Arcadia's Countess, here, in ermin'd pride,
Is there, Paftora by a fountain fide.

NOTES.

tions in those Actions from whence their general and obvious Character is denominated: To verify this obfervation, let the reader examine all the Characters here drawn, and try whether with this key he cannot discover, that all their Contradictions arise from a defire to hide the ruling Paffion.

But this is not the worst. The poet afterwards (from ✈ 218 to 249) takes notice of another mischief arifing from this neceffity of hiding their ruling Paffions; which is, that generally the end of each is defeated even there where they are most violently pursued: For the neceffity of hiding them inducing an habitual diffipation of mind, Reafon,

VER. 7, 8, 10, &c. Arcadia's Countefs,-Paftora by a fountain-Leda with a fwan.

And yet, believe me, good as well as ill, Woman's at beft a Contradiction fill, &c. VER. 5. How many pictures] The poet's purpose here is to fhew, that the Characters of Women are generally incon--Magdalen-Cecilia-] Attififtent with themselves; and this he illuftrates by fo happy a Similitude, that we, fee the folly, defcribed in it, arifes from that very principle which gives birth to this inconfiftency of Character.

tudes in which feveral ladies affected to be drawn, and fometimes one lady in them all -The poet's politeness and complaifance to the fex is obfervable in this inftance, amongst others, that, whereas

Here Fannia, leering on her own good man,
And there, a naked Leda with a Swan.
Let then the Fair one beautifully cry,

In Magdalen's loose hair and lifted eye,
Or dreft in fmiles of fweet Cecilia fhine,

ΙΟ

With fimp'ring Angels, Palms, and Harps divine; Whether the Charmer finner it, or faint it, 15 If Folly grow romantic, I must paint it.

Come then, the colours and the ground prepare! Dip in the Rainbow, trick her off in Air; Chufe a firm Cloud, before it fall, and in it

19

Catch, e'er she change, the Cynthia of this minute.
Rufa, whofe eye quick-glancing o'er the Park,
Attracts each light gay meteor of a Spark,
Agrees as ill with Rufa studying Locke,
As Sappho's di'monds with her dirty fmock;

NOTES.

in the Characters of Men he has fometimes made ufe of real names, in the Characters of Women always fictitious. P.

VER. 20. Catch, e'er fhe change, the Cynthia of this minute. Alluding to the precept of Fresnoy,

VER. 23. Agrees as ill with Rufa ftudying Locke,] This thought is expreffed with great forma veneres captando fugaces. humour in the following stanza:

VER. 21. Inftances of con

Or Sappho at her toilet's greazy task,

With Sappho fragrant at an ev'ning Mask :

So morning Infects that in muck begun,
Shine, buzz, and fly-blow in the fetting-fun.

How foft is Silia! fearful to offend;

25

The Frail one's advocate, the Weak one's friend:
To her, Califta prov'd her conduct nice;

And good Simplicius afks of her advice.

31

Sudden, she storms! fhe raves! You tip the wink,
But spare your cenfure; Silia does not drink.

All eyes may

fee from what the change arofe, 35 All eyes may fee-a Pimple on her nose.

Papillia, wedded to her am'rous fpark,

Sighs for the fhades-"How charming is a Park!"
A Park is purchas'd, but the Fair he fees
·All bath'd in tears— " Oh odious, odious Trees!"
Ladies, like variegated Tulips, fhow;

'Tis to their Changes half their charms we owe;

NOTES.

Tho' Artemefia talks, by fits,

Of councils, claffics, fathers, wits;

Reads Malbranche, Boyle, and Locke:

Yet in fome things, methinks, fhe fails,
'Twere well if he wou'd pare her nails,

And wear a cleaner fmock.

VER. 29 and 37. II. Contrarieties in the Soft-natured. P.

41

Fine by defect, and delicately weak.

Their happy Spots the nice admirer take,

'Twas thus Calypfo once each heart alarm'd, 45
Aw'd without Virtue, without Beauty charm'd;
Her Tongue bewitch'd as odly as her Eyes,
Less Wit than Mimic, more a Wit than wife;
Strange graces ftill, and stranger flights she had,
Was juft not ugly, and was juft not mad;
Yet ne'er fo fure our paffion to create,

As when the touch'd the brink of all we hate.
Narciffa's nature, tolerably mild,

59

To make a wash, would hardly stew a child;
Has ev'n been prov'd to grant a Lover's pray'r, 55
And paid a Tradefman once to make him stare;
Gave alms at Eafter, in a Christian trim,
And made a Widow happy, for a whim.

60

Why then declare Good-nature is her scorn,
When 'tis by that alone the can be born?
Why pique all mortals, yet affect a name?
A fool to Pleasure, yet a flave to Fame:
Now deep in Taylor and the Book of Martyrs,
Now drinking citron with his Grace and Chartres:
Now Confcience chills her, and now Paffion burns;
And Atheism and Religion take their turns ;
very Heathen in the carnal part,

A

Yet ftill a fad, good Christian at her heart.

See Sin in State, majestically drunk; Proud as a Peerefs, prouder as a Punk;

66

70

Chafte to her Hufband, frank to all befide,

A teeming Mistress, but a barren Bride..

What then? let Blood and Body bear the fault, Her Head's untouch'd, that noble Seat of Thought: Such this day's doctrine--in another fit

She fins with Poets thro' pure Love of Wit.

VARIATION S.

VER. 77. What has not fir'd &c.] in the MS.

In whose mad brain the mixt ideas roll
Of Tall-boy's breeches, and of Cæfar's foul.

NOTES.

VER. 69. V. In the Lewd and Vicious. P.

75