Wou'd fhew the Merits of the Caufe,
Far better than confulting Laws.

In a glad Hour, Lucina's Aid
Produc'd on Earth a wond'rous Maid,
On whom the Queen of Love was bent
To try a new Experiment:

She threw her Law-books on the Shelf,
And thus debated with her felf.

SINCE Men alledge, they ne'er can find
Those Beauties in a Female Mind,

Which raise a Flame that will endure
For ever, uncorrupt and pure;
If 'tis with Reason they complain,
This Infant fhall reftore my Reign.
I'll search where ev'ry Virtue dwells,
From Courts inclufive, down to Cells,
What Preachers talk, or Sages write;
These I will gather, and unite;
And represent them to Mankind
Collected in that Infant's Mind.

THIS faid, the plucks in Heav'ns high Bowers, A Sprig of Amaranthine Flow'rs;

In Nectar thrice infuseth Bays;

Three Times refin'd in Titan's Rays:
Then calls the Graces to her Aid;

And sprinkles thrice the new-born Maid:
From whence the tender Skin affumes
A Sweetness above all Perfumes;

From

From whence a Cleanliness remains,
Incapable of outward Stains;

From whence that Decency of Mind,
So lovely in the Female Kind;

Where not one careless Thought intrudes,
Lefs modeft than the Speech of Prudes:
Where never Blush was call'd in Aid;
That fpurious Virtue in a Maid;
A Virtue but at fecond-hand;
They blush because they understand.

THE Graces next wou'd act their Part,
And fhew'd but little of their Art;
Their Work was half already done,
The Child with native Beauty shone;
The outward Form no Help requir'd:
Each breathing on her thrice, infpir'd
That gentle, foft, engaging Air,
Which, in old Times, adorn'd the Fair:
And faid, "Vanessa be the Name,

"By which thou fhalt be known to Fame:

Vanessa, by the Gods enroll'd:

"Her Name on Earth-fhall not be told.

BUT ftill the Work was not compleat; When Venus thought on a Deceit : Drawn by her Doves, away fhe flies,

And finds out Pallas in the Skies:
Dear Pallas, I have been this Morn
To fee a lovely Infant born:

A

A Boy in yonder Ifle below,

So like my own, without his Bow:

By Beauty could your Heart be won,
You'd fwear it is Apollo's Son;

But it fhall ne'er be faid, a Child
So hopeful, has by me been spoil'd;
I have enough befides to spare,
And give him wholly to your Care.

WISDOM's above fufpecting Wiles:
The Queen of Learning gravely fmiles;
Down from Olympus comes with Joy,
Mistakes Vanessa for a Boy ;

Then fows within her tender Mind
Seeds, long unknown to Womankind,
For manly Bofoms chiefly fit,

The Seeds of Knowledge, Judgment, Wit.
Her Soul was fuddenly endu'd

With Juftice, Truth and Fortitude;

With Honour, which no Breath can stain,
Which Malice muft attack in vain ;
With open Heart and bounteous Hand:
But Pallas here was at a Stand;

She knew in our degen' rate Days,

Bare Virtue could not live on Praise;
That Meat must be with Money bought;
She therefore, upon fecond Thought,
Infus'd, yet as it were by Stealth,

Some small Regard for State and Wealth:

VOL. II.

E

of

Of which, as she grew up, there stay'd
A Tincture in the prudent Maid:
She manag'd her Eftate with Care,
Yet lik'd three Footmen to her Chair.
But, left he should neglect his Studies,
Like a young Heir, the thrifty Goddess
(For Fear young Master should be spoil'd,)
Wou'd use him like a younger Child;
And, after long computing, found ·
'Twou'd come to just Five thousand Pound.

THE Queen of Love was pleas'd, and proud, To fee Vanessa thus endow'd;

She doubted not, but fuch a Dame

Thro' ev'ry Breast would dart a Flame;
That ev'ry tich and lordly Swain

With Pride would drag about her Chain;
That Scholars would forfake their Books,
To study bright Vanessa's Looks:
As fhe advanc'd, that Womankind

Wou'd by her Model form their Mind;
And all their Conduct would be try'd
By her, as an unerring Guide,
Offending Daughters oft' would hear
Vanessa's Praise rung in their Ear:
Mifs Betty, when she does a Fault,
Lets fall her Knife, or spills the Salt,
Will thus be by her Mother chid;
" 'Tis what Vanessa never did."

Thus,

Thus, by the Nymphs and Swains ador'd,
My Pow'r fhall be again restor'd,
And happy Lovers bless my Reign-
So Venus hop'd, but hop'd in vain.

FOR, when in Time, the Martial Maid
Found out the Trick, that Venus play'd,
She shakes her Helm, fhe knits her Brows,
And fir'd with Indignation vows,
To-morrow 'ere the fetting Sun,
She'd all undo, that fhe had done.

BUT, in the Poets we may find,
A wholesome Law, Time out of Mind,
Had been confirm'd by Fate's Decree ;
That Gods, of whatfoe'er Degree,
Refume not what themselves have giv❜n,
Or any Brother God in Heav'n :,
Which keeps the Peace among the Gods,
Or, they must always be at Odds,
And Pallas, if she broke the Laws,
Must yield her Foe the stronger Cause;
A Shame to one, so much ador'd
For Wisdom at Jove's Council-Board.
Besides, fhe fear'd, the Queen of Love
Wou'd meet with better Friends above:
And tho' fhe muft with Grief reflect,
To fee a Mortal Virgin deck'd
With Graces hitherto unknown.
To Female Breafts except her own;