Pride, Pomp, and State, but reach her outward part; 55 She fighs, and is no Dutchess at her heart.

But, Madam, if the fates withstand, and you
Are destin'd Hymen's willing Victim too;
Trust not too much your now refiftless charms,
Those, Age or Sickness, foon or late difarms:
Good-humour only teaches charms to last,
Still makes new conquests, and maintains the past;

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65

Love, rais'd on Beauty, will like that decay,
Our hearts may bear its flender chain a day;
As flowery bands in wantonness are worn,
A morning's pleasure, and at evening torn;
This binds in ties more easy, yet more strong,
The willing heart, and only holds it long.

Thus * Voiture's early care still shone the fame,

And Monthaufier was only chang`d in name;
By this, ev'n now they live, ev'n now they charm,
Their Wit still sparkling, and their flames still warm.
Now crown'd with Myrtle, on th' Elysian coaft,

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Amid those Lovers, joys his gentle Ghost:
Pleas'd, while with smiles his happy lines you view, 75
And finds a fairer Ramboüillet in you.
The brightest eyes in France inspir'd his Muse;
The brightest eyes in Britain now peruse;
And dead, as living, 'tis our Author's pride
Still to charm those who charm the world beside.

* Mademoiselle Paulet.

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VOL. II.

2

EPISTLE

EPI

STLE

S fome fond Virgin, whom her mother's care Drags from the Town to wholesome Country air, Just when she learns to roll a melting eye, And hear a spark, yet think no danger nigh; From the dear man unwilling she must sever, Yet takes one kiss before the parts for ever : Thus from the world fair Zephalinda flew, Saw others happy, and with fighs withdrew; Not that their pleasures caus'd her discontent, She figh'd, not that they stay'd, but that she went.

TO THE SAME,

On her leaving the Town after the Coronation, 1715.

A

5

TO

She went to plain-work, and to purling brooks, Old-fashion'd halls, dull Aunts, and croaking rooks: She went from Opera, Park, Assembly, Play, To morning-walks, and prayers three hours a-day; To part her time 'twixt reading and Bohea,

15

To muse, and spill her folitary tea,
Or o'er cold coffee trifle with the spoon,
Count the flow Clock, and dine exact at noon;

Divert her eyes with pictures in the fire,
Hum half a tune, tell stories to the 'Squire;
Up to her godly garret after seven,

20

There starve and pray, for that's the way to heaven.
Some 'Squire, perhaps, you take delight to rack;
Whose game is Whist, whose treat a toast in fack :

Who

25

Who visits with a gun, presents you birds,
Then gives a finacking buss, and cries, -No words!
Or with his hounds comes hallooing from the stable,
Makes love with nods, and knees beneath a table;
Whose laughs are hearty, though his jests are coarfe,
And loves you best of all things-but his horse.

In some fair evening, on your elbow laid,
You dream of Triumphs in the rural shade;
In pensive thought recall the fancy'd scene,

See Coronations rise on every green;

Before you pass th' imaginary fights

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35

Of Lords, and Earls, and Dukes, and garter'd Knights, While the spread fan o'ershades your closing eyes;

Then give one flirt, and all the vision flies.

Thus vanish fceptres, coronets, and balls,

And leave you in lone woods, or empty walls !

40

So when your flave, at some dear idle time, (Not plague'd with head-achs, or the want of rhyme) Stands in the streets, abstracted from the crew,

And while he seems to study, thinks of you.
Just when his fancy points your sprightly eyes,
Or fees the blush of soft Parthenia rise,
Gay pats my shoulder, and you vanish quite,
Streets, Chairs, and Coxcombs, rush upon my fight;
Vex'd to be still in town, I knit my brow,
Look four, and hum a Tune, as you may now.

45

50 THE

BASSET-TABLE,

T

AN

ECLOGUE.

CARDELIA. SMILINDA.

CARDELIA.

HE Baffet-Table spread, the Tallier come;
Why stays Smilinda in the Dreffing-room?

Rise, pensive Nymph; the Tallier waits for you.

SMILINDA.

Ah, Madam, since my Sharper is untrue,
I joyless make my once ador'd Alpheu.
I faw him stand behind Ombrelia's Chair,
And whisper with that soft, deluding air,
And those feign'd fighs which cheat the liftening

Fair.

CARDELIA.

Is this the cause of your romantic strains ?
A mightier grief my heavy heart sustains.
As You by Love, so I by Fortune cross'd;
One, one bad Deal, Three Septlevas have loft.

SMILINDA.

Is that the grief, which you compare with mine?
With ease, the smiles of Fortune I resign:
Would all my gold in one bad Deal were gone;
Were lovely Sharper mine, and mine alone.

5

10

15

CARDELIA.

CARDELIA.

A lover loft, is but a common care ;

And prudent Nymphs against that change prepare :

The Knave of Clubs thrice lost: Oh! who could guess

This fatal stroke, this unforeseen Distress ?

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SMILINDA.

See Betty Lovet! very à propos,

She all the cares of Love and Play does know:
Dear Betty shall th' important point decide ;
Betty, who oft the pain of each has try'd;
Impartial, she shall say who suffers most,
By Cards, Ill-Ufage, or by Lovers lost.

LOVET.

Tell, tell your griefs; attentive will I stay, Though time is precious, and I want some Tea.

CARDELIA.

25

Behold this Equipage, by Mathers wrought,
With Fifty Guineas (a great Pen'worth) bought.
See, on the Tooth-pick, Mars and Cupid strive;
And both the struggling figures seem alive.
Upon the bottom shines the Queen's bright Face;
A Myrtle Foliage round the Thimble-cafe;
Jove, Jove himself does on the Scissars shine;

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35

The Metal, and the Workmanship, divine!

SMILINDA.

This Snuff-box, once the pledge of Sharper's love,

When rival beauties for the Present strove;

At Corticelli's he the Raffle won;

Then first his Passion was in public shown:
Hazardia blush'd, and turn'd her head afide,
A Rival's envy (all in vain) to hide.

Z3

40

This