"She's tall, and has a comely shap And treads well, too, I swear : Come on-by this good light we'll scrape "Good God!" cried I, "she is not game, But he, who knew all womankind, "You're quite a novice, friend, I find- “A virtuous dame this hour, no doubt Would choose to walk the streets; Especially so dizen'd out, And smile on all she meets. "Her rings, her bracelets, her perfumes, The character which she assumes, "See now, she fidgets with her vest To settle it, be sure, And not at all to show her breast, "Her robe tuck'd up with nicest care- And though her legs are half-way bare, "But see! she turns to look behind, So up he march'd, and made his bow No sooner off his hat, But, lover-like, he 'gan to vow, But first premised the ways were rough- I beg "so cleverly enough Then "Fairest, for thy beauty's sake, Permit me to your maid to make "And yet you know what I'd require, But gold the boon shall buy. "I'll give, my fairest, what you please— Then deign, bright charmer, deign to ease Assent sat smiling in her eyes; She blush'd a little too, methought, Hippias was now quite hand in glove, To take her to the bower of Love, He whisper'd as he went Well, Phil, say now whose judgment's best? You saw, not eagerly I press'd, Nor did I press her long. "But you are ignorant, I see, So follow, and improve, For few, I ween, can teach like me The mysteries of Love." EPISTLE V. THE EXPEDIENT.* ALCIPHRON TO LUCIAN. T'OTHER day Charidemus a feast did prepare, And with all his acquaintances fill'd up the room: The writer here describes an ingenious device practised by a lady of gallantry to deceive a suspicious husband. 'Mong the rest, (for you know his tendresse for the fair,) The guests were all seated, when in comes our spark, "Charidemus," said she, "do you know what you've done? That old fellow's my husband just now you brought in : I shall here be discover'd, as sure as a gun, By the cloak I pull'd off, and which hangs on a pin. "But if you can assist me, and privately send That cloak to my house, with a dish of your meat, Away then she slipt, and got quick to her house, And they'd scarce fix'd their plan the old cuckold to chouse, He cried, while he sought for his poignard to stab her, But while he was storming thus, in pops her neighbour, "I'm come to acknowledge your favour," she said, "And some prog from the feast have I brought with me I knew that at home all the ev'ning you stay'd, The silly curmudgeon grew meek as a lamb, He vow'd that he ne'er would suspect her again, EPISTLE VI. THE CONSOLATION.❤ HERMOCRATES TO EUPHORION.† SAYS a girl to her nurse, "I've a tale to unfold, But first you must swear not to blab when you're told.” "I've lost, my dear mother," the innocent said, I wish you had seen what a face the dame made, Hush, for God's sake," says Miss, in a whispering tone, You have sworn to discover my secret to none, "My virtue long all opposition withstood, "In vain to my aid did I reason invoke; He'd got root in my heart, and there grew like an oak, "Yet surely young Lysias has charms to betray; But you never heard the soft things he can say― "For now that the spoiler has robb'd me of all He cruelly mocks at my tears as they fall— "You've play'd a sad game," cries the matron, aghast; But since no reflections can alter what's past, Cheer up-there's no more to be said. This Epistle describes the distress of a girl who has been debauched, with the consolation of the good old woman her nurse. The subject of this Epistle does not in the least regard the writer; who, as in the preceding one, only entertains his correspondent with a little tale, or amusing description. The case is the same with many of the subsequent ones. "Cheer up, child, I say; why there's no such great crime; Sure I too have met with false men: I've known what it was to be trick'd in my time; "But do so no more; lest, should you be rash, "Some innocent swain, (if such innocence be !) "My humble petition may Jupiter hear, And grant that you quickly may wed.”- "You're safe, my dear daughter, I fancy, as yet; EPISTLE VII.* THE DISAPPOINTMENT. CYRTION TO DICTYS. LATE as upon the rocky strand Alone the death-barb'd bait I threw, Just as I tow'd a fish to land, Which almost broke my line in two Comes a fair maid, whose native bloom This prize is better than my fish, You'd watch my clothes while I'm away." Epistle VII.] A disagreeable end to a pleasing rencontre. |