So when my Chloe I purfue, Thus, on comparison, you fee, THE ANSWER. PRefumptuous bard! how could you dare A woman with a cloud compare? And is our thunder in your ears We hardly thunder thrice a year; The bolt discharg'd, the sky grows clear: But But ev'ry fublunary dowdy, Some critick may object, perhaps, You know a cloudy sky befpeaks Fair weather when the morning breaks; But women in a cloudy plight Foretell a ftorm to laft till night. A cloud in proper seasons pours His bleffings down in fruitful fhow'rs; But woman was by fate defign'd pour down curfes on mankind. Το * When Sirius o'er the welkin rages, Our kindly help his fire affwages; But woman is a curft inflamer, No parish ducking-ftool can tame her: The dog-ftar. To To kindle ftrife dame nature taught her; Like fire-works fhe can burn in water. For fickleness how durft you blame us, Who for our conftancy are famous ? You'll fee a cloud in gentle weather Keep the fame face an hour together; While women, if it could be reckon'd, Change ev'ry feature ev'ry second. Obferve our figure in a morning, Of foul or fair we give you warning; But can you guess from woman's air One minute, whether foul or fair? Go read in ancient books enroll'd What honours we poffefs'd of old. To disappoint Ixion's rape JOVE dreft a cloud in Juno's fhape; Which when he had enjoy'd, he fwore, No goddess could have pleas'd him more; No diff'rence could he find between His cloud and Jove's imperial queen: His cloud produc'd a race of centaurs Fam'd for a thousand bold adventures; From us defcended ab origine, By learned authors call'd nubigene, But But fay, what earthly nymph do you know, So beautiful to pafs for Juno? Before Æneas durst aspire To court her majesty of Tyre, His mother beg'd of us to dress him, That Dido might the more carefs him: A coat we gave him, dy'd in grain, A flaxen wig and clouded cane (The wig was powder'd round with fleet, Which fell in clouds beneath his feet), With which he made a tearing show; And Dido quickly Smoak'd the beau. Among your females make enquiries, "Tis known, that Socrates the wife By By his authority 'tis plain Compare us then to female race! He pierce the clouds! he kiss their a—es). While we, o'er Teneriffa plac'd, Are loftier by a mile at least: And when Apollo ftruts on Pindus, We see him from our kitchen windows; Or |