So fome pale flower reclines its drooping head,
And lies unfeen, neglected in the shade,

Yet touch'd with lightning by the blaze of noon,
Unfolds its leaves, and bloffoms in the fun.

IR'D with the rage that warms a Coxcomb's mind,

FIRD with the rage that warm or foe for unkind

When curls are awkward, or the fair unkind
When spurn'd and kick'd by all the tinfel throng,
Or, still more dreadful, when a patch is wrong;
Poor Florio late deplor'd his mighty woe,
With all the fury of an angry beau.

ALONE, and mufing on the wrongs of fate,
Fix'd deep in thought the gloomy Heroe fat;
One hand his cane fuftain'd (of magic power;)
One twirl'd his box, but dropt it on the floor:
"Twas then within the gilded covering hid
Thy Form Belinda started from the lid.
Paint, ruffles, lace were call'd to ease his pain,
But ruffles, lace, and paint were call'd in vain.
In vain unhappy! o'er thy bofom spread
With figured filver flam'd the gay brocade;
In vain, to rouze thy drooping thoughts, combine
Gums, feathers, patches, plays, novels and wine:

* The incidents mentioned in this piece are wholly fictitious. The Author intended to paint the

I 4

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ridiculous in characters, but not to appropriate the ridicule to particular perfons.

Unmov'd he stood; till struck with fierce despair He rav'd, he stamp'd, he frown'd, he tore his hair } The curls flew loofe, and fcattering thro' the room," Exhaled 2 cloud of powder and perfume. d y » Thrice ere he spoke, he wiped the swimming eye, And thrice (ye gods, how ftrange!) was heard to figh; At laft with fury fwelled th' indignant man, odT " He bit has quivering lip, and thus began.do ditW zont myw bˆA »

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"GODS! have I liv'd to this detefted hour, "When Paffion ftorms with unrefifted power!" "Baulk'd in my wishes; from my views remov'd » "By those who loved me once, or faid they loy'd "Was it for this I learn'd thefe arts before, swT » "Drefs'd, lov'd, fung, danc'd, fought, whored, "rhimed, drunk, and fwore; evesd såT « For this I taught the fpeaking look to kill, wo

"And spent whole years at ombre and quadrille; "Fired with a graceful mien admiring Fair, T And op'd the fnuff-box with a charming air!T « Have I so long pursued the lovely prize, "And felt the lightning of Belinda's eyes,»

Patch'd, powder'd, painted, ufed a clouded cane,

"Wrote billet-doux, fighed, ogled;-all in vain ;,, "While at the goal my happier rivals run, (So glittering infects court a fummer fun)

81

<< While

* While thefe are buzzing in the Charmer's ear,
"Am I, and I alone, to feel despair?
"Muft I be doom'd her vengeance to deplore,
By her moft hated, whom I most adore ?"
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YET, how our fond deluding hopes beguile! A "These eyes have seen the frowning Beauty fmile, "With charms refplendent flame divinely bright, "And warm th' exulting heart with keen delight.". und to

"O COULD my with the happier years recall, "When once I fhone diftinguifh'd in the ball « Then as I pafs'd the pointing circle bowed; "'Twas then my drefs prefcribed the reigning mode. Then crouds with wonder eyed me, as I mov❜d, "The beaus all envied, and the belles approv❜d. Now, fad reverse! my cares are all return'd

With proud disdain, neglected, hiß'd, or spurn'd', "They fee me wretched, and but laugh the more, Though love invites, and billet-doux implore.”

"THOUGH Once this mien has boafted to infpire, "And melt ev'n frozen bofems with defire;

Though once thefe eyes, practifed in every art, "Have charm'd the prude, and trapp'd th' unwary

Though smooth Perfuafion graced my flowing

" tongue;

w bas b dyn edT "Though the foul leap'd with transport, when I fung: n addresses provecot

Yet, now, ah, now! my warm addreffes The blast of pleasure, and the bane of love. A "Each wondering Booby ftares, where-e'er I go, "As fome pale Ghost had left the shades below!"

"O THOUGHTLESS mortals! ignorant and dull, "Blind to the wise, but partial to the fool ; "Who ne'er have learn'd fuperior worth to find, " Nor view those charms that strike the judging mind; "Still prone at Folly's fhrine to pour your blood, "Nor taught to value life's fubftantial good! "On us no more your pointless wit bestow, "Your pointless wit can never hurt a Beau."

ENRAGED, he spoke; with grief, with ire oppreft, His heart beat thick within his roomy breast; He damn'd all mankind in a rage, and swore (Unjuft!) that every woman was a w--e. Plays, paint, novels now met their final doom, The furious Heroe kick'd them thro' the room; Dashed o'er his figured veft the rude bohea, And tore his favourite patch, and fine toupee.

BUT, lo! at length a fatal billet came !

A fatal billet! with Belinda's name!

Thou