But overcharg’d, and out of wind, Though strong in limbs, he lagg’d behind.

Desire had now the goal in sight: It was a tow'r of monstrous height; Where on the summit Fortune stands, A crown and sceptre in her hands; Beneath a chasm as deep as hell, Where many a bold advent'rer fell. Defire, in rapture gaz'da while, And saw the treach'rous goddess smile; But, as he climbid to grasp the crown, She knock'd him with the sceptre down. He tu mbled in the gulph profound; There doom'd to whirl an endless round.

Poffeffion's load was grown so great, He funk beneath the cumb'rous weight: And as he now expiring lay, Flocks ev'ry ominous bird of prey; The raven, vulture, owl, and kite, At once upon his carcase light, And strip his hide, and pick his bones, Regardless of his dying groans.

On On CE N S U R E.

Written in the Year 1727.

YE

E wise, instruct me to endure

An evil, which admits no cure: Or, how this evil can be born, Which breeds at once both hate and scorn. Bare innocence is no support, When you are try'd in scandal's court. Stand high in honour, wealth, or wit: All others who inferior fit, Conceive themselves in conscience bound To join and drag you to the ground. Your altitude offends the eyes Of those who want the pow'r to rise. The world, a willing stander-by, Inclines to aid a specious lye : Alas! they would not do you wrong, But all appearances are strong.

Yet whence proceeds this weight we lay On what detracting people say; For let mankind discharge their tongues In venom, till they burst their lungs, Their utmost malice cannot make Your head, or tooth, or finger ake:

Nos

I 2

FURNITURE OF
Nor spoil your shape, diftort your face,
Or put one feature out of place;
Nor will

you
find
your

fortune sink
By what they speak or what they think;
Nor can ten hundred thousand lyes
Make you less virtuous, learn'd, or wise.

The most effectual way to baulk Their malice, isto let them talk.

The Furniture of a Woman's MIN D.

Written in the Year 1727.

A Set of phrafes learnt by rote:

A passion for a scarlet-coat; When at a play to laugh, or cry, Yet cannot tell the reason why; Never to hold her tongue a minute, While all the prates has nothing in it; Whole hours can with a coxcomb fit, And take his nonsense all for wit; Her learning mounts to read a song, But half the words pronouncing wrong; Hath every repartee in store, She spoke ten thousand times before;

Can ready compliments supply
On all occasions, cut and dry;
Such hatred to a parson's gown,
The fight will put her in a swoon;
For conversation well endu’d,
She calls it witty to be rude;
And placing raillery in railing,
Will tell aloud your greatest failing;
Nor make a scruple to expose
Your bandy leg, or crooked nose;
Can at her morning tea run o'er
The scandal of the day before ;
Improving hourly in her skill,
To cheat and wrangle at quadrille.

In chusing lace a critick nice,
Knows to a groat the lowest price;
Can in her female clubs dispute,
What linen best the filk will suit,
What colours each complexion match,
And where with art to place a patch.

If chance a mouse creeps in her sight,
Can finely counterfeit a fright;
So sweetly screams, if it comes near her,
She ravishes all hearts to hear her.
Can dext'rously her husband tease,
By taking fits whene'er she please;

By frequent practice learns the trick
At proper seasons to be fick;
Thinks nothing gives one airs so pretty,
At once creating love and pity;
If Molly happens to be careless,
And but neglects to warm her hair-lace,
She gets a cold as sure as death,
And vows she scarce can fetch her breath;
Admires how modest women can
Be so robuftious, like a man.

In party, furious to her pow'r;
A bitter whig, or tory four;
Her arguments directly tend
Against the side she would defend;
Will
prove

herself a tory plain,
From principles the whigs maintain;
And to defend the whiggish cause
Her topicks from the tories draws.

O yes! * if any man can find
More virtues in a woman's mind,
Let them be sent to Mrs. † Harding;
She'll pay the charges to a farthing;
Take notice, she has

my

commission To add them in the next edition ; They may out-sell a better thing: So, holla, boys; God save the king, * Ogos: a corruption of byez, hear ye, a word used by + A printer.