WHAT odd fantaftic things we women do?
Who wou'd not liften when young lovers woo?
But die a maid, yet have the choice of two!
Ladies are often cruel to their coft :
To give you pain, themselves they punish most.
Vows of virginity should well be weigh'd;
Too oft they're cancell'd, tho' in convents made.
Would you revenge fuch raft refolves-you may
Be Spiteful-and believe the thing we fay,
We hate you when you're easily said nay.
How needlefs, if you knew us, avere your fears?
Let love have eyes, and beauty will have ears.
Our hearts are form'd as you your felves would chufe,
Too proud to afk, too humble to refuse:
We give to merit, and to wealth we fell:
He fighs with most fuccefs that fettles well.
The woes of wedlock with the joys we mix :
'Tis beft repenting in a coach and fix.
Blame not our conduct, fince we but pursue
Thofe lively leffons we have learnt from you.
Your breafts no more the fire of beauty warms,
But wicked wealth ufurps the pow'r of charms
What pains to get the gaudy thing you hate,
To fwell in fhow, and be a wretch in ftate.
At plays you ogle, at the ring you bow;
Ev'n churches are no fanctuaries now:
There golden idols all your vows receive,
She is no goddess that has nought to give..
Oh, may once more the happy age appear,
When words were artlefs, 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 ;.