Heav'n did yourselves its mafter-piece decree;
Ye would be angels, could ye but agree.
SINCE, my Chloe, you ask me, what life I would
I prithee distrust not the truth of my muse.
Tho' I tell you in rhyme, yet believe me fincere,
I'll speak in plain terms: have the patience to hear.
To thyself, thy dear felf, are my wishes confin'd;
I figh for your perfon, but doat on your mind:
So eafy your conduct, your wit, and your air,
'Tis the meaneft perfection you have, that you're fair.
I'd repine not at fortune, abounding or small, Since without thee is nothing, and with thee is all : For a needful fupport ne'ertheless I would move; 'Tis hard for a lady to live upon love.
To the town with content I could foon bid adieu; I find its politeness all centred in you:
To fome quiet retirement we both would repair;
Your joy my ambition, your pleasure my care.
Thus, my angel, our lives would roll gently away, And love be the business alone of the day:
One article more will complete my design;
That this
wish, as much as 'tis mine.
HAT mystic arts support a female reign,
What various engines form the toilette's traing
I fing. Ye fair! ye young! protect my lays,
Be yours the profit, and be mine the praise.
Thou, Vanity! whofe univerfal fway
Alike the cynic and the fop obey,
Who, widely potent, bear'it an equal rule
O'er birth-night balls, and Ariftotle's fchool,
Forfake thy glitt'ring fhrine; and, for a while,
On labours deftin'd to thy service smile.
If to perfection you the head would dress,
In all its ornaments avoid excefs
Load not with toys what Nature has defign'd
The nobleft ftructure of the human kind.
Why all around fhould flutt'ring lappets play,
Or ribands glare, unprofitably gay?
Then, light, and eafy, fhould the cov❜ring be,
As not defign'd for fhow, but decency.
Oft have I feen fome young unthinking fair,
With flow'rs and diamonds load her flowing hair.
Reject this needless task, nor vainly hide
Your lover's glory, and your fex's pride.
When the full treffes, with bewitching grace,
In fwelling ringlets wanton o'er the face,
Or, by the bodkin's forceful art confin'd,
With fhining fable grace the neck behind;
Say, why fhould flow'rs their gaudy folds difplay,
Or the vain brilliant dart its feeble ray?
As rifing grafs adorns some tender mead,
When genial springs the wintry blasts fucceed;
As the foft rose bedecks the florist's ground,
And smiles, fuperior of the sweets around;
Such are the honours of the virgin's hair,
And fuch the charms refiftless ringlets bear :
How fure they tempt us, and how much excel,
Let fair Belinda's lofs for ever tell.
Bleft be the girl who, by uncommon hap,
First found the beauties of the round-ear'd cap!
That dapper coif adorns, with matchless grace,
As well the youthful as autumnal face.
This knows the fraudful harlot, and with care
In this will oft her fhatter'd form repair.
In riding veft she stands demure and meek,
While feeming innocence adorns her cheek:
Vers'd in deftruction! ftudious to betray!
The hapless 'prentice falls her eafy prey.
How does the Quaker's modeft garb invite?
Her well-quill'd cambrick ftrikes the judging fight:
The grace of decent drefs the Sifters know,
And aim with judgment at the broad-brimm'd beau.
Would you in flow'r of health and charms furpass,
Confult your faddle more, and lefs your glass.
Let the foft beau, in clofe machine confin'd,
Peep cautious out, and tremble at the wind:
Be yours to prefs the fteed, with loosen'd rein,
O'er gently rifing hills, or level plain :
So with new luftre fhall your beauties glow,
Fresh lilies fpring, and op'ning roses blow.
Though, long before, each vernal blush was fled,
The eyes o'ercaft, and the complexion dead;
Though various doctors had employ'd their skill,
And, impotent to cure, delay'd to kill;
This shall again the sprightly red renew,
And youth and beauty reassume their due :
O'er thy pale cheek the mantling bloom shall move,
And each fair feature flush with rising love.
And now, ye Fair, my finish'd task forgive;
Propitious fmile, and let thefe labours live.
As fage Aftronomers, for praise or pay,
Thro' human eyes the heav'nly orbs survey;
And wifely frantic in deluded schools,
To wanton planets fix fictitious rules;
While they at random run their fiery race,
Beyond the reach of mortal wit to trace :
So I, with equal impotence of mind,
Have ftudied laws to fetter womankind.
Again, ye Fair, forgive; but chiefly Thou,
To whom alike in profe or rhyme I bow;
More would I prize, for these unpolish'd lays,
Thy fingle pardon, than a kingdom's praise.
DETACHED THOUGHTS ON DRESS.
WOULD youth confider what depends on dress,
Complaints of flighted merit would be lefs:
In all profeffions, fince the world began,
The useful habit typified the man.
How bow the gaping crowd submissive down,
When the huge Doctor ruftles in his gown!
The preacher's felf is heeded but by few,
Men think their patience to his habit due.
By breadth of band the lawyer gets his fee,
For what cravat can be fo wife as he?
In lace the mountebank harangues the crowd,
His jacket gaudy, as his nonfenfe loud.
Drefs aptly judg'd shall pass for sterling skill,
Alike in law, divinity and pill.
Would you be fure to please the judging eye,
Still let your habit with your age comply.
Does not the earth this leffon well exprefs?
Obferve her changes, and like Nature dress.
Mark when December, fullen and fevere,
With wintry blafts deforms th' expiring year:
From the keen feafon, fhelter'd by the fnow,
Unfeen, and fafe, her tender harvests grow.
But when the Spring, elate with youthful grace,
Thro' kinder skies purfues his glorious race,
Her confcious vales the fruitful bleffing greet,
Her buds expanded fmile beneath the heat;
Soft op'ning flow'rs their balmy fweets difplay,
Court the warm fun, and wanton in his ray.
The beardlefs ftripling juft arriv'd at age,
Frequents the church, the ring, the mall, and ftages
With like contempt, his wand'ring eyes furvey
Religion, beauty, company, and play:
Collected in his clothes he stands alone,
Nor feeks to be esteem'd, but to be known.
In man confirm'd a different view appears,
The thirst of gain increases with our years:
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