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To Pope’s Impromptu
DISARM’D with so genteel an air, | |
| The contest I give o’er; | |
| Yet Alexander, have a care, | |
| And shock the sex no more. | |
| We rule the world our life’s whole race, | 5 |
| Men but assume that right; | |
| First slaves to every tempting face, | |
| Then martyrs to our spite. | |
| You of one Orpheus sure have read, | |
| Who would like you have writ | 10 |
| Had he in London town been bred, | |
| And polish’d too his wit; | |
| But he poor soul thought all was well, | |
| And great should be his fame, | |
| When he had left his wife in hell, | 15 |
| And birds and beasts could tame. | |
| Yet venturing then with scoffing rhymes | |
| The women to incense, | |
| Resenting heroines of those times | |
| Soon punish’d his offence. | 20 |
| And as the Hebrus roll’d his scull, | |
| And harp besmear’d with blood, | |
| They clashing as the waves grew full, | |
| Still harmonis’d the flood. | |
| But you our follies gently treat, | 25 |
| And spin so fine the thread, | |
| You need not fear his awkward fate, | |
| The lock won’t cost the head. | |
| Our admiration you command | |
| For all that’s gone before; | 30 |
| What next we look for at your hand | |
| Can only raise it more. | |
| Yet sooth the Ladies I advise | |
| (As me too pride has wrought,) | |
| We’re born to wit, but to be wise | 35 |
| By admonitions taught. | |
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