Of the Characters of Women.
OTHING fo true as what

you

once let fall, N.

"Moft Women have no Characters at all.” Matter too soft a lasting mark to bear, And best distinguish'd by black, brown, or fair.

NOTES of the Characters of Wo its first publication, may men.] There is nothing in perhaps account for the Mr Pope's works more small attention given to it. highly finished than this He said, that no one chaEpiftle: Yet its success was racter in it was drawn from in no proportion to the the life. The Public be. pains he took in composing lieved him on his word, and it. Something he chanced expressed little curiosity ato drop in a short Adver- bout a Satire in which there tisement prefixed to it, on was nothing personal,

N. Blakey in. (del

7. Jootinfculp. In Men, we various ruling. Passions find, In Momen, two almost divide the Kindl; Those only fird, they first or last obey The Soul op-Plar and the Sove ofilway

Char: of Wonien.

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDSTORMS.

IO

How many pictures of one Nymph we view, 5 All how unlike each other, all how true! Arcadia's Countess, here, in ermin’d pride, 'Is there, Pastora by a fountain fide. 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 drest in smiles of sweet Cecilia shine, With simp’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.

Notes.

Ver. 7, 8, 10, &c. Ar- this instance amongst others, cadia's Countess, -Pastora that, whereas in the Chaby a fountain—Leda with a raeters of Men he has somefwan - Magdalen

Magdalen — Ceci- times made use of real lia-) Attitudes in which names, in the Chara&ters of several ladies affected to be Women always fictitious. P. drawn, and sometimes one Ver. 20. Catch, e'er the lady in them all-- The poet's change, the Cynthia of this politeness and complaisance minute. ] Alluding to the to the fex is observable in precept of Fresnoy,

forme veneres captando fugaces.

28

Rufa, whose 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 smock;
Or Sappho at her toilet's greazy talk,
With Sappho fragrant at an ev'ning Malk:
So morning Insects that in muck begun,
Shine, buzz, and fly-blow in the setting-fun.

How soft is Silia! fearful to offend;
The Frail one's advocate, the Weak one's friend : 30
To her Califta prov'd her conduct nice;
And good Simplicius asks of her advice.
Sudden, she storms! she raves! You tip the wink,
But spare your censure ; Silia does not drink.

NOTES. VÉR. 21. Instances of con- Ver. 23. Agreeś às ill trarieties, given even from with Rufa Audying Locke, ) such Characters as are most This thought is expreffed strongly mark’d, and seem- with great humour in the ingly therefore most con- following stanza : fiftent: As, I. In the Affeated, x 21, &c. P.

Tho’ Artemefia talks, by fits,
Of councils, clasics, fathers, wits ;

Reads Malbranche, Boyle, and Locke :
Yet in some things, metbinks, she fails,
Twere well if he wou'd pare her nails,

And wear a cleaner Smock.
Vie. 29 and 37. II. Contrarieties in the Soft-natured. P.