18
THE ROSCIAD.
Six rude mishapen beasts the chariot draw,
Whom Reason loaths, and Nature never saw;
Monsters, with tails of ice, and heads of fire; 395
Gorgons, and hydras, and chymaeras dire.
Each was bestrode by full as monstrous wight,
Giant, Dwarf, Genius, Elf, Hermaphrodite.
The Town, as usual, met him in full cry:
The Town, as usual, knew no reason why. 400
But Fashion so directs, and Moderns raise,
On Fashion's mould'ring base, their transient praise.
Whom Reason loaths, and Nature never saw;
Monsters, with tails of ice, and heads of fire; 395
Gorgons, and hydras, and chymaeras dire.
Each was bestrode by full as monstrous wight,
Giant, Dwarf, Genius, Elf, Hermaphrodite.
The Town, as usual, met him in full cry:
The Town, as usual, knew no reason why. 400
But Fashion so directs, and Moderns raise,
On Fashion's mould'ring base, their transient praise.
Next, to the field a band of females draw
Their Force; for Britain owns no Salique Law:
Just to their worth, we female rights admit, 405
Nor bar their claim to Empire or to Wit.
Their Force; for Britain owns no Salique Law:
Just to their worth, we female rights admit, 405
Nor bar their claim to Empire or to Wit.
First, giggling, plotting chamber-maids arrive,
Hoydens and Romps, led on by Gen'ral Clive.
In spight of outward blemishes she shone
For Humour fam'd, and Humour all her own. 410
Easy, as if at home, the stage she trod,
Nor sought the Critic's praise, nor fear'd his rod.
Original in spirit and in ease,
She pleas'd by hiding all attempts to please.
No comic actress ever yet could raise, 415
On Humour's base, more merit or more praise.
Hoydens and Romps, led on by Gen'ral Clive.
In spight of outward blemishes she shone
For Humour fam'd, and Humour all her own. 410
Easy, as if at home, the stage she trod,
Nor sought the Critic's praise, nor fear'd his rod.
Original in spirit and in ease,
She pleas'd by hiding all attempts to please.
No comic actress ever yet could raise, 415
On Humour's base, more merit or more praise.
