Then the starch maid, or matron fage,
Already of that sober age,
We view'd with mingled scorn and hate ;
In whofe fharp words, or fharper face,
With thoughtless mirth, we lov'd to trace!
The fad effects of thirty-eight!
'Till, fad❜ning-fick'ning at the view,
We learn'd to dread what time might do;
And then preferr'd a prayer to Fate,
To end our days ere that arriv'd,
When (pow'r and pleasure long furviv'd)
We meet neglect, and thirty-eight!
But time, in spite of wishes, flies;
And Fate our fimple pray'r denies,
And bids us Death's own hour await!
The auburn locks are mixt with grey,
The tranfient roses fade away,
But Reafon comes at-thirty-eight!
Her voice the anguish contradicts,
That dying vanity inflicts;
Her hand new pleasures can create ;
For us fhe opens to the view
Profpects lefs bright-but far more true,
And bids, us smile at-thirty-eight!
No more fhall Scandal's breath destroy
The focial converse we enjoy,
With bard, or critic, tête-à-tête
O'er youth's bright blooms her blight shall pour !
But fpare th' improving friendly hour
Which Science gives to-thirty-eight!
Stripp'd of their gaudy hues by truth,
We view the glitt'ring toys of youth,
And blush to think how poor
the bait;
For which to public fcenes we ran,
And scorn'd of fober fense the plan
Which gives content at-thirty-eight!
O may her bleffings now arife,
Like stars that mildly light the skies,
When the fun's ardent rays abate!
And, in the luxuries of mind
In Friendship, fcience-may we find
Increafing joys at-thirty-eight
Tho' Time's inexorable fway
Has torn the myrtle bands away
For other wreaths-'tis not too late;
The Am'ranth's purple glow furvives,
And still Minerva's olive thrives
On the calm brow af-thirty-eight!
With eye more steady, we engage
To contemplate approaching age,
And life more justly estimate;
With firmer fouls and stronger powr's,
With reason, faith, and friendship, ours,
We'll not regret the stealing hours
That lead from thirty e'en to forty-eight!
CONTRADICTION.
PHILLIS was tender, young, and fair,
Poffeffed of many virtues rare ;
One gift she had, which crown'd the rest,
With Contradiction fhe was bleft:
Oft I have heard, that in a woman
The gift is not at all uncommon ;
'Tis thus they tarnish ladies glories;
Fie upon men, to tell fuch ftories!
Perhaps my fong may lead me wrong,
But I'm open to conviction ;
They tell us, that nothing in life is fo fweet to a wife
As a little Contradiction.
Many a female I have known,
Both old and young, and fair and brown;
When to the brown, I say they're fair,
They contradict not, I declare:
When to the old I fay they're young,
They ftill are mute, and hold their tongue;
Then ceafe, I pray, henceforth to blame
Those pretty creatures, 'tis a fhame!
It may be, that the fong will lead me wrong,
But I'm open to conviction;
They'll still have it, that nothing in life is fo fweet to a wife
As a little Contradiction.
Again to Phillis turns my ftory,!
She was her husband's pride and glory;
As they at table fat one day,
"My little angel," he did fay,
"This fish is hardly done enough;"
"Not done!" cried Phillis, in a huff,
"There's no fuch thing as pleafing you;
"I fay 'tis done, quite through and through."
I'm afraid my fong will lead me wrong,
But I am open to conviction;
I'd grant a wife, to sweeten life,
A little Contradiction.
He coax'd his Phillis to be quiet,
But he was bent upon a riot :
"I give it up, my dear," faid he :
"And I maintain 'tis done," cried fhe.
Away, for fear of farther ftrife,
The man fneak'd off, and left his wife;
And from the room was hardly gone,
When Phillis fell into a fwoon.
I perceive the fong has led me wrong,
But I'm open to conviction;
No man in life fhould debar his wife
Of a little Contradiction.
A fudden fhriek! the neighbours fly,
And to relieve her they all try.
The hufband's call'd ;-that's no relief;
Poor man!-he's quite o'erwhelm'd with grief.
"Oh d-n that half done fish," he cries,-
At this his Phillis op'd her eyes;
"The fish was quite done," out fhe roard,
And thus poor Phillis was reftor'd.
You find my fong not very long,
No longer 'tis a fiction;
Here a wife was brought to life
By a little Contradiction.
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