NO master sage, nor orator I know, Who can success, like gentle Cupid show; His ways and arguments are pleasing smiles, Engaging looks, soft tears, and winning wiles. Wars in his empire will at times arise, And, in the field, his standard meet the eyes; Now stealing secretly, with skilful lure. He penetrates to hearts […]

FAMED Paris ne’er within its walls had got, Such magick charms as were Aminta’s lot, Youth, beauty, temper, fortune, she possessed, And all that should a husband render blessed, The mother still retained her ‘neath the wing; Her father’s riches well might lovers bring; Whate’er his daughter wished, he would provide, Amusements, jewels, dress, and […]

IF truth give pleasure, surely we should try; To found our tales on what we can rely; Th’ experiment repeatedly I’ve made, And seen how much realities persuade: They draw attention: confidence awake; Fictitious names however we should take, And then the rest detail without disguise: ‘Tis thus I mean to manage my supplies. IT […]

THE husband’s dire mishap, and silly maid, In ev’ry age, have proved the fable’s aid; The fertile subject never will be dry: ‘Tis inexhaustible, you may rely. No man’s exempt from evils such as these:– Who thinks himself secure, but little sees. One laughs at sly intrigues who, ere ’tis long, May, in his turn, […]

DAME FORTUNE often loves a laugh to raise, And, playing off her tricks and roguish ways, Instead of giving us what we desire, Mere quid pro quo permits us to acquire. I’ve found her gambols such from first to last, And judge the future by experience past. Fair Cloris and myself felt mutual flame; And, […]

SOLICITED I’ve been to give a tale, In which (though true, decorum must prevail), The subject from a picture shall arise, That by a curtain’s kept from vulgar eyes. My brain must furnish various features new: What’s delicate and smart produce to view; By this expressed, and not by t’other said: And all so clear, […]

I RECOLLECT, that lately much I blamed, The sort of lover, avaricious named; And if in opposites we reason see, The liberal in paradise should be. The rule is just and, with the warmest zeal, To prove the fact I to the CHURCH appeal. IN Florence once there dwelled a gentle youth, Who loved a […]

I LATELY vowed to leave the nuns alone, So oft their freaks have in my page been shown. The subject may at length fatigue the mind; My Muse the veil howe’er is still inclined, Conspicuously to hold to publick view, And, ‘mong the sisters, scene and scene pursue. Is this too much?–the nicest tricks they […]

A wealthy Ploughman, drawing near his end, Called in his sons apart from every friend, And said, “When of your sire bereft, The heritage your father left Guard well, nor sell a single field. A treasure in it is concealed. The place, precisely, I don’t know, But industry will serve to show. The harvest past, […]