## Advertifement.

THE Reader is acquainted, from the Title-Page, how I came possefs'd of the following POEMS. All that I have to add, is, only a Word or two concerning their Author.

Upon Reading them over at St. James's Coffee-Houſe, they were attributed by the General Voice to be the Productions of a LADY of Quality.

When I produc'd them at Button's, the Poetical Jury there brought in a different Verdict; and the Foreman

A 2

man

ij ADVERTISEMENT.

man strenuously infatuated upon it, that Mr. GAY was the Man; and declared, in Comparing the Ballet. Table, with that Gentleman's PASTORS, he found the Stile, and Turn of Thought, to be evidently the same; which confirm'd him, and his Brethren, in the Sentence they had pronounced.

Not content with these Two Decisions, I was resolved to call in an Unpure; and accordingly chose a Gentleman of distinguished Merit, who lived not far from Chelsea. I sent him the Papers; which he return'd me the next Day, with this Answer:

SIR, Depend upon it, these Lines could come from no other Hand than the Judicious Translator of HOMER.

This

ADVERTISEMENT.

ji

Thus having impartially given the Sentiments of the Town; I hope I may deserve Thanks, for the Pains I have taken, in endeavouring to find out the Author of these Valuable Performances; and every Body is at Liberty to befall the Laurel as they please.

THE

mark

[ 2 ]

I saw him stand behind OMBRÉLIA's Chair,
And whisper with that loft, deluding Air,
And those feign'd Sighs which cheat the lifting
[Fair.]

### CARDELIA.

Is this the Caufe of your Romantick Strains ?
A mightier Grief my heavy Heart suftains.
See ! here a fit Companion of your Pain
( Yet heavier is the Grief which I suftain ;)
As You by Love, so I by Fortune crofs't ;
In One bad Deal, Three Septleva's have loft.

### SMILINDA.

Is that the Grief, which you compare with
[mine]
With Eafe, the Smiles of Fortune I resign :

[ 3 ]

Wou'd all my Gold in One bad Deal were gone ;
Were Lovely SHARPER Mine, and Mine alone.

### CARDELIA.

A Lover loft, is but a common Care ;
And Prudent Nymphs againft that Change prepare :
The Knave of Clubs thrice loft: Oh ! who could
[guefs]
This fatal Stroke, this unforeseen Diftrefs ?

### SMILINDA.

See BETTY LOVET ! Very a-propos,
She all the Gares of Love and Play does know,
Deeply experidnc'd many Years ago.
Dear BETTY shall th' Important Point decide ;
BETTY, who oft the Pain of each has try'd ;
Impartial, She shall say who suffers moft,
By Cards Ill Usage, or by Lovers loft.

B 2

Mrs.

mark

[ 4 ]

Mrs. LOVET.

Tell, tell your Griefs; attentive will I stay,
Tho' Time is precious, and I want some Tea.

CARDELIA.

Behold this Equipage, of Mathers bought,
With Fifty Guinea's; a great Pen'worth thought.
See on the Tooth-pick, Mars and Cupid strive;
And both the strugling Figures seem alive.
Upon the Bottom fhines the Queen's Bright Face;
A Myrtle Foliage round the Thimble-Cafe.
Jove, Jove himself, does on the Scizars fhine;
The Metal, and the Workmanship, Divine!

SMILINDA.

This Snuff-Box, once the Pledge of SHARPER
[Love]
When Rival Beauties for the Prefent ftrove ;

[ 5 ]

At Corticelli's He the Raffle won,
When first his Paffion was in publick fhown :
HAZARDIA blufh'd, and turn'd her Head afide,
A Rival's Envy (all in vain) to hide.
This Snuff-Box, — on the Hinge fee Brilliants
[fhine :
This Snuff-Box will I ftake, the Prize is mine.

CARDELIA.

Alas ! far leſſer Loffes than I bear,
Have made a Soldier ſigh, a Lover ſwear.
And Oh ! what makes the Disappointment hard,
'Twas my own Lord that drew the fatal Card.
In Complaifance, I took the Queen he gave ;
Tho' my own Secret Wifh was for the Knave.
The Knave won Sonica, which I had choſe ;
And the next Pull, my Septleva I loſe.

SMILINDA.

But ah ! what aggravates the Killing Smart,
The Cruel Thought, that ſtab me to the Heart ;
This

[ 6 ]

This Curs'd OMBRELIA, this Undoing Fair,
By whose vile Arts this heavy Grief I bear;
She, at whose Name I shed thefe Spiteful Tears,
She owes to me the very Charms She wears.
An awkward Thing, when firft She came to Town;
Her Shape unfashion'd, and her Face unknown :
She was my Friend ; I taught her firft to spread
Upon her Sallow Cheeks th' Enliv'ning Red :
I introduc'd her to the Park and Plays ;
And by my Int'reft, Cozens made her Stays.
Ungrateful Wretch, with Mimick Airs grown pert,
She dares to feal my Fav'rite Lover's Heart.

### CARDELIA.

Wretch that I was, how often have I fwore,
When WINNALL tally'd, I wou'd Punt no more ?
I know the Bite, yet to my Ruin run ;
And fee the Folly, which I cannot flun.

mark

[ 7 ]

### SMILINDA,

How many Maids have SHARPER'S Vows de-
[ceiv'd ?
How many curs'd the Moment they believ'd ?
Yet his known Falshoods cou'd no Warning prove :
Ah ! what is Warning to a Maid in Love ?

### CARDELIA.

But of what Marble muft that Breast be form'd,
To gaze on Basset, and remain unwarm'd ?
When Kings, Queens, Knaves, are fet in decent
[Rank;
Expos'd in Glorious Heaps the Tempting Bank,
Guineas, Half-Guineas, all the Shining Train;
The Winner's Pleasure, and the Loser's Pain :
In bright Confusion open Rouleaus lye,
They ftrike the Soul, and glitter in the Eye.
Fir'd by the Sight, all Reafon I difdain ;
My Paffions rife, and will not bear the Rein.

Look

SMI-

[ 8 ]

Look upon *Baffet*, you who Reaſon boaſt ;
And ſee if Reaſon may not *there* be loſt.

### SMILINDA.

What more than Marble muſt that Heart com-
[poſe,
Can hearken coldly to my SHARPER's Vows ?
Then, when he trembles ! when his Bluſhes ríſe !
When Awful Love ſeems melting in his Eyes !
With eager Beats his *Mechlin* Cravat moves :
*He Loves*,---I whiſper to my ſelf, *He Loves*.
Such unfeign'd Paſſion in his Looks appears,
I loſe all Mem'ry of my former Fears ;
My panting Heart confesses all his Charms,
I yield at once, and ſink into his Arms :
Think of that Moment, you who Prudence boaſt ;
For ſuch a Moment, Prudence *well* were loſt.

mark

[ 9 ]

### CARDELIA.

At the Groom-Porter's, batter'd Bullies play ;
Some DUKES at *Mary-Bone* bowl Time away.
But who the *Bowl*, or ratt'ling *Dice* compares,
To *Baffet's* Heav'nly Joys, and pleafing Cares ?

### SMILINDA.

Soft SIMPLICETTA doats upon a *Beau* ;
PRUDINA likes a *Man*, and laughs at *Show*.
Their ſeveral *Graces* in my SHARPER meet ;
Strong as the *Footman*, as the *Maſter* sweet.

### Mrs. LOVET.

Ceate your Contention, which has been too
[long ;
I grow Impatient, and the *Tea's* too ſtrong.

C

Attend,

[ 14 ]

Was it for this, that I theſe Róſes wear ?
For this, new fet the Jewels for my Hair ?
Ah PRINCESS ! with what Zeal have I perſu'd ?
Almoſt forgot the Duty of a *Prüde*.

This KING I never cou'd attend too ſoon ;
I mifs'd my Pray'rs, to get me drefs'd by Noon.
For Thee, Ah ! what for Thee did I reſign ;
My Paſtions, Pleaſures, all that e'er was mine ?
I've ſacrific'd both Modeſty, and Eafe ;
Left Opera's, and went to filthy *Plays*.
Double Entendres ſhock'd my Tender Ear ;
Yet even this for Thee, I chufe to bear.

In glowing Youth, when Nature bids be Gay,
And ev'ry Joy of Life before me lay;

By Honour prompted, and by Pride reſtrain'd,
The Pleaſures of the Young my Soul diſdain'd.

Sermons I ſought, and with a Mien ſevere,
Cenſur'd my Neighbours, and ſaid Daily Pray'r.

Alas, how chang'd ! With this fame Sermon-
[Mien,
The filthy—*What d' ye Call it*— I have ſeen.

Ah

mark

[ 15 ]

Ah Royal PRINCESS ! for whoſe Sake I loft
The Reputation, which ſo dear had coſt :
I, who avoided ev'ry Publick Place,
When Bloom and Beauty bid me ſhow my Face ;
Now near Thee, conſtant I each Night abide,
With never-failing Duty, by thy Side ;
My Self and Daughters ſtanding in a Row,
To all the *Foreigners* a Goodly Show.

Oft had your *Drawing-Room* been ſadly thin,
And *Merchants Wives* cloſe by your Side had been ;
Had I not amply fill'd the Empty Place,
And fav'd Your HIGHNESS from the Dire Dif-
[grace.

Yet COCKATILLA's Artifice prevails,
When all my Duty, and my Merit fails :
That COCKATILLA, whoſe Deluding Airs
Corrupts our Virgins, and our Youth enſnares ;
So funk her Character, and loft her Fame,
Scarce Viſited, before Your HIGHNESS came ;
Yet for the *Bed-Chamber* 'tis She You chufe,
Whilſt Zeal, and Fame, and Virtue You reſufe.

Ah

[ 16 ]

Ah worthy Choice ! Not One of all your Train,
Which Censure blasts not, or Dishonours STain.
I know the Court, with all its Treach'rous Wiles,
The False Carefles, and Undoing Smiles.
Ah PRINCESS ! learn'd in all the Courtly Arts,
To cheat our Hopes, and yet to gain our Hearts.

THE
TOILET.

D

THE

THE
TOILET.

THE
TOILET.

NOW Twenty Springs has cloath'd the Park
With Green,
[with Green,

Since LYDIA knew the Blooms of Fifteen :

No Lovers ! Now her Morning Hours molest,

And catch her at her Toilet half undrest.

The thund'ring Knocker wakes the Street no more :

Nor Chairs, nor Coaches crowd the Silent Door.

D 2

Now

[ 20 ]

Now at the Window all the Mornings pafs,
Or at the dumb Devotion of the Glafs ;
Reclin'd upon her Arm the penfive fat,
And curft th' Inconftancy of Men too late.

Oh Youth ! Oh Spring of Life for ever loft !
No more my Name shall ring the fav'rite Toast ;
On Glafs no more shall Diamond grave my Name,
And Rhimes miſpelt record my Lover's Flame.
Nor shall Side-Boxes watch my wand'ring Eyes,
And as they catch the Glance in Rows arife
With humble Bows ; nor White-Glove Beau's in-
[croach
In Crowds behind to guard me to my Coach.

What shall I do to ſpend the hateful Day ?
At Chapel shall I wear the Morn away ?
Who there appears at thoſe unmodiſh Hours,
But Ancient Matrons with their Frizled Tow'rs,
And Grey, Religious Maids ? My Prefence there,
Amidſt that Sober Train, wou'd cauſe Deſpair.

Nor

[ 21 ]

Nor am I yet ſo old, nor is my Glance
As yet fix'd wholly to Devotion's Trance.

Strait then I'll drefs, and take my wonted Range,
To Indian Shops, Motteux's, or the Change ;
Where the Tall Jar erects his Coſtly Pride,
With Antick Shapes, in China's Azure dy'd :
There, carelesſ lies the Rich Brocade, unroll'd ;
Here, ſhines a Cabinet of Burniſh'd Gold :
But then, alas ! I muſt be forc'd to Pay,
Or bring no Penny-worths, or Fan away.

How am I curs'd, unhappy, and forlorn ;
My Lover's Triumph, and my Sex's Scorn ?
Fальſe is the Pompous Grief of Youthful Heirs ;
Fальſe are the Loose Coquet's Inveig'ling Airs :
Fальſe is the Crafty Courtier's Plighted Word ;
Fальſe are the Dice, when Gameſters ſtamp the
[Board :
Fальſe is the Sprightly Widow's Publick Tear :
Yet thoſe, to DAMON's Oaths, are all Sincere.

For

[ 22 ]

For what Young Flirt, Bafe Man, am I abus'd ?
To pleafe your Wife, am I unkindly us'd ?
'Tis true, her Face may boaft the Peach's Bloom ;
But does her nearer whisp'ring Breath perfume ?
I own, her Taper-Shape is made to pleafe ;
Yet when you see her unconfin'd by Stays,
She doubly to Fifteen may claim Pretence ;
Alike we read it in her Wit and Senfe.
Inflipid, Servile Thing, that I difdain,
Whofe Phlegm can beſt Support the Marriage-
[Chain.

DAMON is praeſtis'd in the Modifh Life,
Can hate, and yet be civil to his Wife.
He Games, he Swears, he Drinks, he Fights, he
[Roves,
Yet CHLOE can believe he fondly loves.
Miftrefs and Wife by Turns ſupply his Need ;
A Mifs for Pleaſure, and a Wife for Breed.
Tower'd with Diamonds, free from Thought or
[Care,
She can a ſullen Husband's Humour bear.

Her

[ 23 ]

Her cred'lous Friendſhip, and her ſtupid Eafe,
Has often been my Jeſt in happier Days.
NOW CHLOE Boaſts and Triumphs in my Pains ;
To her he's Faithful, 'tis to me he Feigns,
Am I that ſenſeſs Thing to bear Neglect,
And force a Smile not daring to ſuſpect.
No, — Perjur'd Man ! A Wife may be con-
tent ;
But you ſhall find a Miftrefs can reſent.

Thus Love-fick LYDIA rav'd ; her Maid appears ;
With ſteddy Hand the Band-box-Charge She bears.
How well thoſe Ribbands-Gloſs becomes your Face,
She cries in Raptures, — Then ſo ſweet a Grace ;
How charmingly you look, ſo ſtrait, ſo fair,
'Tis to your Eyes your Head-Drefs owes its Air.
Strait LYDIA ſmil'd, the Comb adjuſts her Looks,
And at the *Play-Houſe*, *Harry* keeps the Box.

F I N I S.