Vows of Virginity Should well be weigh'd,
Too oft they're cancell'd, tho' in Convents made.
Wou'd you revenge fuch rash Refolves--you may :
Be fpiteful--and believe the thing we say,
We hate you when you're easily faid Nay.
How needlefs, if you knew us, were your Fears?
Let Love have Eyes, and Beauty will have Ears.
Our Hearts are form'd as you your selves wou'd choose,
Too proud to ask, too humble to refufe:
We give to Merit, and to Wealth we fell;
He fighs with moft Succefs that fettles well.
The Woes of Wedlock with the Joys we mix';
Tis best repenting in a Coach and Six.
Blame not our Conduct, fince we but pursue
Thofe lively Leffons we have learn'd from you:
Your Breasts no more the Fire of Beauty warms,
But wicked Wealth ufurps the Pow'r of Charms;
What Pains to get the gaudy Thing you bate,
To fwell in Show, and be a Wretch in State!
At Plays you Ogle, at the Ring you Bow;
Ev'n Churches are no Sanctuaries now:
There, Golden Idols all your Vows receive,
She is no Goddefs that has nought to give.
Oh, may once more the happy Age appear,
When Words were artless, and the Thoughts fincere
When Gold and Grandeur were unenvy'd things,
And Courts lefs coveted than Groves and Springs.
Love then fhall only mourn when Truth complains,
And Conftancy feel Transport in its Chains.
Sighs with Succefs their own foft Anguish tell,
And Eyes fhall utter what the Lips conceal
Virtue again to its bright Station climb,
And Beauty fear no Enemy but Time,
The Fair fhall liften to Defert alone,
And every Lucia find a Cato's Son.