Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-05-08

ed any faculty OF gravity has given an admira,
BILE picture Of Mrs. Mountfort, in character OF
this kind. The woman she represents is vain
10 the last degree, and yet, when she quits US
10 "return in twinklng," her good nature ana
animal spirit render il impossible tor US moi 70
wish 20 see her again we are glad, on any
terms, that person SO Infinitely seli-satished,
has yet consideration enough for us to wish to
include us in her saiisfactions; and her dainty
diving body" makes US think she has some
hea and substance in the midst Of her finery
"Wha, found employment I, says Mr.. Cihber
"for the whole various excellence 81 Mrs
Mo,tntfort at once, was the part Of Melanlha,
in Marriage a la mode :"
''Melan,ha is as finished an impairment as
ever fourished IN drawing room, ahd seems
10 contain the most complete system OF 'e'naie
foppery that could possibly be crowded into me
tortured form of fine lady: her Language, dress,
motion, manners, soul, and body, are IN con-
tinual hurry 10 be something more than IS ne
cessary or commendable And though DOUBT
it will be vain labour to offer Just likeness
Of Mrs. MounIforl's action, yet the fantastic I'M
preston is stIll strong in my memory, tha'
cannot help saying something, though iantas-
cally, about il The first ridiculous airs That
break from her, are upon gallant never seen
before, who delivers her letter from hertather.
recommending him to her good graces as an
honorable lover. Here, now, one might expect
a little Of the sex's decent reserve, though ne
yer SO slightly covered. No sir, not little oil
il-modesty is the virtue Of poor-souled eoun-
try gentlewoman; she is too much OF a court
lady 10 he under so vulgar confusion; she
reaGs the letter over, therefore, with careless
dropping Ito, and erected eyebrow, humming
i, hastily over, as il she was impatient to ontgo
her fathers commands, by making complete
conquest of him a. once; and tina! the letter
might not embanass her attack, crack! she
crumblcs 1t a, one into her palm. and pours up
on him her whole artillery of airs, eyes, and
motion; down goes her dainty diving body TO
the ground, as il she were sinking under the
conscious load Of her attractions; then launch hes
into flood Of FINE language and compliment,
still PLAYING her chest forward in fifty falls and
r.s.ngs, like swan upon waving water, and, TO
complete her imperlinrnnce, she is so rapidly
fond OF htr own, that she won't give her lover
time To PRAISE il; silent asserting bows, and vain
endea>ors TO speak, are all the share OF CONVEX
sation he is ADMITTED To. which al least he rs
relieved from by her engagr men, TO hall score
visits, which she swims from him u MAKE.
with promi e % III TO him in ,winkling
The ballad ny parnell ist 1pied in letter adj
dressed 10 Mrs. Howard by Lord Peterborough,
who attributes j. 10 Pope Pope. however. gave
it as Polnell's, in the edition he published OF
his friend. /. looks very like the composition
of the "poor lsd,"r as swift, called him, who
stared so at Lady Bolingbroke when she came
down to dinner because she resembled his lost
wife The turn al the end has been initiated
by Mr.. Moore, unless ne borrowed 1t from the
French. where il is originally 10 be found.
When thy beauty appears,
In its graces and airs,
All bright as an ,nge new dropt from the sky;
At distance gaze and am awed by my fears,
So strangely you dazzle my eye!
But when without art
Your kind thought You mpart,
When yorr love runs in bushes through every vein,
When darts from your eyes, when it pants IN your
heart,
Then know you're woman again
"1here's passion and pride,
'In our SEX" she replied,
"And thus, might gratIfi both, would do,
Still an angel appear to each lover beside,
But sti.l be woman toyou
There is good deal OF what the French call
"mo, es,en,'' IN This song, besides more passion
aud colo. than are usually TO be found IN Dali
lads The heroine looks as it she came upon
us fresh from the bath, with all her silks and
ue>sts ab,u her, and the rosy triumph IN her
lace. In tn. first verse we see nothing out the
.riumpb, in The second we have leisure I" con-
slider the woman, and charming woman she
il: in the ih,d but our criticism Will be
growing too inmate.