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

But, Madam, if the fates withstand, and you
Are deftin'd Hymen's willing Victim too;
Truft not too much your now refistless charms,
Thofe, Age or Sickness, foon or late difarms:
Good-humour only teaches charms to laft,
Still makes new conquefts, and maintains the paft;
Love, rais'd on Beauty, will like that decay,

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Our hearts may bear its flender chain a day;

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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.

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Thus Voiture's early care ftill fhone the fame, And Monthaufier was only chang'd in name; By this, ev'n now they live, ev'n now they charm, Their Wit ftill fparkling, and their flames ftill warm.. Now crown'd with Myrtle, on th' Elyfian coaft, Amid those Lovers, joys his gentle Ghost:

Pleas'd, while with fmiles his happy lines you view, 75
And finds a fairer Rambouillet in you.

The brightest eyes in France inspir'd his Muse;
The brightest eyes in Britain now perufe;

And dead, as living, 'tis our Author's pride
Still to charm thofe who charm the world befide.

Mademoiselle Paulet.

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VOL. XLVI.

Ν

EPISTLE

EPISTLE

TO THE SAME,

On her leaving the Town after the Coronation, 1715.

A

5

S fome fond Virgin, whom her mother's care
Drags from the Town to wholesome Country air,
Juft when he learns to roll a melting eye,
And hear a fpark, yet think no danger nigh;
From the dear man unwilling the 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 pleafures caus'd her difcontent,
She figh'd, not that they stay'd, but that she went. 10
She went to plain-work, and to purling brooks,
Old-fashion'd halls, dull Aunts, and croaking rooks:
She went from Opera, Park, Affembly, Play,

To morning-walks, and prayers three hours a-day;
To part her time 'twixt reading and Bohea,
To mufe, and fpill 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 ftories to the 'Squire;

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Up to her godly garret after feven,

There ftarve and pray, for that 's the way to heaven.

Some 'Squire, perhaps, you take delight to rack; Whofe game is Whift, whose treat a toast in fack:

Who

Who vifits with a gun, prefents you birds,
Then gives a fmacking bufs, and cries,-No words!
Or with his hounds comes hallooing from the ftable,
Makes love with nods, and knees beneath a table;
Whose laughs are hearty, though his jefts are coarse,
And loves you best of all things-but his horse.

In fome fair evening, on your elbow laid,
You dream of Triumphs in the rural shade;
In penfive thought recall the fancy'd scene,
See Coronations rife on every green;

Before you pass th' imaginary fights

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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!
So when your flave, at fome dear idle time,
(Not plagu❜d with head-achs, or the want of rhyme)
Stands in the streets, abftracted 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 foft Parthenia rife,

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.

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50

TH

CARDELIA

HE Baffet-Table spread, the Tallier come; Why ftays Smilinda in the Dreffing-room? Rife, penfive Nymph; the Tallier waits for you.

SMILINDA.

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

CARDELIA.

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

SMILINDA.

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

ΤΟ

15

CARDELIA.

CARDELIA.

A lover loft, is but a common care;

And prudent Nymphs against that change prepare: The Knave of Clubs thrice loft: Oh! who could guess This fatal stroke, this unforeseen Distress?

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, fhe fhall fay who fuffers moft,
By Cards, Ill-Ufage, or by Lovers lost.

LOVET.

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

CARDELIA.

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 feem alive.
Upon the bottom fhines the Queen's bright Face;
A Myrtle Foliage round the 'Thimble-cafe;
Jove, Jove himself does on the Sciffars fhine;
The Metal, and the Workmanship, divine!

SMILINDA.

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This Snuff-box,-once the pledge of Sharper's love, When rival beauties for the Present ftrove; At Corticelli's he the Raffle won;

Then first his Paffion was in public shown:

Hazardia blufh'd, and turn'd her head afide,
A Rival's envy (all in vain) to hide.
Z3

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This