v noе er arrives at power supreme,
Those arts, by which at first they gain it,
They still must practise to maintain it.
What various ways our females take
To pass for wits before a rake!
And in the fruitless search pursue
All other methods but the true!
Some try to learn polite behaviour
By reading books against their Saviour;
Some call it witty to reflect
On every natural defect;
Some show they never want explaining
To comprehend a double meaning.
But sure a tell-tale out of school
Is of all wits the greatest fool;
Whose rank imagination fills
Her heart, and from her lips distils;
You'd think she utter'd from behind,
Or at her mouth was breaking wind.
Why is a handsome wife ador'd
By every coxcomb but her lord?
From yonder puppet-man inquire,
Who wisely hides his wood and wire!
Shows Sheba's queen completely drest,
And Solomon in royal vest:
But view them litter'd on the floor,
Or strung on pegs behind the door;
E'er drove, before he sol
So fine a coach along th
The spokes, we are by
Were silver, and the axl
I own, 'twas but a coach
For Jupiter allows no m
Yet, with his beauty,
Enough to win ten thous
No vulgar deity above
Was so unfortunate in lo
Three weighty causes
That mov'd the nymphs
Nine Muses always wai
He left them virgins as!
His singing was anothe
For he could reach to I
And, by the sentiments
Such singers are like N
At last, the point was f
In short, Apollo had n
E er arove, peiore ne sola nis land,
So fine a coach along the Strand;
The spokes, we are by Ovid told,
Were silver, and the axle gold:
I own, 'twas but a coach and four,
For Jupiter allows no more.
Yet, with his beauty, wealth, and parts,
Enough to win ten thousand hearts,
No vulgar deity above
Was so unfortunate in love.
Three weighty causes were assign'd, That mov'd the nymphs to be unkind. Nine Muses always waiting round him, He left them virgins as he found them. His singing was another fault; For he could reach to B in alt: And, by the sentiments of Pliny, Such singers are like Nicolini. At last, the point was fully clear'd; In short, Apollo had no beard.
of the place: s be defin'd you my mind. abound, De found:
lamn'd blockheads,
prostitute slaves; damn'd lords, and
every station; over the nation; y give you counsellors privy. ons be flamm'd, place of the damn'd:
ris or Rome. ot at home!
And thunder roars and lightn Amaz'd, confus'd, its fate un The world stands trembling a While each pale sinner hung Jove, nodding, shook the hea "Offending race of human k By nature, reason, learning, b You who, through frailty, step And you, who never fell from You who in different sects we And come to see each other (So some folk told you, but th No more of Jove's designs tha -The world's mad business And I resent these pranks no -I to such blockheads set m I damn such fools!-Go, go,
*This Poem was first printed letter from Lord Chesterfield addr Aug. 27, 1752.-N.
na inunder roars anu ngntning mes !
maz'd, confus'd, its fate unknown,
he world stands trembling at his throne!
Thile each pale sinner hung his head,
ove, nodding, shook the heavens, and said:
Offending race of human kind,
by nature, reason, learning, blind;
You who, through frailty, stepp'd aside;
And you, who never fell from pride:
You who in different sects were shamm'd,
And come to see each other damn'd:
(So some folk told you, but they knew
No more of Jove's designs than you)
-The world's mad business now is o'er,
And I resent these pranks no more.
-I to such blockheads set my wit!
I damn such fools!-Go, go, you're bit."
* This Poem was first printed (from the Dean's MS.) i letter from Lord Chesterfield addressed to Mr Voltaire, da Aug. 27, 1752.-N.
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