That every rich and lordly fwain
With pride would drag about her chain;
That scholars would forfake their books,
To study bright Vanessa's looks;
As the advanc'd, that womankind
Would by her model form their mind,
And all their conduct would be try'd
By her, as an unerring guide;
Offending daughters oft' would hear
Vaneffa's praife rung in their ear:
Mifs Betty, when the does a fault,
Lets fall her knife, or fpills the falt,
Will thus be by her mother chid,
"'Tis what Vaneffa never did!"

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She shakes her helm, fhe knits her brows,

And, fir'd with indignation, vows,

To-morrow, ere the fetting fun,

She'd all undo that fhe had done.

But in the poets we may find

255

A wholesome law, time out of mind,
Had been confirm'd by Fate's decree,

That gods, of whatfoe'er degree,
Refume not what themselves have given,

260

Or any brother-god in heaven;

Which keeps the peace among the gods,
Or they must always be at odds:
And Pallas, if the broke the laws,
Muft yield her foe the ftronger cause ;
A fhame to one fo much ador'd
For wisdom at Jove's council-board.
Befides, fhe fear'd the Queen of Love
Would meet with better friends above.
And though the muft with grief reflect,
To see a mortal virgin deck'd
With graces hitherto unknown
To female breafts, except her own;
Yet fhe would act as beft became
A goddefs of unfpotted fame.
She knew, by augury divine,
Venus would fail in her defign:
She study'd well the point, and found
Her foe's conclufions were not found,
From premiffes erroneous brought,
And therefore the deduction 's nought,
And must have contrary effects,

To what her treacherous foe expects.
In proper feafon Pallas meets

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The Queen of Love, whom thus fhe greets

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(For gods, we are by Homer told,

Can in celeftial language fcold):

Perfidious goddess! but in vain

You form'd this project in your brain;

A project for thy talents fit,

With much deceit and little wit.

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Thou haft, as thou fhalt quickly fee,
Deceiv'd thyfelf, inftead of me:

And yet

She 'll prove the greatest of thy foes;
I fcorn to interpose,

300

Well knowing, from the books fhe read,
What dangerous paths young virgins tread:
Would feldom at the Park appear,
Nor faw the play-house twice a year;
Yet, not incurious, was inclin'd

To know the converfe of mankind.

First iffued from perfumers' fhops,

A croud of fashionable fops ::

They afk'd her, how the lik'd the play;
Then told the tattle of the day;
A duel fought last night at two,
About a lady—you know who;

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315

3-20

Mention'd

Then, in foft voice and fpeech abfurd,
With nonfenfe every fecond word,

325

When they grew pert, to pull them down.

At laft fhe fpitefully was bent

To try their wisdom's full extent;

And faid, the valued nothing lefs

340

Than titles, figure, fhape, and drefs;

That merit fhould be chiefly plac'd

In judgement, knowledge, wit, and tafte;

She nam'd the ancient heroes round,
Explain'd for what they were renown'd;

350

Then

Then fpoke with cenfure or applaufe

Of foreign customs, rites, and laws;

Through nature and through art she rang'd,
And gracefully her fubject chang'd;

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In vain her hearers had no fhare

In all she spoke, except to ftare.

Their judgement was, upon the whole,
-That lady is the dulleft foul!—
Then tipt their forehead in a jeer,

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As who fhould fay-She wants it here!

She may be handsome, young, and rich,

But none will burn her for a witch!

A party next of glittering dames,

From round the purlieus of St. James,

365

Came early, out of pure good-will,

To fee the girl in difhabille.

Their clamour, 'lighting from their chairs,
Grew louder all the way up ftairs;

3.70

At entrance loudeft, where they found
The room with volumes litter'd round.
Vaneffa held Montaigne, and read,
Whilft Mrs. Sufan comb'd her head.
They call'd for tea and chocolate,

And fell into their usual chat,
Difcourfing with important face,

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On ribbons, fans, and gloves, and lace;
Shew'd patterns juft from India brought,
And gravely afk'd her what fhe thought,
Whether the red or green were best,
And what they coft? Vaneffa guess'd,

380