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What Morals teach it, and what Fables hide,

What Author wrote it, how that Author dy'd,

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All these I fing. In Greece they fram'd the Tale

(In Greece, 'twas thought, a Woman might be frail.) Ye modern Beauties! where the Poet drew His fofteft Pencil, think he dreamt of you;

And warn'd by him, ye wanton Pens, beware How Heav'n's concern'd to vindicate the Fair. The cafe was Hefiod's; he the Fable writ; Some think with Meaning, fome with idle Wit: Perhaps 'tis either, as the Ladies please;

I wave the Conteft, and commence the Lays..

In days of yore, (no matter where or when, 'Twas ere the low Creation fwarm'd with Men) That one Prometheus, sprung of heav'nly Birth, (Our Author's Song can witnefs) liv'd on Earth. He carv'd the Turf to mold a manly Frame, And stole from Jove his animating Flame.

The

The fly contrivance o'er Olympus ran,
When thus the Monarch of the Stars began.

Oh vers'd in Arts! whofe daring Thoughts afpire To kindle Clay with never-dying Fire! Enjoy thy Glory past, That Gift was thine; The next thy Creature meets, be fairly mine: And such a Gift, a Vengeance so design'd, As fuits the Counsel of a God to find; A pleafing Bofom-cheat, a fpecious Ill, Which felt they curse, yet covet still to feel.

He said, and Vulcan strait the Sire commands, To temper Mortar with etherial Hands; In fuch a Shape to mold a rifing Fair, As Virgin-goddeffes are proud to wear; To make her Eyes with Diamond-water shine, And form her Organs for a Voice divine.

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'Twas thus the Sire ordain'd; the Pow'r obey'd;

And work'd, and wonder'd at the Work he made;
The faireft, fofteft, fweeteft Frame beneath,
Now made to feem, now more than feem, to
[breathe.

As Vulcan ends, the chearful Queen of Charms
Clafp'd the new-panting Creature in her Arms;
From that Embrace a fine Complexion spread,
Where mingled Whitenefs glow'd with softer Red.
Then in a Kiss fhe breath'd her various Arts,
Of trifling prettily with wounded Hearts;
A Mind for Love, but still a changing Mind;
The Lifp affected, and the Glance design'd;
The sweet confusing Blush, the secret Wink,
The gentle-swimming Walk, the courteous Sink,
The Stare for Strangenefs fit, for Scorn the Frown,
For decent yielding Looks declining down,

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The practis'd Languifh, where well-feign'd Defire Wou'd own its melting in a mutual Fire;

Gay Smiles to comfort; April Show'rs to move; And all the Nature, all the Art, of Love.

Gold-fcepter'd Juno next exalts the Fair; Her Touch endows her with imperious Air, Self-valuing Fancy, highly-crested Pride, Strong fov'reign Will, and fome Defire to chide: For which, an Eloquence, that aims to vex, With native Tropes of Anger, arms the Sex.

Minerva (skilful Goddess) train'd the Maid To twirl the Spindle by the twisting Thread, To fix the Loom, inftruct the Reeds to part, Cross the long Weft, and close the Web with Art, An useful Gift; but what profuse Expence,

What world of Fashions, took its Rife from hence! Young

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