They all are filent till they 're ask'd;
And ev❜n their impudence is mask'd :
For Nature would be modeft ftill,
And there's reluctancy in will.

Sporting and Plays had harmless been,

And might by any one be seen,

Till Romulus began to fpoil them,

Who kept a Palace, call'd ASYLUM;

215

220

Where Baftards, Pimps, and Thieves, and Pandars, Were lifted all to be commanders.

But then the rafcals were fo poor,

They could not change a Rogue for Whore;

And neighbouring Jades refolv'd to tarry,

225

Rather than with fuch Scrubs they 'd marry.

But, for to cheat them, and be wiv'd,
They knavifhly a farce contriv'd.
No gilded pillars there were feen,
Nor was the cloth they trod on green.

230

No Ghofts came from the cellar crying,
Nor Angels from the garret flying.

The House was made of sticks and bushes,
And all the Floor was ftrew'd with rushes :

They all were free to come in gratis':

245

250

And they, as girls will feldom mifs
A merry meeting, came to this.

There was much wifhing, fighing, thinking,
Not without whifpering, and winking.

Their pipes had then no fhaking touch:
Their fong and dance were like the Dutch :
The whole performance was by men,
Becaufe they had no Eunuchs then.
But, whilft the mufick brifkly play'd,
Romulus at his cue difplay'd

The fign for each man to his maid.

"Huzza!" they cry; then feize: fome tremble In real fact, though moft diffemble.

Some are attempting an escape,

And others foftly cry, "A rape

Whilst some bawl out, "That they had rather "Than twenty pound lose an old father.”

Some look extremely pale, and others red,

360

Some with they'd ne'er been born, or now were dead,

255

And others fairly with themfelves a-bed.

Some rant, tear, run; whilft fome fit ftill,

To thew they 're ravish'd much against their will.

Thus Rome began; and now at last,

265

After fo many ages past,

Their rapes and lewdnefs without shame;

Their vice and villainy 's the fame.

Til be their fate who would corrupt the Stage,
And fpoil the true corrector of the age!

270

PART

Now learn thofe arts which teach you to obtain

Those beauties which you fee divinely reign.

Though they by Nature are tranfcendent bright, And would be feen ev'n through the gloom of night; Yet they their greatest luftre still display

In the meridian pitch of calmeft day.

'Tis then we purple view, and coftly gem,

And with more admiration

gaze on them.

Faults feek the dark; they who by moon-light woo, May find their Fair-one as inconstant too.

When Modefty fupported is by Truth,

There is a boldnefs that becomes your youth.

In gentle founds difclofe a Lover's care,

'Tis better than your fighing and defpair.

275

280

Birds may abhor their groves, the flocks the plain, 285
The Hare grown bold may face the Dogs again,

When Beauty don't in Virtue's arms rejoice,
Since Harmony in Love is Nature's voice.
But harden'd Impudence fometimes will try
At things which Juftice cannot but deny.
Then, what that fays is Infolence and Pride,
Is Prudence, with firm Honour for its guide.
The Lady's counfels often are betray'd

By trufting fecrets to a fervile Maid,
The whole intrigues of whofe infidious brain
Are bafe, and only terminate in gain.

S 4

290

295

Let

Let them take care of too diffufive mirth;

Sufpicions thence, and thence attempts, take birth.
Had Ilium been with gravity employ'd,

By Sinon's craft it had not been destroy'd.
A vulgar air, mean fongs, and free discourse,
With fly infinuations, may prove worse
To tender Females than the Trojan Horse.
Take care how you from Virtue ftray;
For Scandal follows the fame way,
And more than Truth it will devife.
Old Poets did delight in lies,
Which modern ones now call furprise.
Some fay that Myrrha lov'd her Father,
That Byblis lik'd her Brother rather.
And in fuch tales old Greece did glory :
Amongst the which, pray take this Story.

Crete was an Ifle, whofe fruitful nations

Swarm'd with an hundred corporations,

And there upon Mount Ida stood
A venerable fpacious wood,
Within whofe centre was a grove
Immortaliz'd by birth of Jove:
In vales below a Bull was fed,.

Whom all the Kine obey'd as head;
Betwixt his horns a tuft of black did grow,
But all the reft of him was driven fnow.

(Our tale to truth does not confine us.).

At the fame time one Juftice Minos,

That liv'd hard-by, was married lately;

325

And, that his bride might fhew more stately,.

When

When through her pedigree he run,
Found the was daughter to the Sun.
Her name Pafiphaë was hight,.

And, as her Father, she was bright.

330

This Lady took up an odd fancy,

That with this Bull she fain would dance ye.
She'd mow him grafs, and cut down boughs,
On which his stateliness might browse.
Whilft thus fhe hedges breaks and climbs,
Sure Minos must have happy times!

335

She never car'd for going fine,

She'd rather trudge among the Kine.

Then at her Toilet fhe would fay,

"Methinks I look bizarre to-day.

340

"Sure my glafs lies, I'm not fo fair:

"Oh, were this face o'er-grown with hair!

"I never was for top-knots born;

"My favourites fhould each be horn.

"But now I'm liker to a Sow

345

"Than, what I wish to be, a Cow

"What would I give that I could lough!

66

My Bull-y cares for none of thofe

"That are afraid to fpoil their cloaths:

"Did he but love me, he 'd not fail

350

"To take me with my draggle-tail.”

Then tears would fall, and then the 'd run,

As would the Devil upon Dun.

When the fome handsome Cow did spy,

She'd fcan her form with jealous eye;

355

Say,