POETRY. 435
- Then for the Child — the tale was truly fad
" But who for fuch a bantling would run mad ? " What wife, at midnight iiour iiiclin'd to roam, «' Woaid fondly drag her little chit from home?
- ' What has the mother with her child to do ?
- Dear brats — the Nurfe-y% the place for you 1"
Suc'f! are the drains of many a modifh Fair ! Yet memoirs — not of »j'7</t'r« growth — declare The t'me has been, when m.odefty and truth Were deem'd additions to the charms of youth ; E'e, in the dice-box ladies found delight ; Or fwoon'd for lack of cards, on Sunday night ; When women hid their necks and veil'd their faces. Nor romp'd, nor rak'd, nor Itar'd, at public places :
Nor took the airs of Amazons {or graces !
When plain domeltic virtues were the mode j And wives ne'er drer.ml of happinefs abroad. But cheer'd their offspring, fnun'd fantaflic airs; And with ihQJys of wedlock, mixt the cares.
Such modes are pail yet fure they merit praife ;
For marriage triu?nph'd in thofe wafl'el days :
No virgin figh'd in vain ; no fears arofe.
Left hoftile wars Ihould caufe a dearth of beaux ;
By chaile decorum. Each, affeftion gain'd :
By faith and fondnefs, what flie won, maintain'd.
'Tis yours, ye Fair ! to mend a thoughtlefs age^ That fcorns the prefs, the pulpit, and the ftage ! To yield frail Hulbands v)o pretence to ftray: (Men will be rakes, if women lead the way)
To footh But truce with thefe preceptive lays;
The Mufe, who, dazzled with your ancient praife. On prefent Worth and modern Beauty tramples. Mull own, (he ne'er could boafl more bright>.v<2OT/>/^j.*
- AdJrefflng the boxes.
i/^pA Miliar Epistle, y>cw a Ckrgyman to a young Gentleman of the
N great Augufru^' golden days. When Horace held the feal of bays. And fagely made reports of cafes. To ferve all future times and places ; 'Tv/as found that f f^o^ ^ human wight, (If J conceive his meaning right) Liv'd eafy in his own eftate. But always prais'd his neighbour's fate. ^ Vide Sat. I. Lib. i.
F f 2 Succeeding
