As nature ev'ry morn bestows
The crystal dew to cleanse the rose.
Those tresses as the raven black,
That wav'd in ringlets down your back;
Uncomb'd, and injur'd by neglect,
Destroy the face, which once they deck'd.

Whence this forgetfulness of dress?
Pray, madam, are you marri'd? Yes.
Nay, then indeed, the wonder ceases;
No matter now how loose your dress is:
The end is won; your fortune's made;
Your sister now may take the trade.

Alas! what pity 'tis to find
This fault in half the female kind!
From hence proceed aversion, strife,
And all that sours the wedded life.
Beauty can only point the dart,
'Tis neatness guides it to the heart;
Let neatness then, and beauty strive
To keep a wav'ring flame alive.

'Tis harder far (you'll find it true)
To keep the conquest than subdue;
Admit us once behind the screen,
What is there farther to be seen?
A newer face may raise the flame,
But ev'ry woman is the same.
Then study chiefly to improve

The charm, that fix'd your husband's love;
Weigh well his humour. Was it dress,
That gave your beauty pow'r to bless?
Pursue it still; be neater seen;
'Tis always frugal to be clean;
So shall you keep alive desire,

And Time's swift wing shall fan the firc.

In garret high (as stories say)

A poet sung his tuneful lay;
So soft, so smooth his verse, you'd swear,
Apollo and the Muses there.

Thro' all the town his praises rung,
His sonnets at the play-house sung;
High wavering o'er his lab'ring head,
The goddess Want her pinions spread,
And with poetic fury fir'd
What Phœbus faintly had inspir'd.

A noble youth, of taste and wit,
Approv'd the sprightly things he writ,
And sought him in his cobweb dome,
Discharg'd his rent, and brought him home.
Behold him at the stately board,
Who, but the poet, and my lord!
Each day, deliciously he dines,
And, greedy, quaffs the gen'rous wines.
His sides were plump; his skin was sleek:
And Plenty wanton'd on his cheek.
Astonish'd at the change so new,
Away th' inspiring goddess flew.

Now, dropt for politics, and news, Neglected lay the drooping Muse. Unmindful whence his fortune came, He stifled the poetic flame; Nor tale, nor sonnet, for my lady, Lampoon, nor epigram was ready. With just contempt his patron saw, (Resolv'd his bounty to withdraw) And thus, with anger in his look, The late-repenting fool bespoke. "Blind to the good that courts thee grown, Whence has the sun of favour shone?

1

:

Delighted with thy tuneful art,
Esteem was growing in my heart,
But idly thou reject'st the charm,
That gave it birth, and kept it warm."
Unthinking fools alone despise
The arts, that taught them first to rise.

FABLE VI.

The Wolf, the Sheep, and the Lamb.

DUTY demands, the parent's voice
Should sanctify the daughter's choice;
In that is due obedience shown;
To choose belongs to her alone.

May horror seize his midnight hour,
Who builds upon a parent's power,
And claims, by purchase vile and base,
The loathing maid for his embrace.
Hence virtue sickens; and the breast,
Where Peace had built her downy nest,
Becomes the troubled seat of care,
And pines with anguish and despair.

A wolf, rapacious, rough, and bold,
Whose nightly plunders thinn'd the fold,
Contemplating his ill-spent life,
And cloy'd with thefts, would take a wife.
His purpose known, the savage race
In num'rous crouds, attend the place;
For why, a mighty wolf he was,
And held dominion in his jaws.

Her fav'rite whelp each mother brought,
And humbly his alliance sought;

But, cold by age, or else too nice,
None found acceptance in his eyes.

A a

It happen'd, as at early dawn, He, solitary, cross'd the lawn, Stray'd from the fold, a sportive lamb Skipp'd wanton by her fleecy dam; When Cupid, foe to man and beast, Discharg'd an arrow at his breast. The tim'rous breed the robber knew, And, trembling, o'er the meadow flew; Their nimblest speed the wolf o'ertook, And, courteous, thus the dam bespoke. "Stay, fairest, and suspend your fear, Trust me, no enemy is near. These jaws, in slaughter oft imbru'd, At length have known enough of blood, And kinder business brings me now, Vanquish'd, at beauty's feet to bow. You have a daughter-sweet, forgive A wolf's address in her I live: Love from her eye like light'ning came, And set my marrow all on flame. Let your consent confirm my choice, And ratify our nuptial joys. Me ample wealth and pow'r attend; Wide o'er the plains my realms extend : What midnight robber dare invade. The folk, if I the guard am made? At home, the shepherd's cur may sleep, While I secure his master's sheep; Discourse, like this, attention claim'd; Grandeur the mother's breast inflam'd; Now fearless by his side she walk'd, Of settlements and jointures talk'd, Propos'd, and doubled her demands Of flow'ry fields and turnip lands.

The wolf agrees. Her bosom swells;
To miss her happy fate she tells.
And, of the grand alliance vain,
Contemns her kindred of the plain.

The loathing lamb with horror hears,
And wearies out her dam with pray'rs;
But all in vain. Mamma best knew
What unexperienc'd girls should do;
So, to the neighb'ring meadow carry'd,
A formal Ass the couple marry'd.

Torn from the tyrant-mother's side, The trembler goes a victim-bride, Reluctant meets the rude embrace, And bleats among the howling race. With horror oft her eyes behold Her murder'd kindred of the fold; Each day a sister lamb is serv'd, And at the glutton's table carv'd; The crashing bones he grinds for food, And slakes his thirst with streaming blood. Love, who the cruel mind detests, And lodges but in gentle breasts, Was now no more. Enjoyment past, The savage hunger'd for the feast; But (as we find in human race, A mask conceals the villain's face) Justice must authorise the treat; Till then he long'd, but durst not eat. As forth he walk'd, in quest of prey, The hunters met him on the way; Fear wings his flight; the marsh he sought, The snuffing dogs are set at sault. His stomach balk'd, now hunger gnaws, Howling he grinds his empty jaws;