The artful unfufpected spright Her troops advance with filent tread, Or fhoot the wing'd malignant lye, So prowling wolves, when darkness reigns, SLANDER fmil'd horribly, to view Is it a breach of friendship's law, To say what female friends I faw? SLANDER affumes the idol's part, And claims the tribute of the heart. The beft, in fome unguarded hour, Have bow'd the knee, and own'd her pow'r. Then let the poet not reveal What candour wifhes to conceal. If I beheld fome faulty fair, If ALBION'S ifle fuch dreams fulfils, "Tis ALBION's ifle which cures thefe ills; Fertile of every worth and grace, Which warm the heart, and flufh the face. Fancy disclos'd a smiling train Of British nymphs, that trip'd the plain: GOOD-NATURE firft, a fylvan queen, Attir'd in robes of cheerful green: A A fair and smiling virgin fhe! With ev'ry charm that fhines in thee. And anxious for the fimp'ring MAID. When SLANDER ficken'd at the fight, And fkulk'd away to fhun the light,. CONTENT. ΜΑΝ 'AN is deceiv'd by outward show'Tis a plain home-spun truth, I know; The fraud prevails at ev'ry age, So fays the school-boy and the fage; Yet ftill we hug the dear deceit, And still exclaim against the cheat. But whence this inconfiftent part ? Say, moralifts, who know the heart: If you'll this labyrinth purfue, I'll go before, and find the clue. I dreamt ('twas on a birth-day night) As As I was traverfing the hall, Where Bruffels' looms adorn'd the wall, (Whose tap'ftry fhews without my aid, A nun is no fuch useless maid) A graceful perfon came in view, (His form it seems is known to few ;) His dress was unadorn'd with lace, But charms! a thoufand in his face. This, Sir, your property? I cry'dMafter and manfion coincide; Where all, indeed, is truly great, And proves, that blifs may dwell with ftate. "CONTENT," the lovely form reply'd, |