM'S rules; + Know, foppery's the pride of fools; + And striving NATURE to conceal, + You only her defects reveal. + + + + +FABLE VIII. + +THE LAWYER AND JUSTICE. + + + Love; thou divinest good below, + Thy pure delights few mortals know: + Our rebel hearts thy sway disown, + While tyrant LUST usurps thy throne! + The bounteous GOD OF NATURE made + The sexes for each other's aid, + Their mutual talents to employ, + To lessen ills, and heighten joy. + To weaker woman he assign'd + That soft'ning gentleness of mind, + That can by sympathy impart + Its likeness to the roughest heart. + Her eyes with magic pow'r endu'd, + To fire the dull, and awe the rude. + His rosy fingers on her face + Shed lavish ev'ry blooming grace, + And stamp'd (perfection to display) + His mildest image on her clay. + + Man, active, resolute, and bold, + He fashion'd in a diff'rent mould; + With useful arts his mind inform'd, + His breast with nobler passions warm'd; + He gave him knowledge, taste, and sense, + And courage for the fair's defence. + Her frame, resistless to each wrong, + Demands protection from the strong; + To man she flies, when fear alarms, + And claims the temple of his arms. + + By nature's author thus declar'd + The woman's sov'reign and her guard: + Shall man, by treach'rous wiles invade + The weakness he was meant to aid? + While beauty, given to inspire + Protecting love and soft desire, + Lights up a wild-fire in the heart, + And to its own breast points the dart, + Becomes the spoiler's base pretence + To triumph over innocence! + + The wolf, that tears the tim'rous sheep, + Was never set the fold to keep; + Nor was the tiger, or the pard, + Meant the benighted trav'ller's guard: + But man, the wildest beast of prey, + Wears friendship's semblance to betray; + His strength against the weak employs, + And where he should protect, destroys. + + Past twelve o'clock, the watchman cry'd, + His brief the studious LAWYER ply'd; + The all-prevailing fee lay nigh, + The earnest of to-morrow's lie; + Sudden the furious winds arise, + The jarring casement shatter'd flies; + The doors admit a hollow sound, + And rattling from their hinges bound; + When JUSTICE, in a blaze of light, + Reveal'd her radiant form to sight. + + The wretch with thrilling horror shook, + Loose ev'ry joint, and pale his look, + Not having seen her in the courts, + Or found her mentioned in reports, + He ask'd, with falt'ring tongue, her name, + Her errand there, and whence she came? + + Sternly the white-rob'd shade reply'd, + (A crimson glow her visage dy'd) + Canst thou be doubtful who I am? + Is JUSTICE grown so strange a name? + Were not your courts for JUSTICE rais'd? + 'Twas there of old my altars blaz'd. + My guardian thee did I elect, + My sacred temple to protect; + That thou, and all thy venal tribe, + Should spurn the goddess for a bribe! + Aloud the ruin'd client cries, + JUSTICE has neither ears nor eyes! + In foul alliance with the bar, + 'Gainst me the judge denounces war, + And rarely issues his decree, + But with intent to baffle me. + + She paus'd. Her breast with fury burn'd; + The trembling LAWYER thus return'd: + I own the charge is justly laid, + And weak th' excuse that can be made; + Yet search the spacious globe, and see + If all mankind are not like me. + The GOWN-MAN, skill'd in ROMISH lies, + By FAITH'S false glass deludes our eyes; + O'er conscience rides without controul, + And robs the man, to save his soul. + + The DOCTOR, with important face, + By sly design mistakes the case; + Prescribes, and spins out the disease, + To trick the patient of his fees.-- + The SOLDIER, rough with many a scar, + And red with slaughter, leads the war; + If he a nation's trust betray, + The foe has offer'd double pay. + + +[Illustration: + + _The maid she modestly conceals + Her beauties, while she hides, reveals;_ + +_Page 41._ + +_London Published June 24th 1799 by T. Heptinstall Holborn._] + + + When vice o'er all mankind prevails, + And weighty int'rest turns the scales, + Must I be better than the rest, + And harbour JUSTICE in my breast? + On one side only take the fee, + Content with poverty and thee? + + Thou blind to sense, and vile of mind, + Th' exasperated shade rejoin'd, + If virtue from the world is flown, + Will others faults excuse thy own? + For sickly souls the priest was made; + PHYSICIANS for the body's aid; + The SOLDIER guarded liberty; + Man, woman, and the LAWYER me: + If all are faithless to their trust, + They leave not thee the less unjust. + Henceforth your pleadings I disclaim, + And bar the sanction of my name; + Within your courts it shall be read, + That JUSTICE from the law is fled. + + She spoke; and hid in shades her face, + 'Till HARDWICK sooth'd her into grace. + + + + +FABLE IX. + +THE FARMER, THE SPANIEL, AND THE CAT. + + + Why knits my dear her angry brow? + What rude offence alarms you now? + I said, that DELIA'S fair; 'tis true, + But did I say she equall'd you? + Can't I another's face commend, + Or to her virtues be a friend, + But instantly your forehead lours, + As if her merit lessen'd your's? + From female envy never free, + All must be blind, because you see. + + Survey the gardens, fields, and bow'rs, + The buds, the blossoms, and the flow'rs, + Then tell me where the woodbine grows + That vies in sweetness with the rose? + Or where the lily's snowy white, + That throws such beauties on the sight? + Yet folly is it to declare, + That these are neither sweet nor fair. + The crystal shines with fainter rays + Before the di'mond's brighter blaze; + And fops will say, the di'mond dies + Before the lustre of your eyes: + But I, who deal in truth, deny + That neither shine when you are by. + + When zephyrs o'er the blossoms stray, + And sweets along the air convey, + Shan't I the fragrant breeze inhale, + Because you breathe a sweeter gale? + + Sweet are the flow'rs that deck the field, + Sweet is the smell the blossoms yield; + Sweet is the summer gale that blows, + And sweet (though sweeter you) the rose. + + Shall envy then torment your breast, + If you are lovelier than the rest? + For while I give to each her due, + By praising them I flatter you; + And praising most, I still declare + You fairest, where the rest are fair. + + As at his board a FARMER sate, + Replenish'd by his homely treat, + His fav'rite SPANIEL near him stood, + And with his master shar'd the food; + The crackling bones his jaws devour'd, + His lapping tongue the trenchers scour'd; + Till, sated now, supine he lay, + And snor'd the rising fumes away. + + The hungry CAT, in turn, drew near, + And humbly crav'd a servant's share; + Her modest worth the master knew, + And straight the fatt'ning morsel threw; + Enrag'd, the snarling cur awoke, + And thus, with spiteful envy, spoke: + + They only claim a right to eat, + Who earn by services their meat; + Me, zeal and industry inflame, + To scour the fields, and spring the game; + Or, plunged in the wat'ry wave, + For man the wounded bird to save. + With watchful diligence I keep, + From prowling wolves, his fleecy sheep; + At home, his midnight hours secure, + And drive the robber from the door. + For this his breast with kindness glows; + For this his hand the food bestows; + And shall thy indolence impart + A warmer friendship to his heart; + That thus he robs me of my due, + To pamper such vile things as you? + + I own (with meekness, PUSS reply'd) + Superior merit on your side; + Nor does my breast with envy swell, + To find it recompens'd so well; + Yet I, in what my nature can, + Contribute to the good of man. + Whose claws destroy the pilf'ring mouse? + Who drives the vermin from the house? + Or, watchful for the lab'ring swain, + From lurking rats secure the grain? + From hence, if he rewards bestow, + Why should your heart with gall o'erflow? + Why pine my happiness to see, + Since there's enough for you and me? + + Thy words are just, the FARMER cry'd, + And spurn'd the snarler from his side. + + + + +FABLE X. + +THE SPIDER AND THE BEE. + + + The nymph who walks the public streets, + And sets her cap at all she meets, + May catch the fool who turns to stare; + But men of sense avoid the snare. + + As on the margin of the flood, + With silken line, my LYDIA stood, + I smil'd to see the pains you took, + To cover o'er the fraudful hook. + Along the forest as we stray'd, + You saw the boy his lime-twigs spread; + Guess'd you the reason of his fear, + Lest, heedless, we approach'd too near? + For as behind the bush we lay, + The linnet flutter'd on the spray. + + Needs there such caution to delude + The scaly fry, and feather'd brood? + And think you, with inferior art, + To captivate the human heart? + The maid who modestly conceals + Her beauties, while she hides, reveals; + Give but a glimpse, and FANCY draws + Whate'er the GRECIAN VENUS was. + From EVE'S first fig-leaf to brocade, + All dress was meant for FANCY'S aid, + Which evermore delighted dwells + On what the bashful nymph conceals. + + When CELIA struts in man's attire, + She shews too much to raise desire; + But from the hoop's bewitching round, + Her very shoe has power to wound. + The roving eye, the bosom bare, + The forward laugh, the wanton air, + May catch the fop, for gudgeons strike + At the bare hook, and bait, alike; + While SALMON play regardless by, + Till ART, like NATURE, forms the fly. + + Beneath a PEASANT'S homely thatch, + A SPIDER long had held her watch; + From morn to night, with restless care, + She spun her web, and wove her snare. + Within the limits of her reign + Lay many a hidden captive, slain; + Or, flutt'ring, struggled in the toils + To burst the chains, and shun her wiles. + A straying BEE, that perch'd hard by, + Beheld her with disdainful eye; + And thus began:--Mean thing! give o'er, + And lay thy slender threads no more; + A thoughtless FLY or two, at most, + Is all the conquest thou canst boast; + For BEES of sense thy arts evade, + We see so plain the nets are laid. + + The gaudy TULIP, that displays + Her spreading foliage to the gaze, + That points her charms at all she sees, + And yields to ev'ry wanton BREEZE, + Attracts not me. Where blushing grows, + Guarded with thorns, the modest ROSE, + Enamour'd round and round I fly, + Or on her fragrant bosom lie; + Reluctant, she my ardour meets, + And, bashful, renders up her sweets. + + To wiser heads attention lend, + And learn this lesson from a friend: + She, who with modesty retires, + Adds fuel to her lover's fires; + While such incautious jilts as you, + By folly your own schemes undo. + + + + +FABLE XI. + +THE YOUNG LION AND THE APE. + + + 'Tis true, I blame your lover's choice, + Tho' flatter'd by the public voice, + And peevish grow, and sick, to hear + His exclamations, O how fair! + I listen not to wild delights, + And transports of expected nights; + What is to me your hoard of charms, + The whiteness of your neck and arms? + Needs there no acquisition more, + To keep contention from the door? + Yes! pass a fortnight, and you'll find + All beauty cloys but of the mind. + + Sense and good humour ever prove + The surest cords to fasten love. + Yet, PHILLIS, simplest of your sex, + You never think, but to perplex; + Coquetting it with ev'ry APE, + That struts abroad in human shape; + Not that the coxcomb is your taste, + But that it stings your lover's breast. + To-morrow you resign the sway, + Prepar'd to honour and obey; + The tyrant-mistress chang'd for life + To the submission of a wife. + Your follies, if you can, suspend, + And learn instructions from a friend. + Reluctant hear the first address, + Think often, ere you answer, yes; + But once resolv'd, throw off disguise, + And wear your wishes in your eyes. + With caution ev'ry look forbear, + That might create one jealous fear, + A lover's rip'ning hopes confound, + Or give the gen'rous breast a wound; + Contemn the girlish arts to teaze, + Nor use your pow'r unless to please; + For fools alone with rigour sway, + When, soon or late, they must obey. + + The KING OF BRUTES, in life's decline, + Resolv'd dominion to resign; + The beasts were summon'd to appear, + And bend before the royal heir. + They came; a day was fix'd; the crowd + Before their future monarch bow'd. + + A dapper MONKEY, pert and vain, + Step'd forth, and thus address'd the train: + + Why cringe, my friends, with slavish awe, + Before this pageant king of straw? + Shall we anticipate the hour, + And, ere we feel it, own his pow'r? + The counsels of experience prize, + I know the maxims of the wise; + Subjection let us cast away, + And live the monarchs of to-day; + 'Tis ours the vacant hand to spurn, + And play the tyrant each in turn; + So shall he right from wrong discern, + And mercy, from oppression, learn; + At others woes be taught to melt, + And loath the ills himself has felt. + + He spoke; his bosom swell'd with pride, + The youthful LION thus reply'd: + + What madness prompts thee to provoke + My wrath, and dare th' impending stroke? + Thou wretched fool! can wrongs impart + Compassion to the feeling heart? + Or teach the grateful breast to glow, + The hand to give, or eye to flow? + Learn'd in the practice of their schools, + From woman thou hast drawn thy rules; + To them return, in such a cause, + From only such expect applause; + The partial sex I don't condemn, + For liking those who copy them. + + Would'st thou the gen'rous LION bind, + By kindness bribe him to be kind; + Good offices their likeness get, + And payment lessens not the debt: + With multiplying hand he gives + The good from others he receives; + Or for the bad makes fair return, + And pays, with int'rest, scorn for scorn. + + + + +FABLE XII. + +THE COLT AND THE FARMER. + + + Tell me, CORINNA, if you can, + Why so averse, so coy, to man? + Did NATURE, lavish of her care, + From her best pattern form you fair, + That you, ungrateful to her cause, + Should mock her gifts, and spurn her laws? + And, miser-like, withhold that store, + Which, by imparting, blesses more? + Beauty's a gift, by heav'n assign'd, + The portion of the female kind; + For this the yielding maid demands + Protection at her lover's hands; + And though, by wasting years, it fade, + Remembrance tells him, once 'twas paid. + + And will you then this wealth conceal, + For AGE to rust, or TIME to steal? + The summer of your youth to rove, + A stranger to the joys of love? + Then, when LIFE'S winter hastens on, + And YOUTH'S fair heritage is gone, + Dow'rless to court some peasant's arms, + To guard your wither'd age from harms! + No gratitude to warm his breast, + For blooming beauty once possess'd; + How will you curse that stubborn pride, + Which drove your bark across the tide; + And, sailing before FOLLY'S wind, + Left sense and happiness behind! + + CORINNA, lest these whims prevail, + To such as you I write my tale. + + A COLT, for blood and mettled speed, + The choicest of the running breed, + Of youthful strength and beauty vain, + Refus'd subjection to the rein; + In vain the groom's officious skill + Oppos'd his pride, and check'd his will; + In vain the master's forming care, + Restrain'd with threats, or sooth'd with pray'r; + Of freedom proud, and scorning man, + Wide o'er the spacious plains he ran. + Where'er luxuriant NATURE spread + Her flow'ry carpet o'er the mead, + Or bubbling streams, soft gliding, pass + To cool and freshen up the grass; + Disdaining bounds, he cropp'd the blade, + And wanton'd in the spoil he made. + + In plenty thus the summer pass'd, + Revolving winter came at last; + The trees no more a shelter yield; + The verdure withers from the field; + Perpetual snows invest the ground, + In icy chains the streams are bound, + Cold nipping winds, and rattling hail, + His lank, unshelter'd sides assail. + + As round he cast his rueful eyes, + He saw the thatch-roof'd cottage rise; + The prospect touch'd his heart with cheer, + And promis'd kind deliv'rance near. + A stable, erst his scorn and hate, + Was now become his wish'd retreat; + His passion cool, his pride forgot, + A FARMER'S welcome yard he sought. + + The master saw his woeful plight, + His limbs, that totter'd with his weight, + And friendly to the stable led, + And saw him litter'd, dress'd, and fed. + In slothful ease all night he lay; + The servants rose at break of day; + The market calls.--Along the road + His back must bear the pond'rous load; + In vain he struggles, or complains-- + Incessant blows reward his pains. + To-morrow varies but his toil; + Chain'd to the plough he breaks the soil: + While scanty meals at night repay + The painful labours of the day. + + Subdu'd by toil, with anguish rent, + His self-upbraidings found a vent. + Wretch that I am! he sighing said, + By arrogance and folly led; + Had but my restive youth been brought + To learn the lesson NATURE taught, + Then had I, like my sires of yore, + The prize from ev'ry courser bore; + While man bestow'd rewards and praise, + And females crown'd my latter days. + Now lasting servitude's my lot, + My birth contemn'd, my speed forgot; + Doom'd am I, for my pride, to bear + A living death from year to year. + + + + +FABLE XIII. + +THE OWL AND THE NIGHTINGALE. + + + To know the MISTRESS'S humour right, + See if her maids are clean and tight, + If BETTY waits without her stays, + She copies but her LADY'S ways; + When MISS comes in with boist'rous shout, + And drops no court'sey going out, + Depend upon't, MAMMA is one + Who reads, or drinks, too much alone. + + If bottled beer her thirst assuage, + She feels enthusiastic rage, + And burns with ardour to inherit + The gifts and workings of the spirit. + If learning crack her giddy brains, + No remedy but death remains. + Sum up the various ills of life, + And all are sweet to such a wife. + At home, superior wit she vaunts, + And twits her husband with his wants; + Her ragged offspring all around, + Like pigs, are wallowing on the ground. + Impatient ever of controul, + And knows no order but of soul; + With books her litter'd floor is spread, + With nameless authors never read; + Foul linen, petticoats, and lace, + Fill up the intermediate space. + Abroad, at visitings, her tongue + Is never still, and always wrong; + All meanings she defines away, + And stands with truth and sense at bay. + + If e'er she meets a gentle heart, + Skill'd in the housewife's useful art; + Who makes her family her care, + And builds contentment's temple there; + She starts at such mistakes in nature, + And cries, LORD help us! what a creature! + + Melissa, if the moral strike, + You'll find the fable not unlike. + + An OWL, puff'd up with self-conceit, + Lov'd learning better than his meat; + Old manuscripts he treasur'd up, + And rummag'd ev'ry grocer's shop; + At pastry-cooks was known to ply, + And strip, for science, ev'ry pie. + For modern poetry and wit, + He had read all that BLACKMORE writ. + So intimate with CURL was grown, + His learned treasures were his own; + To all his authors had access, + And sometimes would correct the press. + In logic he acquir'd such knowledge, + You'd swear him fellow of a college. + Alike to ev'ry art and science, + His daring genius bid defiance, + And swallow'd wisdom with that haste + That cits do custards at a feast. + + Within the shelter of a wood, + One evening, as he musing stood, + Hard by, upon a leafy spray, + A NIGHTINGALE began his lay; + Sudden he starts, with anger stung, + And, screeching, interrupts the song. + + Pert, busy thing! thy airs give o'er, + And let my contemplation soar-- + What is the music of thy voice, + But jarring dissonance and noise? + Be wise--True harmony thou'lt find + Not in the throat, but in the mind; + By empty chirping not attain'd, + But by laborious study gain'd. + Go, read the authors POPE explodes, + Fathom the depth of CIBBER'S odes; + With modern plays improve thy wit, + Read all the learning HENLEY writ, + And if thou needs must sing, sing then, + And emulate the ways of men: + So shalt thou grow, like me, refin'd, + And bring improvement to thy kind. + + Thou wretch! the little warbler cry'd, + Made up of ignorance and pride; + Ask all the birds, and they'll declare + A greater blockhead wings not air. + Read o'er thyself, thy talents scan, + Science was only meant for man. + No senseless authors me molest, + I mind the duties of my nest; + With careful wing protect my young, + And cheer their ev'nings with a song; + Make short the weary trav'ller's way, + And warble in the poet's lay. + + Thus, following nature, and her laws, + From men and birds I claim applause, + While, nurs'd in pedantry and sloth, + An OWL is scorn'd alike by both. + + + + +FABLE XIV. + +THE SPARROW AND THE DOVE. + + + It was, as learn'd traditions say, + Upon an APRIL'S blithsome day, + When PLEASURE, ever on the wing, + Return'd, companion of the SPRING, + And cheer'd the birds with am'rous heat, + Instructing little hearts to beat; + A SPARROW, frolic, gay, and young, + Of bold address, and flippant tongue, + Just left his lady of a night, + Like him, to follow new delight. + + The youth, of many a conquest vain, + Flew off to seek the chirping train; + The chirping train he quickly found, + And with a saucy ease bow'd round. + + For every she his bosom burns, + And this, and that, he woos by turns; + And here a sigh, and there a bill, + And here--those eyes! so form'd to kill! + And now, with ready tongue, he strings + Unmeaning, soft, resistless things; + With vows, and dem-me's, skill'd to woo, + As other pretty fellows do. + Not that he thought this short essay + A prologue needful to his play; + No, trust me, says our learned letter, + He knew the virtuous sex much better; + But these he held as specious arts, + To shew his own superior parts, + The form of decency to shield, + And give a just pretence to yield. + + Thus finishing his courtly play, + He mark'd the fav'rite of a day; + With careless impudence drew near, + And whisper'd HEBREW in her ear: + A hint which, like the MASON'S sign, + The conscience can alone divine. + + The flutt'ring nymph, expert at feigning, + Cry'd, "Sir, pray sir, explain your meaning! + Go prate to those that may endure ye-- + To me this rudeness! I'll assure ye!" + Then off she glided like a swallow, + As saying--you guess where to follow. + + To such as know the party set, + 'Tis needless to say where they met; + The PARSON'S barn, as authors mention, + Confess'd the fair had apprehension. + Her honour there, secure from stain, + She held all farther trifling vain; + No more affected to be coy, + But rush'd, licentious, on the joy. + + 'Hist, love!' the male companion cry'd, + 'Retire awhile, I fear we're 'spy'd:' + Nor was the caution vain; he saw + A TURTLE rustling in the straw, + While o'er her callow brood she hung, + And fondly thus address'd her young: + + "Ye tender objects of my care! + Peace, peace, ye little helpless pair; + Anon he comes, your gentle sire, + And brings you all your hearts require. + For us, his infants and his bride, + For us, with only love to guide, + Our lord assumes an EAGLE'S speed, + And, like a LION, dares to bleed. + Nor yet by wintry skies confin'd, + He mounts upon the rudest wind, + From danger tears the vital spoil, + And with affection sweetens toil. + Ah! cease, too vent'rous--cease to dare, + In thine, our dearer safety spare! + From him, ye cruel FALCONS, stray; + And turn, ye FOWLERS, far away. + + "Should I survive to see the day, + That tears me from myself away; + That cancels all that heav'n could give, + The life, by which alone I live; + Alas! how more than lost were I, + Who in the thought already die! + + "Ye pow'rs, who men and birds obey, + Great rulers of your creatures, say, + Why mourning comes, by bliss convey'd, + And ev'n the sweets of love allay'd? + Where grows enjoyment, tall and fair, + Around it twines entangling care; + While fear, for what our souls possess, + Enervates ev'ry pow'r to bless; + Yet FRIENDSHIP forms the bliss above, + And LIFE, what art thou, without LOVE?"-- + + Our HERO, who had heard apart, + Felt something moving in his heart; + But quickly, with disdain, suppress'd + The virtue rising in his breast; + And, first, he feign'd to laugh aloud, + And next, approaching, smil'd and bow'd. + + 'MADAM, you must not think me rude, + Good manners never can intrude; + I vow I came through pure good-nature; + (Upon my soul a charming creature!) + Are these the comforts of a wife? + This careful, cloister'd, moping life? + No doubt, that odious thing, call'd duty, + Is a sweet province for a beauty. + Thou pretty ignorance! thy will + Is measur'd to thy want of skill; + That good old-fashion'd dame, thy mother, + Has taught thy infant years no other. + The greatest ill in the creation + Is, sure, the want of education! + + 'But think ye (tell me without feigning) + Have all these charms no farther meaning? + Dame NATURE, if you don't forget her, + Might teach your ladyship much better. + For shame, reject this mean employment, + Enter the world, and taste enjoyment; + Where time, by circling bliss we measure, + Beauty was form'd alone for pleasure; + Come, prove the blessing, follow me; + Be wise, be happy, and be free.' + + "Kind sir," reply'd our MATRON chaste, + "Your zeal seems pretty much in haste; + I own the fondness to be blest, + Is a deep thirst in every breast; + Of blessings too I have my store, + Yet quarrel not, should heav'n give more; + Then prove the change to be expedient, + And think me, sir, your most obedient." + Here turning, as to one inferior, + Our gallant spoke, and smil'd superior: + 'Methinks, to quit your boasted station + Requires a world of hesitation; + Where brats and bonds are held a blessing, + The case, I doubt, is past redressing: + Why, child, suppose the joys I mention + Were the mere fruits of my invention, + You've cause sufficient for your carriage, + In flying from the curse of marriage; + That sly decoy, with vary'd snares, + That takes your widgeons in by pairs; + Alike to husband, and to wife, + The cure of love, and bane of life; + The only method of forecasting + To make misfortune firm and lasting; + The sin, by heav'n's peculiar sentence, + Unpardon'd, through a life's repentance. + It is the double snake, that weds + A common tail to diff'rent heads; + That leads the carcase still astray, + By dragging each a diff'rent way. + Of all the ills that may attend me, + From marriage, mighty GODS, defend me! + + 'Give me frank NATURE'S wild demesne, + And boundless tract of air serene, + Where FANCY, ever wing'd for change, + Delights to sport, delights to range! + There, LIBERTY! to thee is owing + Whate'er of bliss is worth bestowing; + Delights, still vary'd, and divine, + Sweet goddess of the hills! are thine. + + 'What say you now, you pretty pink, you? + Have I, for once, spoke reason, think you? + You take me now for no romancer-- + Come, never study for an answer; + Away, cast ev'ry care behind ye, + And fly where joy alone shall find ye.' + + "Soft yet," return'd our female fencer, + "A question more, or so--and then, sir. + You've rallied me with sense exceeding, + With much fine wit, and better breeding; + But pray, sir, how do you contrive it? + Do those of your world never wive it?" + 'No, no,' "How then?" 'Why dare I tell + What does the business full as well.' + "Do you ne'er love?" 'An hour at leisure.' + "Have you no friendship?" 'Yes, for pleasure.' + "No care for little ones?" 'We get 'em; + The rest the mothers mind, and let 'em.' + + "Thou wretch!" rejoin'd the kindling DOVE, + "Quite lost to life, as lost to love! + Whene'er misfortunes come, how just! + And come, misfortune surely must; + In the dread season of dismay, + In that your hour of trial, say, + Who then shall prop your sinking heart? + Who bear AFFLICTION'S weightier part? + + "Say, when the black-brow'd welkin bends, + And WINTER'S gloomy form impends, + To mourning turns all transient cheer, + And blasts the melancholy year; + For times at no persuasion stay, + Nor vice can find perpetual MAY; + Then where's that tongue, by FOLLY fed, + That soul of pertness, whither fled? + All shrunk within thy lonely nest, + Forlorn, abandon'd, and unbless'd; + No friends, by cordial bonds ally'd, + Shall seek thy cold unsocial side; + No chirping prattlers to delight, + Shall turn the long-enduring night; + No bride her words of balm impart, + And warm thee at her constant heart. + + "FREEDOM, restrain'd by REASON'S force, + Is as the sun's unvarying course, + Benignly active, sweetly bright, + Affording warmth, affording light; + But torn from VIRTUE'S sacred rules, + Becomes a comet, gaz'd by fools, + Foreboding cares, and storms, and strife, + And fraught with all the plagues of life. + + "Thou fool! by union every creature + Subsists, through universal nature; + And this, to beings void of mind, + Is wedlock of a meaner kind. + + "While womb'd in space, primeval clay + A yet unfashion'd embryo lay; + The source of endless good above + Shot down his spark of kindling love; + Touch'd by the all-enliv'ning flame, + Then motion first exulting came, + Each atom sought its sep'rate class, + Through many a fair enamour'd mass; + Love cast the central charm around, + And with eternal nuptials bound. + Then FORM and ORDER, o'er the sky + First train'd their bridal pomp on high; + The SUN display'd his orb to sight, + And burn'd with HYMENEAL light. + + "Hence NATURE'S virgin womb conceiv'd, + And with the genial burthen heav'd; + Forth came the oak, her first born heir, + And scal'd the breathing steep of air; + Then infant stems, of various use, + Imbib'd her soft maternal juice. + The flow'rs, in early bloom disclos'd, + Upon her fragrant breast repos'd; + Within her warm embraces grew + A race, of endless form and hue; + Then pour'd her lesser offspring round, + And fondly cloth'd their parent ground. + + "Nor here alone the virtue reign'd, + By matter's cumb'rous form detain'd, + But thence, subliming, and refin'd, + Aspir'd, and reach'd its kindred mind. + Caught in the fond celestial fire, + The mind perceiv'd unknown desire; + And now with kind effusion flow'd, + And now with cordial ardours glow'd, + Beheld the sympathetic fair, + And lov'd its own resemblance there; + On all, with circling radiance, shone, + But, cent'ring, fix'd on one alone; + There clasp'd the heav'n-appointed wife, + And doubled every joy of life. + + "Here, ever blessing, ever blest, + Resides this beauty of the breast; + As from his palace here the god + Still beams effulgent bliss abroad; + Here gems his own eternal round + The ring by which the world is bound; + Here bids his seat of empire grow, + And builds his little heav'n below. + + "The bridal partners thus ally'd, + And thus in sweet accordance tied, + One body, heart, and spirit live, + Enrich'd by ev'ry joy they give; + Like ECHO, from her vocal hold, + Return'd in music twenty-fold. + Their union firm, and undecay'd, + Nor TIME can shake, nor POW'R invade; + But, as the stem and scion stand + Ingrafted by a skilful hand, + They check the TEMPEST'S wintry rage, + And bloom and strengthen into age. + A thousand amities unknown, + And pow'rs, perceiv'd by LOVE alone; + Endearing looks, and chaste desire, + Fan and support the mutual fire, + Whose flame, perpetual as refin'd, + Is fed by an immortal MIND. + + "Nor yet the nuptial sanction ends, + Like NILE, it opens and descends, + Which, by apparent windings led, + We trace to its celestial head. + The sire, first springing from above, + Becomes the source of life and love, + And gives his filial heir to flow, + In fondness down on sons below; + Thus roll'd in one continu'd tide, + To TIME'S extremest verge they glide; + While kindred streams, on either hand, + Branch forth in blessings o'er the land. + Thee, wretch! no lisping babe shall name, + No late-returning brother claim; + No kinsman on thy road rejoice, + No sister greet thy ent'ring voice; + With partial eyes no parent see, + And bless their years restor'd in thee. + + "In age rejected, or declin'd, + An ALIEN ev'n among thy kind, + The partner of thy scorn'd embrace + Shall play the wanton in thy face; + Each spark unplume thy little pride, + All friendship fly thy faithless side; + Thy name shall, like thy carcase, rot, + In sickness spurn'd, in death forgot. + + "All-giving POW'R! great source of life! + O hear the parent! hear the wife! + That life thou lendest from above, + Though little, make it large in love; + O bid my feeling heart expand + To ev'ry claim, on ev'ry hand; + To those, from whom my days I drew, + To these in whom those days renew; + To all my kin, however wide, + In cordial warmth, as blood ally'd, + To friends with steely fetters twin'd, + And to the cruel, not unkind! + But chief, the lord of my desire, + My life, myself, my soul, my sire; + Friends, children, all that wish can claim, + Chaste passion clasp, and rapture name! + O spare him, spare him, GRACIOUS POW'R! + O give him to my latest hour! + Let me my length of life employ, + To give my sole enjoyment joy; + His love, let mutual love excite, + Turn all my cares to his delight, + And ev'ry needless blessing spare, + Wherein my darling wants a share. + When he with graceful action woos, + And sweetly bills and fondly coos, + Ah! deck me to his eyes alone, + With charms attractive as his own, + And in my circling wings caress'd, + Give all the lover to my breast. + Then in our chaste, connubial bed, + My bosom pillow'd for his head, + His eyes with blissful slumbers close, + And watch, with me, my lord's repose; + Your peace around his temples twine, + And love him with a love like mine. + + "And, for I know his gen'rous flame, + Beyond whate'er my sex can claim, + Me, too, to your protection take, + And spare me for my husband's sake; + Let one unruffled calm delight + The loving and belov'd unite; + One pure desire our bosoms warm, + One will direct, one wish inform; + Through life one mutual aid sustain, + In death one peaceful grave contain." + + While, swelling with the darling theme, + Her accents pour'd an endless stream, + The well-known wings a sound impart, + That reach'd her ear, and touch'd her heart; + Quick dropp'd the music of her tongue, + And forth, with eager joy, she sprung; + As swift her ent'ring consort flew, + And plum'd and kindled at the view; + Their wings, their souls, embracing meet, + Their hearts with answ'ring measure beat; + Half lost in sacred sweets, and bless'd + With raptures felt, but ne'er express'd. + + Straight to her humble roof she led + The partner of her spotless bed; + Her young, a flutt'ring pair, arise, + Their welcome sparkling in their eyes, + Transported, to their sire they bound, + And hang with speechless action round. + In pleasure wrapt, the parents stand, + And see their little wings expand; + The sire, his life-sustaining prize + To each expecting bill applies; + There fondly pours the wheaten spoil, + With transport giv'n, though won with toil; + While all collected at the sight, + And silent, through supreme delight, + The FAIR high heav'n of bliss beguiles, + And on her lord and infants smiles. + + The SPARROW, whose attention hung + Upon the DOVE'S enchanting tongue, + Of all his little slights disarm'd, + And from himself by VIRTUE charm'd, + When now he saw, what only seem'd, + A fact, so late a fable deem'd; + His soul to envy he resign'd, + His hours of folly to the wind; + In secret wish'd a TURTLE too, + And, sighing to himself, withdrew. + + + + +FABLE XV. + +THE FEMALE SEDUCERS. + + + 'Tis said of WIDOW, MAID, and WIFE, + That honour is a WOMAN'S life; + Unhappy sex! who only claim + A being in the breath of fame, + Which, tainted, not the quick'ning gales + That sweep SABAEA'S spicy vales, + Nor all the healing sweets restore, + That breathe along ARABIA'S shore. + + The trav'ller, if he chance to stray, + May turn uncensur'd to his way; + Polluted streams again are pure, + And deepest wounds admit a cure; + But WOMAN! no redemption knows, + The wounds of honour never close. + + Tho' distant ev'ry hand to guide, + Nor skill'd on life's tempestuous tide, + If once her feeble bark recede, + Or deviate from the course decreed, + In vain she seeks the friendly shore, + Her swifter folly flies before; + The circling ports against her close, + And shut the wand'rer from repose, + Till by conflicting waves opprest, + Her found'ring pinnace sinks to rest. + + Are there no off'rings to atone + For but a single error?--None! + Tho' WOMAN is avow'd of old + No daughter of celestial mould; + Her temp'ring not without allay, + And form'd but of the finer clay; + We challenge from the mortal dame, + The strength angelic natures claim; + Nay more--for sacred stories tell + That ev'n immortal angels fell. + + Whatever fills the teeming sphere + Of humid earth, and ambient air, + With varying elements endu'd, + Was form'd to fall, and rise renew'd. + + The stars no fix'd duration know; + Wide oceans ebb, again to flow; + The moon repletes her waning face, + All-beauteous, from her late disgrace; + And suns, that mourn approaching night, + Refulgent rise, with new-born light. + + In vain may death and time subdue, + While nature mints her race anew, + And holds some vital spark apart, + Like virtue, hid in ev'ry heart; + 'Tis hence, reviving warmth is seen, + To clothe a naked world in green; + No longer bared by winter's cold, + Again the gates of life unfold; + Again each insect tries his wing, + And lifts fresh pinions on the spring; + Again from ev'ry latent root + The bladed stem and tendril shoot, + Exhaling incense to the skies, + Again to perish, and to rise. + + And must weak WOMAN then disown + The change to which a world is prone? + In one meridian brightness shine, + And ne'er like ev'ning suns decline? + Resolv'd and firm alone?--Is this + What we demand of WOMAN?--Yes! + + But should the spark of vestal fire, + In some unguarded hour expire; + Or should the nightly thief invade + HESPERIA'S chaste and sacred shade, + Of all the blooming spoils possess'd, + The dragon, honour, charm'd to rest, + Shall VIRTUE'S flame no more return? + No more with virgin splendour burn? + No more the ravag'd garden blow + With spring's succeeding blossom?--No! + Pity may mourn, but not restore, + And WOMAN falls--to rise no more. + + +[Illustration: + + _Lovely Penitent, arise, + Come, and claim thy kindred skies;_ + +_Page 92._ + +_London Published by Scatcherd & Letterman, Ave Maria Lane._] + + + Within this sublunary sphere, + A country lies--no matter where; + The clime may readily be found, + By all who tread poetic ground; + A stream, call'd LIFE, across it glides, + And equally the land divides; + And here, of VICE the province lies, + And there, the hills of VIRTUE rise. + + Upon a mountain's airy stand, + Whose summit look'd to either land, + An ancient pair their dwelling chose, + As well for prospect as repose; + For mutual faith they long were fam'd, + And TEMP'RANCE, and RELIGION, nam'd. + + A num'rous progeny divine + Confess'd the honours of their line; + But in a little daughter fair + Was center'd more than half their care; + For heav'n, to gratulate her birth, + Gave signs of future joy to earth. + White was the robe this infant wore, + And CHASTITY the name she bore. + + As now the maid in stature grew, + (A flow'r just op'ning to the view) + Oft thro' her native lawns she stray'd, + And wrestling with the lambkins play'd; + Her looks diffusive sweets bequeath'd, + The breeze grew purer as she breath'd, + The morn her radiant blush assum'd, + The spring with earlier fragrance bloom'd, + And NATURE yearly took delight, + Like her, to dress the world in white. + + But when her rising form was seen + To reach the crisis of fifteen; + Her parents up the mountain's head, + With anxious step, their darling led; + By turns they snatch'd her to their breast, + And thus the fears of age express'd: + + "O joyful cause of many a care! + O daughter, too divinely fair! + Yon world, on this important day, + Demands thee to a dang'rous way; + A painful journey all must go, + Whose doubtful period none can know; + Whose due direction who can find, + Where REASON'S mute, and SENSE is blind! + Ah! what unequal leaders these, + Thro' such a wide perplexing maze! + Then mark the warnings of the wise, + And learn what love and years advise. + + "Far to the right thy prospect bend, + Where yonder tow'ring hills ascend; + Lo! there the arduous path's in view, + Which VIRTUE, and her sons, pursue; + With toil, o'er less'ning earth they rise, + And gain, and gain upon the skies.-- + Narrow's the way her children tread, + No walk for pleasure smoothly spread; + But rough, and difficult, and steep, + Painful to climb, and hard to keep. + + "Fruits immature those lands dispense, + A food indelicate to sense, + Of taste unpleasant, yet from those + Pure HEALTH, with cheerful VIGOUR flows; + And strength unfeeling of decay, + Throughout the long laborious way. + + "Hence, as they scale that heav'nly road, + Each limb is lighten'd of its load: + From earth refining still they go, + And leave the mortal weight below; + Then spreads the strait, the doubtful clears, + And smooth the rugged path appears; + For custom turns fatigue to ease, + And, taught by VIRTUE, PAIN can please. + + "At length, the toilsome journey o'er, + And near the bright celestial shore, + A gulf, black, fearful, and profound, + Appears, of either world the bound. + Thro' darkness, leading up to light, + Sense backward shrinks, and shuns the sight; + For there the transitory train, + Of time, and form, and care, and pain, + And matter's gross incumb'ring mass, + Man's late associates, cannot pass, + But sinking, quit th' immortal charge, + And leave the wond'ring soul at large; + Lightly she wings her obvious way, + And mingles with eternal day. + + "Thither, O thither, wing thy speed, + Tho' PLEASURE charm, or PAIN impede; + To such th' all-bounteous pow'r has giv'n, + For present earth, a future heav'n; + For trivial loss, unmeasur'd gain, + And endless bliss, for transient pain. + Then fear, ah! fear, to turn thy sight, + Where yonder flow'ry fields invite; + Wide on the left the path-way bends, + And with pernicious ease descends; + There, sweet to sense, and fair to show, + New-planted EDEN seems to blow; + Trees that delicious poison bear, + For DEATH is vegetable there. + + "Hence is the frame of health unbrac'd, + Each sinew slack'ning at the taste; + The soul to passion yields her throne, + And sees with organs not her own; + While, like the slumb'rer in the night, + Pleas'd with the shadowy dream of light, + Before her alienated eyes + The scenes of fairy-land arise; + The puppet-world's amusing show, + Dipt in the gaily colour'd bow; + Sceptres, and wreaths, and glitt'ring things, + The toys of infants and of kings, + That tempt along the baneful plain, + The idly wise, and lightly vain; + Till verging on the gully shore, + Sudden they sink, to rise no more. + + "But list to what thy FATES declare, + Tho' thou art WOMAN, frail as fair, + If once thy sliding foot should stray, + Once quit yon heav'n-appointed way, + For thee, lost maid, for thee alone, + Nor pray'rs shall plead, nor tears atone; + Reproach, scorn, infamy, and hate, + On thy returning steps shall wait.-- + Thy form be loath'd by ev'ry eye, + And ev'ry foot thy presence fly." + + Thus arm'd with words of potent sound, + Like guardian-angels plac'd around; + A charm, by truth divinely cast, + Forward our young advent'rer pass'd. + Forth from her sacred eye-lids sent, + Like morn, fore-running, radiance went, + While HONOUR, hand-maid, late assign'd, + Upheld her lucid train behind. + + Awe-struck, the much-admiring crowd + Before the virgin-vision bow'd; + Gaz'd with an ever-new delight, + And caught fresh virtues at the sight; + For not of earth's unequal frame + They deem'd the heav'n-compounded dame, + If matter, sure the most refin'd, + High-wrought, and temper'd into mind, + Some darling daughter of the day, + And body'd by her native ray. + + Where'er she passes, thousands bend, + And thousands, where she moves, attend; + Her ways observant eyes confess, + Her steps pursuing praises bless; + While to the elevated maid + Oblations, as to HEAV'N, are paid. + + 'Twas on an ever-blithsome day, + The jovial birth of rosy MAY, + When genial warmth, no more suppress'd, + New melts the frost in every breast; + The cheek with secret flushing dies, + And looks kind things from chastest eyes; + The SUN with healthier visage glows, + Aside his clouded kerchief throws, + And dances up th' ethereal plain, + Where late he us'd to climb with pain; + While NATURE, as from bonds set free, + Springs out, and gives a loose to glee. + + And now for momentary rest, + The nymph her travell'd step repress'd, + Just turn'd to view the stage attain'd, + And glory'd in the height she gain'd. + + Out-stretch'd before her wide survey, + The realms of sweet PERDITION lay, + And pity touch'd her soul with woe, + To see a world so lost below; + When straight the breeze began to breathe + Airs, gently wafted from beneath, + That bore commission'd witchcraft thence, + And reach'd her sympathy of sense; + No sounds of discord, that disclose + A people sunk, and lost in woes; + But as of present good possess'd, + The very triumph of the bless'd; + The maid in wrapt attention hung, + While thus approaching SIRENS sung. + + 'Hither, fairest, hither haste, + Brightest beauty, come and taste + What the pow'rs of bliss unfold; + Joys too mighty to be told; + Taste what ecstasies they give, + Dying raptures taste, and live. + + 'In thy lap, disdaining measure, + NATURE empties all her treasure; + Soft desires, that sweetly languish, + Fierce delights, that rise to anguish: + Fairest, dost thou yet delay? + Brightest beauty, come away! + + 'List not, when the froward chide, + Sons of pedantry and pride; + Snarlers, to whose feeble sense + APRIL sun-shine is offence; + Age and envy will advise, + Ev'n against the joys they prize. + Come, in PLEASURE'S balmy bowl + Slake the thirstings of thy soul, + 'Till thy raptur'd pow'rs are fainting + With enjoyment, past the painting: + Fairest, dost thou yet delay? + Brightest beauty, come away!' + + So sung the SIRENS, as of yore, + Upon the false AUSONIAN shore; + And, O! for that preventing chain, + That bound ULYSSES on the main, + That so our FAIR ONE might withstand + The covert ruin now at hand. + + The song her charm'd attention drew, + When now the tempters stood in view; + CURIOSITY with prying eyes, + And hand of busy, bold emprize; + Like HERMES, feather'd were her feet, + And like fore-running fancy fleet; + By search untaught, by toil untir'd, + To novelty she still aspir'd, + Tasteless of ev'ry good possess'd, + And but in expectation bless'd. + + With her, associate, PLEASURE came, + Gay PLEASURE, frolic-loving dame! + Her mien, all swimming in delight, + Her beauties, half reveal'd to sight; + Loose flow'd her garments from the ground + And caught the kissing winds around. + As erst MEDUSA'S looks were known + To turn beholders into stone, + A dire reversion here they felt, + And in the eye of pleasure melt. + Her glance of sweet persuasion charm'd, + Unnerv'd the strong, the steel'd disarm'd; + No safety, ev'n the flying find, + Who, vent'rous, looks not once behind. + + Thus was the much-admiring maid, + While distant, more than half betray'd. + With smiles, and adulation bland, + They join'd her side, and seiz'd her hand; + Their touch envenom'd sweets instill'd, + Her frame with new pulsations thrill'd, + While half consenting, half denying, + Reluctant now, and now complying, + Amidst a war of hopes and fears, + Of trembling wishes, smiling tears, + Still down, and down, the winning pair + Compell'd the struggling, yielding fair. + + As when some stately vessel, bound + To blest ARABIA'S distant ground, + Borne from her courses, haply lights + Where BARCA'S flow'ry clime invites; + Conceal'd around whose treach'rous land, + Lurks the dire rock, and dang'rous sand; + The pilot warns, with sail and oar, + To shun the much-suspected shore + In vain: the tide too subtly strong, + Still bears the wrestling bark along, + Till found'ring, she resigns to fate, + And sinks, o'erwhelmn'd, with all her freight. + + So baffling ev'ry bar to sin, + And heav'n's own pilot plac'd within, + Along the devious smooth descent, + With pow'rs increasing as they went, + The DAMES, accustom'd to subdue, + As with a rapid current drew; + And o'er the fatal bounds convey'd + The lost, the long-reluctant maid. + + Here stop, ye fair ones, and beware, + Nor send your fond affections there; + Yet, yet your darling, now deplor'd, + May turn, to you and HEAV'N restor'd; + Till then, with weeping HONOUR, wait + The servant of her better fate, + With HONOUR left upon the shore, + Her friend and handmaid now no more; + Nor, with the guilty world, upbraid + The fortunes of a wretch betray'd; + But o'er her failing cast a veil, + Rememb'ring you, yourselves, are frail. + And now, from all-enquiring light, + Fast fled the conscious shades of night; + The damsel, from a short repose, + Confounded at her plight, arose. + + As when with slumb'rous weight opprest, + Some wealthy miser sinks to rest, + Where felons eye the glitt'ring prey, + And steal his hoard of joys away: + He, borne where golden INDUS streams, + Of pearl and quarry'd di'mond dreams, + Like MIDAS, turns the glebe to ore, + And stands all wrapt amidst his store; + But wakens, naked, and despoil'd + Of that for which his years had toil'd. + + So far'd the NYMPH, her treasure flown, + And turn'd, like NIOBE, to stone; + Within, without, obscure and void, + She felt all ravag'd, all destroy'd. + And, O! thou curs'd insidious coast, + Are these the blessings thou canst boast? + These, VIRTUE! these the joys they find, + Who leave thy heav'n-topt hills behind! + Shade me, ye pines, ye caverns hide, + Ye mountains cover me! she cry'd. + + Her trumpet SLANDER rais'd on high, + And told the tidings to the sky; + CONTEMPT discharg'd a living dart, + A side-long viper to her heart; + REPROACH breath'd poisons o'er her face, + And soil'd, and blasted ev'ry grace; + Officious SHAME, her handmaid new, + Still turn'd the mirror to her view; + While those in crimes the deepest dy'd, + Approach'd to whiten at her side; + And ev'ry lewd insulting dame + Upon her folly rose to fame. + + What should she do; attempt once more + To gain the late-deserted shore? + So trusting, back the mourner flew, + As fast the train of fiends pursue. + + Again the farther shore's attain'd, + Again the land of VIRTUE gain'd; + But ECHO gathers in the wind, + And shows her instant foes behind. + Amaz'd! with headlong speed she tends, + Where late she left an host of friends; + Alas! those shrinking friends decline, + Nor longer own that form divine; + With fear they mark the following cry, + And from the lonely trembler fly; + Or backward drive her on the coast + Where PEACE was wreck'd, and HONOUR lost. + + From earth thus hoping aid in vain; + To HEAV'N, not daring to complain; + No truce, by hostile CLAMOUR giv'n, + And from the face of FRIENDSHIP driv'n; + The NYMPH sunk prostrate on the ground, + With all her weight of woes around. + + Enthron'd within a circling sky, + Upon a mount, o'er mountains high, + All radiant sat, as in a shrine, + VIRTUE, first effluence divine; + Far, far above the scenes of woe, + That shut this cloud-wrapt world below: + Superior goddess! essence bright! + Beauty of uncreated light, + Whom should mortality survey, + As doom'd upon a certain day; + The breath of frailty must expire, + The world dissolve in living fire; + The gems of heav'n and solar flame, + Be quench'd by her eternal beam, + And nature, quick'ning in her eye, + To raise a new-born phoenix, die. + + +[Illustration: _Vanity_ + + _Thus far extends my friendly pow'r, + Nor quits her in her latest hour;_ + +_Page 108._ + +_London: Published by Scatcherd & Letterman, Ave Maria Lane._] + + + Hence, unreveal'd to mortal view, + A veil around her form she threw, + Which three sad sisters of the shade, + PAIN, CARE, and MELANCHOLY, made. + + Thro' this her all-inquiring eye, + Attentive from her station high, + Beheld, abandon'd to despair, + The ruins of her fav'rite fair; + And with a voice, whose awful sound + Appall'd the guilty world around, + Bid the tumultuous winds be still; + To numbers bow'd each list'ning hill; + Uncurl'd the surging of the main, + And smooth'd the thorny bed of pain; + The golden harp of heav'n she strung, + And thus the tuneful goddess sung: + + "Lovely PENITENT, arise, + Come, and claim thy kindred skies; + Come, thy sister angels say, + Thou hast wept thy stains away. + + "Let experience now decide, + 'Twixt the good and evil, try'd, + In the smooth enchanted ground, + Say, unfold the treasures found. + + "Structures, rais'd by morning dreams, + Sands that trip the flitting streams, + Down that anchors on the air, + Clouds that paint their changes there. + + "Seas that smoothly dimpling lie, + While the storm impends on high, + Showing in an obvious glass, + Joys that in possession pass. + + "Transient, fickle, light, and gay, + Flatt'ring, only to betray; + What, alas! can life contain? + Life, like all its circles, vain. + + "Will the STORK, intending rest, + On the billow build her nest? + Will the BEE demand his store + From the bleak and bladeless shore! + + "MAN alone, intent to stray, + Ever turns from WISDOM'S way; + Lays up wealth in foreign land, + Sows the sea, and plows the sand. + + "Soon this elemental mass, + Soon th' encumb'ring world shall pass; + Form be wrapt in wasting fire, + TIME be spent, and LIFE expire. + + "Then, ye boasted works of men! + Where is your asylum then? + Sons of PLEASURE, sons of CARE, + Tell me, mortals, tell me where? + + "Gone, like traces on the deep, + Like a sceptre grasp'd in sleep; + Dews exhal'd from morning glades, + Melting snows, and gliding shades. + + "Pass the world, and what's behind? + Virtue's gold, by fire refin'd; + From an universe deprav'd, + From the wreck of nature sav'd. + + "Like the life-supporting grain, + Fruit of patience and of pain, + On the swain's autumnal day, + Winnow'd from the chaff away. + + "Little TREMBLER, fear no more, + Thou hast plenteous crops in store; + Seeds, by genial sorrows sown, + More than all thy scorners own. + + "What, tho' hostile earth despise, + Heaven beholds with gentler eyes; + Heav'n thy friendless steps shall guide, + Cheer thy hours, and guard thy side. + + "When the fatal trump shall sound, + When th' immortals pour around, + Heav'n shall thy return attest, + Hail'd by myriads of the bless'd. + + "Little native of the skies, + Lovely PENITENT, arise, + Calm thy bosom, clear thy brow, + VIRTUE is thy sister now. + + "More delightful are my woes + Than the rapture PLEASURE knows; + Richer far the weeds I bring + Than the robes that grace a king. + + "On my wars of shortest date, + Crowns of endless triumph wait; + On my cares a period bless'd, + On my toils, eternal rest. + + "Come, with VIRTUE at thy side, + Come, be ev'ry bar defy'd, + Till we gain our native shore; + Sister, come, and turn no more." + + + + +FABLE XVI. + +LOVE AND VANITY. + + + The breezy morning breath'd perfume, + The wak'ning flow'rs unveil'd their bloom; + Up with the sun, from short repose, + Gay HEALTH, and lusty LABOUR, rose; + The milk-maid carol'd at her pail, + And shepherds whistled o'er the dale; + When LOVE, who led a rural life, + Remote from bustle, state, and strife, + Forth from his thatch-roof'd cottage stray'd, + And stroll'd along the dewy glade. + + A nymph, who lightly tripp'd it by, + To quick attention turn'd his eye; + He mark'd the gesture of the fair, + Her self-sufficient grace and air; + Her steps that mincing meant to please, + Her study'd negligence and ease; + And curious to inquire what meant + This thing of prettiness and paint, + Approaching spoke, and bow'd observant: + The lady, slightly--"Sir, your servant." + + 'Such beauty in so rude a place! + Fair one, you do the country grace; + At court, no doubt, the public care, + But LOVE has small acquaintance there.' + + "Yes, sir," reply'd the flutt'ring dame, + "This form confesses whence it came; + But dear VARIETY, you know, + Can make us pride and pomp forego; + My name is VANITY: I sway + The utmost islands of the sea; + Within my court all honour centers, + I raise the meanest soul that enters, + Endow with latent gifts and graces, + And model fools for posts and places. + + "As VANITY appoints at pleasure, + The world receives its weight and measure; + Hence all the grand concerns of life, + Joys, cares, plagues, passion, peace, and strife. + + "Reflect how far my pow'r prevails, + When I step in where NATURE fails: + And ev'ry breach of sense repairing, + Am bounteous still, where heav'n is sparing. + + "But chief, in all their arts and airs, + Their playing, painting, pouts, and pray'rs, + Their various habits and complexions, + Fits, frolics, foibles, and perfections, + Their robing, curling, and adorning, + From noon to night, from night to morning, + From six to sixty, sick or sound, + I rule the female world around."-- + + 'Hold there a moment,' CUPID cry'd, + 'Nor boast dominion quite so wide; + Was there no province to invade, + But that by love and meekness sway'd; + All other empire I resign, + But be the sphere of beauty mine. + + 'For in the downy lawn of rest, + That opens on a woman's breast, + Attended by my peaceful train, + I choose to live, and choose to reign. + + 'Far-sighted FAITH I bring along, + And TRUTH, above an army strong, + And CHASTITY, of icy mould, + Within the burning tropics cold; + And LOWLINESS, to whose mild brow + The pow'r and pride of nations bow; + And MODESTY, with down-cast eye, + That lends the morn her virgin dye; + And INNOCENCE, array'd in light, + And HONOUR, as a tow'r upright; + With sweetly winning graces, more + Than poets ever dreamt of yore; + In unaffected conduct free, + All smiling sisters, three times three; + And rosy PEACE, the cherub bless'd, + That nightly sings us all to rest. + + 'Hence, from the bud of NATURE'S prime, + From the first step of infant time, + Woman, the world's appointed light, + Has skirted ev'ry shade with white; + Has stood for imitation high, + To ev'ry heart, and ev'ry eye; + From ancient deeds of fair renown, + Has brought her bright memorials down; + To time affix'd perpetual youth, + And form'd each tale of love and truth. + + 'Upon a new PROMETHEAN plan, + She moulds the essence of a man, + Tempers his mass, his genius fires, + And as a better soul inspires. + + 'The rude she softens, warms the cold, + Exalts the meek, and checks the bold; + Calls SLOTH from his supine repose, + Within the coward's bosom glows; + Of pride unplumes the lofty crest, + Bids bashful merit stand confess'd; + And like coarse metal from the mines, + Collects, irradiates, and refines; + The gentle science she imparts, + All manners smooths, informs all hearts; + From her sweet influence are felt, + Passions that please, and thoughts that melt. + To stormy rage she bids controul, + And sinks serenely on the soul; + Softens DUCALION'S flinty race, + And tunes the warring world to peace. + + 'Thus arm'd to all that's light and vain, + And freed from thy fantastic chain, + She fills the sphere, by heav'n assign'd, + And, rul'd by me, o'er-rules mankind.' + + He spoke.--The nymph impatient stood, + And, laughing, thus her speech renew'd: + + "And pray, sir, may I be so bold, + To hope your pretty tale is told; + And next demand without a cavil, + What new UTOPIA do you travel? + Upon my word, these high-flown fancies + Shew depth of learning in romances. + Why, what unfashion'd stuff you tell us, + Of buckram dames, and tiptoe fellows! + Go, child, and when you're grown maturer, + You'll shoot your next opinion surer. + + "O, such a pretty knack at painting, + And all for soft'ning, and for sainting! + Guess now, who can, a single feature, + Thro' the whole piece of female nature: + Then, mark! my looser hand may fit + The lines too coarse for love to hit. + + "'Tis said, that woman prone to changing, + Thro' all the rounds of folly ranging, + On life's uncertain ocean riding, + No reason, rule, nor rudder guiding, + Is like the comet's wand'ring light, + Eccentric, ominous, and bright; + Tractless and shifting as the wind, + A sea whose fathom none can find; + A moon, still changing and revolving, + A riddle, past all human solving; + A bliss, a plague, a heav'n, a hell, + A----something, that no man can tell. + + "Now learn a secret from a friend, + But keep your counsel and attend: + + "Tho' in their tempers thought so distant, + Nor with their sex, nor selves consistent, + 'Tis but the diff'rence of a name, + And ev'ry woman is the same. + For as the world, however vary'd, + And thro' unnumber'd changes carry'd, + Of elemental modes and forms, + Clouds, meteors, colours, calms, and storms; + Tho' in a thousand suits array'd, + Is of one subject matter made; + So, sir, a woman's constitution, + The world's enigma, finds solution. + And let her form be what you will, + I am the subject essence still. + + "With the first spark of female sense, + The speck of being, I commence; + Within the womb make fresh advances, + And dictate future qualms and fancies; + Thence in the growing form expand, + With childhood travel hand in hand, + And give a taste of all their joys, + In gewgaws, rattles, pomp, and noise. + + "And now, familiar and unaw'd, + I send the flutt'ring soul abroad; + Prais'd for her shape, her air, her mien, + The little goddess, and the queen, + Takes at her infant shrine oblation, + And drinks sweet draughts of adulation. + + "Now, blooming, tall, erect, and fair, + To dress becomes her darling care; + The realms of beauty then I bound, + I swell the hoop's enchanted round; + Shrink in the waist's descending size, + Heav'd in the snowy bosom rise, + High on the floating lappet sail, + Or curl'd in tresses kiss the gale. + Then to her glass I lead the fair, + And shew the lovely idol there, + Where, struck as by divine emotion, + She bows with most sincere devotion; + And numb'ring ev'ry beauty o'er, + In secret bids the world adore. + + "Then all for parking and parading, + Coqueting, dancing, masquerading; + For balls, plays, courts, and crowds, what passion! + And churches, sometimes, if the fashion: + For woman's sense of right and wrong + Is rul'd by the almighty throng; + Still turns to each meander tame, + And swims the straw of ev'ry stream. + Her soul intrinsic worth rejects, + Accomplish'd only in defects, + Such excellence is her ambition, + Folly her wisest acquisition; + And ev'n from pity and disdain, + She'll cull some reason to be vain. + + "Thus, sir, from ev'ry form and feature, + The wealth and wants of female nature, + And ev'n from vice, which you'd admire, + I gather fuel to my fire, + And on the very base of shame, + Erect my monument of fame. + + "Let me another truth attempt, + Of which your godship has not dreamt: + Those shining virtues which you muster, + Whence think you they derive their lustre? + From native honour and devotion! + O yes! a mighty likely notion! + Trust me, from titled dames to spinners, + 'Tis I make saints, whoe'er make sinners; + 'Tis I instruct them to withdraw, + And hold presumptuous man in awe; + For female worth as I inspire, + In just degrees, still mounts the higher, + And VIRTUE so extremely nice, + Demands long toil and mighty price; + Like SAMPSON'S pillars, fix'd elate, + I bear the sex's tott'ring state; + Sap these, and in a moment's space, + Down sinks the fabric to its base. + + "Alike from titles, and from toys, + I spring, the fount of female joys; + In ev'ry widow, wife, and miss, + The sole artificer of bliss. + For them each tropic I explore; + I cleave the sand of ev'ry shore; + To them uniting INDIA'S sail, + SABAEA breathes her farthest gale; + For them the bullion I refine, + Dig sense and virtue from the mine; + And from the bowels of invention, + Spin out the various arts you mention. + + "Nor bliss alone my pow'rs bestow, + They hold the sov'reign balm of woe; + Beyond the stoic's boasted art, + I soothe the heavings of the heart; + To pain give splendor, and relief, + And gild the pallid face of grief. + + "Alike the palace and the plain, + Admit the glories of my reign; + Thro' ev'ry age, in ev'ry nation, + Taste, talents, tempers, state, and station, + Whate'er a woman says, I say; + Whate'er a woman spends, I pay; + Alike I fill and empty bags, + Flutter in finery and rags; + With light coquets thro' folly range, + And with the prude disdain to change. + + "And now, you'd think, 'twixt you and I, + That things were ripe for a reply-- + But soft--and while I'm in the mood, + Kindly permit me to conclude; + Their utmost mazes to unravel, + And touch the farthest step they travel: + + "When ev'ry pleasure's run a-ground, + And folly tir'd thro' many a round; + The nymph, conceiving discontent hence, + May ripen to an hour's repentance, + And vapours shed in pious moisture, + Dismiss her to a church or cloister; + Then on I lead her, with devotion + Conspicuous in her dress and motion; + Inspire the heav'nly-breathing air, + Roll up the lucid eye in pray'r, + Soften the voice, and in the face + Look melting harmony and grace. + + "Thus far extends my friendly pow'r, + Nor quits her in her latest hour; + The couch of decent pain I spread, + In form recline her languid head; + Her thoughts I methodize in death, + And part not with her parting breath; + Then do I set, in order bright, + A length of fun'ral pomp to sight; + The glitt'ring tapers, and attire, + The plumes that whiten o'er her bier; + And last, presenting to her eye + Angelic fineries on high, + To scenes of painted bliss I waft her, + And form the heav'n she hopes hereafter." + + 'In truth,' rejoin'd LOVE'S gentle god, + 'You've gone a tedious length of road; + And, strange! in all the toilsome way + No house of kind refreshment lay; + No nymph, whose virtues might have tempted + To hold her from her sex exempted.' + + "For one, we'll never quarrel, man, + Take her, and keep her, if you can; + And pleas'd I yield to your petition, + Since every fair, by such permission, + Will hold herself the one selected, + And so my system stands protected." + + 'O deaf to VIRTUE, deaf to GLORY, + To truths divinely vouch'd in story!' + The godhead, in his zeal return'd, + And kindling at her malice burn'd. + Then sweetly rais'd his voice, and told + Of heav'nly nymphs, rever'd of old; + HYPSIPYLE, who sav'd her sire; + And PORTIA'S love, approv'd by fire; + Alike PENELOPE was quoted, + Nor laurel'd DAPHNE pass'd unnoted, + Nor LAODAMIA'S fatal garter, + Nor fam'd LUCRETIA, honour's martyr, + ALCESTE'S voluntary steel, + And CATHERINE smiling on the wheel. + + But who can hope to plant conviction, + Where cavil grows on contradiction! + Some she evades, or disavows, + Demurs to all, and none allows; + A kind of ancient things, call'd fables! + And thus the goddess turn'd the tables. + + Now both in argument grew high, + And choler flash'd from either eye; + Nor wonder each refus'd to yield + The conquest of so fair a field. + + When happily arriv'd in view + A goddess, whom our grandames knew, + Of aspect grave, and sober gait, + Majestic, awful, and sedate, + As heav'n's autumnal eve serene, + Where not a cloud o'ercasts the scene, + Once PRUDENCE call'd, a matron fam'd, + And in old ROME CORNELIA nam'd. + Quick, at a venture, both agree + To leave their strife to her decree. + + And now by each the facts were stated, + In form and manner as related; + The case was short--They crav'd opinion, + Which held o'er females chief dominion? + When thus the goddess, answering mild, + First shook her gracious head, and smil'd: + + "Alas! how willing to comply, + Yet how unfit a judge am I! + In times of golden date, 'tis true, + I shar'd the fickle sex with you; + But from their presence long precluded, + Or held as one whose form intruded, + Full fifty annual suns can tell, + Prudence has bid the sex farewell." + + In this dilemma, what to do, + Or who to think of, neither knew; + For both, still bias'd in opinion, + And arrogant of sole dominion, + Were forc'd to hold the case compounded, + Or leave the quarrel where they found it. + + When in the nick, a rural fair, + Of inexperienc'd gait and air, + Who ne'er had cross'd the neighb'ring lake, + Nor seen the world beyond a wake; + With cambric coif, and kerchief clean, + Trip'd lightly by them o'er the green. + + 'Now, now!' cry'd LOVE'S triumphant child, + And at approaching conquest smil'd; + 'If VANITY will once be guided, + Our diff'rence soon may be decided: + Behold you wench, a fit occasion, + To try your force of gay persuasion.-- + Go you, while I retire aloof, + Go, put those boasted pow'rs to proof; + And if your prevalence of art + Transcends my yet unerring dart, + I give the fav'rite contest o'er, + And ne'er will boast my empire more.' + + At once, so said and so consented, + And well our goddess seem'd contented, + Nor pausing, made a moment's stand, + But tript, and took the girl in hand. + + Meanwhile the GODHEAD, unalarm'd, + As one to each occasion arm'd, + Forth from his quiver cull'd a dart, + That erst had wounded many a heart; + Then bending, drew it to the head, + The bowstring twang'd, the arrow fled, + And to her secret soul address'd, + Transfix'd the whiteness of her breast. + + But here the DAME, whose guardian care + Had to a moment watch'd the fair, + At once her pocket mirror drew, + And held the wonder full in view; + As quickly, rang'd in order bright, + A thousand beauties rush'd to sight, + A world of charms, till now unknown, + A world revealed to her alone; + Enraptur'd stands the love-sick maid, + Suspended o'er the darling shade; + Here only fixes to admire, + And centres every fond desire. + + +_FINIS._ + + +Printed by C. 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