In bright confufion open rouleaus lie, SMILINDA. What more than marble must that breaft compofe, That liftens coldly to my SHARPER'S VOWS! Then when he trembles, when his blushes rife, Think of that moment, you who prudence boaft CARDELIA. At the groom-porter's, batter'd bullies play: SMILINDA. SMILINDA. Soft SIMPLICETTA doats upon a beau; Ceafe your contention, which has been too long, FRIDAY. The TOILETTE. LYDIA. OW twenty fprings had cloth'd the park with green, Now Since LYDIA knew the bloffoms of fifteen ; No lovers now her morning hours moleft; And catch her at her toilette half undrest. The thund'ring knocker wakes the street no more, Nor at the window all her mornings pafs, "Oh youth! O fpring of life for ever loft! And, as they catch the glance, in rows arise "With humble bows; nor white-glov'd beaus encroach "In crowds behind, to guard me to my coach. "What shall I do to spend the hateful day? "At chapel fhall I wear the morn away? "Who there appears at these unmodish hours, "But ancient matrons with their frizled tow'rs, "And grey religious maids? my prefence there "Amidft that fober train, would own despair; “Nor am I yet fo old, nor is my glance "As yet fix'd wholly on devotion's trance. "Strait then I'll drefs, and take my wonted range Through India fhops, to Motteux's, or the Change, "Where the tall jar erects its ftately pride, "With antic fhapes in China's azure dy'd; "There "There careless lies a rich brocade unroll'd, "Here fhines a cabinet with burnish'd gold. “But then, alas! I must be forc'd to pay, "And bring no penn'orths, not a fan away ! "How am I curs'd, unhappy and forlorn! My lover's triumph, and my sex's scorn! "False is the pompous grief of youthful heirs ; "False are the loose coquet's inveigling airs; "Falfe is the crafty courtier's plighted word; "False are the dice, when gamefters ftamp the board; "False is the sprightly widow's public tear; "Yet these to DAMON'S oaths are all fincere. "For what young flirt, base man, am I abus'd? "To please your wife am I unkindly us'd? "'Tis true, her face may boast the peach's bloom; "But does her nearer whisper breathe perfume? ἐσ "I own her taper shape is form'd to please; "But don't you fee her unconfin'd by stays? "Her phlegm can best support the marriage chain. DAMON is practis'd in the modifh life; “Can hate, and yet be civil to his wife "He games, he drinks, he fwears, he fights, he roves; "Yet CLOE can believe he fondly loves. "Mistress and wife by turns fupply his need; "A miss for pleasure, and a wife for breed. "Powder'd with diamonds, free from spleen or care, "She can a fullen husband's humour bear; "Her credulous friendship, and her stupid ease, "Have often been my jeft in happier days: "Now CLOE boafts and triumphs in my pains; "To her he's faithful; 'tis to me he feigns. "Am I that stupid thing to bear neglect, "And force a fmile, not daring to fufpect? "No, perjur'd man! a wife may be content, "But you fhall find a mistress can resent." Thus love-fick LYDIA rav'd; her maid appears, And in her faithful hand the band-box bears (The Ceftos that reform'd inconftant Jove Not better fill'd with what allur'd to love) "How well this ribband's glofs becomes your face !” She cries in rapture; "then, fo fweet a lace! "How charmingly you look! fo bright! fo fair! "'Tis to your eyes the head-dress owes its air!" Strait LYDIA fmil'd; the comb adjusts her locks; And at the play-house HARRY keeps her box. SATUR |