As now your own, our beings were of old, And once inclof'd a woman's beauteous mould; Thence, by a foft transition, we repair From earthly vehicles to thefe of air. Think not, when woman's transient breath is fled, And tho' she plays no more, o'erlooks the cards. Know further yet; whoever fair and chaste Safe from the treach'rous friend, the daring fpark, Some nymphs there are, too confcious of their face, For life predeftin'd to the gnomes embrace. These fwell their profpects and exalt their pride, When offers ere disdain'd, and love deny'd. Then gay ideas crowd the vacant brain, While peers, and dukes, and all their fweeping train, And garters, stars, and coronets appear, And in foft founds, your grace falutes their ear. Oft' when the world imagine women ftray, To one man's treat, but for another's ball? With With varying vanities, from ev'ry part, They shift the moving toy-shop of their heart; Where wigs with wigs, with fword-knots fword-knots ftrive, Beaux banish beaux, and coaches coaches drive, This erring mortals levity may call; Oh blind to truth! the Sylphs contrive it all. I faw alas! fome dread event impend, Ere to the main this morning fun defcend: But heav'n reveals not what, or how, or where: Beware of all, but moft beware of man! He faid; when Shock who thought she flept too long, Leap'd up, and wak'd his mistress with his tongue. 'Twas then, Belinda, if report fay true, Thy eyes first open'd on a billet-doux ; Wounds, charms, and ardours, were no fooner re ad But all the vifion vanish'd from thy head. And now unveil'd the toilet ftands display'd; Each filver vase in mystic order laid. Q First rob'd in white, the nymph intent adores, With head uncover'd, the cosmetic pow'rs: A heav'nly image in the glass appears, To that she bends, to that her eyes she rears; Th' inferior priestess, at her altar's side, Trembling, begins the facred rites of pride. Unnumber'd treasures ope at once, and here The various off'rings of the world appear; From each she nicely culls with curious toil, And decks the goddess with the glitt'ring spoil, This casket India's glowing gems unlocks, And all Arabia breathes from yonder box: The tortoife here and elephant unite, Transform'd to combs, the fpeckled and the white Here files of pins extend their shining rows, Puffs, powders, patches, bibles, billet-doux. Now awful beauty puts on all its arms; The fair each moment rifes in her charms, Repairs her fmiles, awakens ev'ry grace, And calls forth all the wonders of her face: Sees by degrees a purer blush arise, And keener lightnings quicken in her eyes. The bufy Sylphs furround their darling care; These fet the head, and thofe divide the hair, Some fold the fleeve, whilft others plait the gown; And Betty's prais'd for labours not her own. NOT with more glories, in th' etherial plain, The fun firft rifes o'er the purpled main, Than, iffuing forth, the rival of his beams Launch'd on the bofom of the filver Thames. Fair Nymphs, and well-dreff'd Youths, around her shone; But ev'ry eye was fix'd on her alone. On her white breast a sparkling crofs she wore, Yet graceful ease, and sweetness void of pride, Look in her face, and you'll forget 'em all. This Nymph, to the destruction of mankind, Nourish'd two Locks, which graceful hung behind In equal curls, and well confpir'd to deck With shining ringlets the smooth iv'ry neck. Love in these labyrinths his flaves detains, And mighty hearts are held in flender chains. |