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THE 
 
 PETTICOAT: 
 
 A N 
 
 Heroi-Comical POEM. 
 
 In Two BOOKS. 
 
 Price One Shilliag. 
 
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 A 
 
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I THE 
 
 PETTICOAT 
 
 A N 
 
 Heroi - Comical 
 
 POEM 
 
 In Two BOOKS. 
 
 By Mr. G eA T. 
 
 T)ux Fami?ia VaBu Virg. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for R. B u r l e i o h in Amen Corner^ 
 MDCCXVI. 
 
 y ■■ ■ ■ . 
 

 ^2ArL 
 
 TO THE 
 
 LADIES. 
 
 Ladies, 
 
 H E Invention of the 
 
 Fan, and the P a t« 
 
 TIN*, having gain'd 
 
 your approbation , I 
 
 hope this of the Hoop-Petti- 
 
 ■^ See Tr 1 V I a, 
 
 COAT, 
 
 395912 
 
COAT, as the Defign is laudable, 
 will come in for a fmall Ihare of 
 your Favour. 
 
 Tho' I am no lefs than Couftn- 
 German to the Author of thofe 
 admir'd Produ6lions : Yet, I, by 
 no means, defire to Graft a Re- 
 putation upon his Stock ; nay, I 
 am fo little foUicitous about the 
 Fate of my Performance, that 
 I fhall conclude what I have to 
 fay upon the SubjecSl, in the 
 AVords of a Celebrated Author, t 
 
 " What I have done is fubmit- 
 " ted to the Publick, from whofe 
 '' Opinions I am prepared to 
 
 f See Mr. Pop e'j Treface to his Tr (inflation 
 
 o^ H O M E R. 
 
 " learn 
 
♦ 
 
 (iii) 
 
 " learn; tho' I fear no Judges 
 " fo little as our bell Poets, who 
 " are moftfenliblc of the Weight 
 of this Task. As for the Worft, 
 whatever they fhall pleafe to 
 fay, they may give nie fome 
 Concern as they are unhappy 
 Men, but none, as they are 
 " malignant Writers. 
 
 Tour very humble Servant , 
 
 Joseph Gay. 
 
 a 
 u 
 
 a 
 a 
 
 iC 
 
 E R R eA T qA, 
 
 Page 38. 1. 15. for a, r. the. 
 
 39591J2 
 
( o 
 
 THE 
 
 PETTICOAT 
 
 A N 
 
 Heroi-Comical Poem; 
 
 B O O K I. 
 
 Sed me vet Te litis opt em Prim Ima dehifcaf^ 
 
 Ante^ Tudor I quam te Violo^ aut tuajura refoho, Virgi 
 
 Ince in fuch odd Fantaftick Times 
 
 [as thefe. 
 
 All Female Toys the roving Fancy 
 
 [pleafe, 
 
 Apollo thinks his Servants much 
 
 [to blame, 
 
 'To let the Fan exceed the Reft in Fame ; 
 
 B With 
 
(-2) 
 
 With Gen'rous Rage inflames tli' afplring Mufcj . 
 And warns her Now a loftier Theme to chufe : 
 The God prefcribes the Object of myPraife, 
 And what the God direfts, the Bard obeys. 
 
 Begin my Mufe, and fing in Epck Strain . 
 
 
 The Petticoat ; (nor flialt thou fing in vain, 
 
 The Petticoat will fure reward thy Pain 
 
 Proceed its various Beauties to difplay, 
 
 And fet its Circlmg Charms in full Array ; 
 
 Say whence its wond'rous Origin it drew, 
 
 Then fpread the Wide-ftretchM Petticoat to 
 
 [view : 
 Not that which is by Rural Damfels worn, 
 
 Not that which Modern Milk-Maids does adorn* 
 
 Thefe may be GrafpM by ev'ry Grubftreet Mufe, 
 
 But mine, through nobler Paths, a nobler End 
 
 [purfues. 
 Raised 
 
(3) 
 
 Rais'd by my Flora's Love, aloft I foar, 
 And fwell with Hopes to reach the diftant Shore. 
 Nor can I of the williM Succefs defpair, 
 Since Heav'n protefts the Fav'rites of the Fair: 
 Undaunted like the little Wren I fly, 
 And mount the Eagle to afcend the Sky. 
 
 Long had young Tloyrjis the Coy Chloe woo'd, 
 And, oft repulsed, unwearied ftill purfu'd, 
 Till pitying Cupd fent a timely Dart, 
 To fire with equal warmth the Fair-One's Heart; 
 That She, who had fo long with proud Difdain, 
 Refus'd the Offerings of her humble Swain, 
 Might late, Convinced by fad Experience, prove 
 Refiftance vain againft the FowV of Love. 
 
 B 2 Alas 
 
(4) 
 
 Alas ! How foon the wond'rous Change fhe 
 
 [felr? 
 How foon her former Refolutions melt ? 
 
 Her beating Heart with doubtful Ardour burns, 
 
 And Modefty and Love prevail by Turns ; 
 
 Her ReddenM Cheeks with confcious Blufhes 
 
 [glow. 
 Her wanton Looks, her wanton Wiflies fhow ; 
 
 %Ier Heaving Breafts with rifing Paflions fwelL 
 ^,- - ^ . ,v . / 
 
 ^nd Silence Ipeaks what Words want PowV to 
 
 [tell- 
 
 Sleep fhunM her Eyes, her Soul abandoned Reft, 
 And Love and Thyrfis ev'ry Look confeft. 
 
 WhilftTM/yy/J- gaz'd with Tranfport on her Face, 
 He faw Compaffion by Degrees take place; 
 He faw — and thought the alteration ftrange; 
 But well he knew the Sex were prone to change- 
 
 Ready 
 
C5) 
 
 Ready to feize his Long-defpairM of Prize, 
 
 With more than Mortal Extacy he flies, 
 
 And youthful Fury fparkles in his Eyes. 
 
 She fled: — He like oApoJlo chasM the Fair ; 
 
 The Fair to fliun him took not Daphne's Care : 
 
 With fwifteft Speed at nrft fhe fcours the Field^ 
 
 And flying, feems as half averfe to Yield ; 
 
 The wanton Winds her Snowy limbs expofe, 
 
 And at each Blafl: unlook'd-for Charms difclofe, 
 
 Each well-turnM Leg attracts the Lover's Eyes, 
 
 And the Nymph feems more beauteous as fhe 
 
 [flies: 
 But now, with fhort letchM fl:eps fhe moves 
 
 [more How, 
 Her panting Sides her flacken'd Paces fhow ; 
 
 Back on the Swain fhe looks — She trips ; She fells; 
 
 And, falling, on lier much lov'd Thyrfis calls : 
 
 Thjrfis 
 
(6) 
 
 Tbyrjis was ready at his Chloe\ Call, 
 And clafp'd her faft, and fav'd her from her Fall : 
 With trembling hafte into his Arms Ihe flies, 
 And Heart meets Heart till each in Tranfport 
 
 [dies. 
 
 Thus Eve with ardent Love Emir acting leaned 
 On OUT firft Father^ Eager prefl his Hand ; 
 Whilft He impatient Clos'd her in his Arms, 
 Fir'd with her Beauty and SubmiJJive Charms^ 
 Till on the Mofly Bank they fainting lay, 
 And both dilTolv'd in floods of Blifs away. 
 
 But ah ! Such momentary Joys are vain, 
 And prefent Pleafure leads to future Pain : 
 That little Tafl:e of vain Delight has cofl: 
 The brightefl: Gem, the faireft Nymph could 
 
 bgtaft. 
 
 Nor 
 
(7) 
 
 Nor was the Lofs her greateft Caufe of Grief, 
 
 (Since that in time might find a fure Relief,) 
 
 But what was worfe, the dreaded Symptoms 
 
 [came. 
 Which would to all the World the Slip proclaim. 
 
 Tho'needlefsthey, for Looks her Shame confefs, 
 And ev'ry prying Eye the Fault might guefs ; 
 With Care flie now avoids the confcious Grove, 
 (The filent Witnefs of her fatal Love:) 
 The Grand Cabal fhe now frequents no more, 
 Or comes the laft, who went the firft before ; 
 That Charming Voice that ravifh'd ev'ry Swain, 
 The Joy and Wonder of the Neighboring Plain, 
 No more from Repartee Applaufe demands. 
 But Grief all Utterance of Words withftands : 
 
 In 
 
(8) 
 
 In Sighs and Silence now fhe waftes the Time,- 
 
 Tokens fufficient to divulge her Crime ! 
 
 If Nymphs lefs Chafl: than thefe composed the 
 
 [Train, 
 
 If Nymphs loChaft, admitted Thoughts prophane ! 
 Yet fome, 'tis faid, by fhrewd Sufpicions gueft; 
 (For fome are ftill more knowing than the reft,) 
 And gujeft alas too well ! but thefe, 'tis thought, 
 By dear Experience had their Wifdom bought. 
 
 Around the Circle foon the Whifper flew, 
 
 Thofe fpoke the firft, who thought the moft they 
 
 [knew j 
 Strait ev'ry piercing Eye obferves the Dame, 
 
 In vain with Smiles fhe would conceal her Shame: 
 
 Her Eyes ftill redden with the Tears flie fpilt ; 
 
 Her Bofom heaves, too confcious of her Guilt • 
 
 They 
 
( <> ) 
 
 They faw ne^ figns,they ne'er difcernM before, 
 And eachMity fa\V', tliey made a thoufand more. 
 The more obferv'd, the more her Looks reveal 
 The fatal Secret, which they fliould conceal. 
 With timely Caution fhe avoids their fight, 
 And feeks (or fhelter in the fhades of Night. 
 There mourns in fecret the fad Doom, fhe thought 
 Too great a Penance for ib flight a Fault. 
 Long the big Paffion burnt within her Breaft, 
 At length ter Rage in Words lilce thefe expreft. 
 And mufl: I tamely bear this foul Difgrace ? 
 This opeft Infult ofFer'd to my Face ? 
 No— E'i-e I do, the Sun Ihall lofe his Light, 
 And plunge the Day in Seas of endlefs Night. 
 Firft fliall each Atom of Creation jar. 
 And kindling Elements light up Eternal War. 
 
 C What, 
 
What! fliall j:he faucy V'rudes prefume to boaft, 
 That they poffefs the Je^el I have loft ? 
 Whilft I, (my fatal Folly feen too late,) 
 Like Angels fall'ii, deplore my wretched Fate, 
 Curfe^fctl feel, and blefs my fornier State. 
 
 She faid-T-andftrait to Her LovMThyrsis goes, 
 Thyrsi s had now a fweet Retirement chofe ; 
 Withln^uftry and Carecompos'd a Grove, 
 And laiil the Scene of all his future Love. 
 A fhady Verdant Walk the Entrance gracM, 
 Of Yew and Holly in nice Order plac'd-; 
 Down whofe Defcent die ^Eye might far purfue 
 A dubious ErbfpeO:, tliat deceivM the View ; 
 The opening Scenc: the. gazing Eye employs, 
 And by degrees prepares it for Surprize. 
 
 J A 
 
A fragrant BdwY its head at diftance rears, 
 And now in full Perfeulion it appears ; 
 Its fides with interwoven Wood bines rofe, 
 The ehecquer'd Ground with , various Dafies 
 H^re Red, there Whit^,, in Party-colourM Dreis, 
 Which ev'ry where did CHLOEVName exprefs. 
 A Myrtle at each Corner, rais'd its Head, 
 Which fpread o'er all the BowV a grateful Shade, 
 The Talm and fpreading Laurel kifidly clofe, 
 And the ArchM Roof in Woven Shade ccmpofe. 
 
 The finking Sun mWefiern Ifles appeared, 
 And now the Shepherd folds his wandring Herd; 
 Now flow'ry Meads with falling Dews grew 
 
 [wet, 
 
 And lengthening Shadows fliewM him almofi: fet: 
 
 C 2 When 
 
(12)) 
 
 When Chloe to this New-form'd Eden came, 
 To feek the haplefs Author of her Shame; 
 Advancing now, Ihe fpeeds her eager Pace, 
 And views unmovM the Pleafures of the Place. 
 Strait onward to the Bow'r (he bends her way, 
 And meets no Objed to induce her ftay ; 
 The rural Scenes exert their Charms in vain, 
 Tho' fure they might, if ought could eafe her 
 
 [Pain. 
 
 At laft her Thyrsis the Fair Mourner found 
 Supine in Slumber ftretch'd upon the Ground. 
 With Gentle Voice, Awake ! Awake I She cries, 
 Oh could fuch happy Slumbers feal my Eyes ! 
 Could I, like Thee, fecure from anxious Thought, 
 Enjoy the Pleafure, and forget the Fault ! 
 But all the Eafe my Rigid Fates allow, 
 I feek in Thee, the Caufe of all my Woe. 
 
 The 
 
CO 
 
 The Swain fuFpvizM to fee the Nymph fo near, 
 Rifes to Welcome, and to chear the Fair ; 
 With foothing Tales of Love, the Artful Boy 
 Excites the Virgin to repeat the Joy : 
 The Fair reclining on his guilty Breaft, 
 In Words like thefe her growing Griefs expreft. 
 Fond Youth I Alas in vain thou ftriv*ft to eafe 
 My t^roubled Mind, and lull my Soul to Peace, 
 Whilft haplefs, I am fcofF'd by ev'ry ^Pr^^, 
 Whofe Vertue makes her Infolent, and Rude, 
 Cruel ! Unkind — No more her Breath fupply'dt, 
 And flagging Nature for a Moment dyM. 
 The frighted Youth with tender Care con vey'rf 
 Within the fragrant Bow'r the feinting Maid, 
 
 There 
 
There each reftorlng Scent applyM with Care, 
 And wak'd to Life the fad repining Fair. 
 Then lowly Prbftrate Hq to Ferns falls, 
 And thus the Aid of Beauty's Goddefs calls. 
 
 Oh Potent Qv e e n, who Ruril Love's awful 
 
 [Throne, 
 
 And fhar'fl; the Kingdom with thy mighty Son ! 
 Oh think what Shame thy confcious Guilt confeft, 
 Oh think wliat Indignation fir'd thy Breaft, 
 When limping Vulcan in his Net enclos'd 
 Thd God of War, and Thee, and to all Heav'n 
 
 [exposed: 
 
 From thence fome Pity to a Virgin fend. 
 And with thy gentle Aid a Nymph befriend. 
 If e'er true Lovers thy ProteSion claim, 
 Let not one Slip for ever blaft her Fame \ 
 
 How 
 
( ^5 ) 
 
 How dear al^s ! ate Worldly Pleafures bought, 
 If fueh a Price itiuft pay fo fweet a Fault ^ ^" ^' 
 How can weak Woman's ftrength fufficient prove 
 To ftem the Torrent of Ungovern'd Love ? 
 Since Gods themfelves his Pow'r Superior own,^" 
 And for a Mortal's Bed, refign their Heav^hly 
 
 Say then. Oh Queen ! for thou alone canft tell 
 
 What Lucky Thought nlay Ghloe's Shame cbh- 
 
 In happy Time fomb new Device ereft, J* «"-<'' 
 
 ' ■ i- 
 And yielding Maids from Scandal's Breath pro- 
 
 H^pray'd — But Venus heard not half his 
 Ofyliad'fhe heard, fhe could not eafe his Care; 
 Til' tmniortal in the felf-fame Snare Vi^c^u^ntJ 
 And, though a Goddefs, err'd, If Love's a Fault? 
 ' Adonis 
 
( 16 ) 
 
 Adonis now does all Her Thoughts employ, r{ 
 And Heav'n without Adonis yields no Joy. 
 
 Thyrsis deje£ted to his Bow'r returns^ 
 HisPrayV unheard, with penfive Ghloe mourns* 
 The Nymph enrag'd to think the Suit denied, 
 Refolv'd to ufe all means, that could be tried ; 
 With Female, (not Inferior,) Pow'r to fliDw 
 What, at a Pinch, a Woman's Wit can do. 
 Strait home fhegoes, znd "Betty calls in hafteJ, nl 
 (The Virtuous "Bettj^, as her Miftrefs chaft!) 
 T*o fetch the feveral NecefTary Tools 
 Ordain'd by Guftom, or prefcrib'd by Rules. ; 
 E'er yet the Handmaid had her Cargo brought'/-; 
 The Work was PerfeQ: in her Fancy wrought^ 
 
 With 
 
With pleafing hopes fhe fed her ravlfh'd Mind, 
 And thought llie vie wM what was but yet defign'd : 
 Officious '^etty now to Sight appears, 
 And growns beneath the heavy Weight fhe bears, 
 The ample Table now before her fpread, 
 Each Female Trinket was in order laid. 
 
 Here, Rows of Pins, of various fort and fize, 
 Stood fix'd on Paper ftain'd with Crimfon Dies; 
 The Sciz^ars here, and there, the Needles lay, 
 And Shades of diff'rent Silks confus'dly gay ; 
 The Thimble here, with many l Story wrought 
 Of Nymphs by cunning to Compliance brought; 
 Calisto here, without her Quiver's feen,^ 
 Stretch'd at her Eafe upon the flow'ry Green, 
 
 D Whilft 
 
( i8) 
 
 Whilft Luftful Jove affumes Diana's Shapc^ 
 And in a Petticoat conceals his Rape : 
 With Look Demure, He thus accofts the Maid, 
 With fpecious Shew of Modefty betray'd. 
 What Woods, Oh Nymph ! could Thee fo long 
 
 [detain? 
 
 Thou beft belov'd of all my Numerous Train ! 
 
 To whom the Nymph: — Hail Goddefs more. 
 
 [rever'd. 
 Than Jove himfelf I — Jove laught atwhar 
 
 [he heard*,' 
 To fee himfelf before himfelf ig^tkt^d ; 
 
 With more than Female Warmth the Nymph 
 
 [carefs'd, 
 And eager KiiTes on her Lips imprefs'd : 
 
 The Nymph refifted all that Wom,an couM; 
 
 But what avails the Pow'r of Flefh and Blood,^ 
 
 OpposM againft the Vigour of a God ? 
 
 Here 
 
(^9) 
 
 Here a white 'Bnll the wily God appears, 
 And 'midft the Herd his curling Forehead rears ; 
 Eukfe*! tb a Man the "Brute prefer'd^, 
 And wifliM her felf a Heifer in the Herd : 
 To feed her much belov'd, the Grafs flic pulls, 
 A&dall around the ehoicefl: Flow'rs {he culls ; 
 Whilft He, with frisking Leaps, around her plays, 
 And the' a Beaft, a Heavenly Form difplays. 
 A^vhiie at Diftance flood the Cautious Dame, 
 Tho'- Fears were needlefs — for her "Btdl was 
 
 [tame. 
 
 Grown bolder now, flie ftrokes his fnowy Sides, 
 And laft, with Manly Grace the God beftiides ; 
 The God impatient, plunges in the Sea, 
 And bears the beauteous trembling Prize awav- 
 
 D z The 
 
- (20) 
 
 The ftiflPenM Canvas, now, the Nymph difplays, 
 The ftifFen'd Canvas, yet, the Togch obeys:; 
 Now Ribs of Whale, with artful Care Ihe bends, 
 And Each in its adapted Place extends ; 
 The Whalebones fpread the fwelling Canvas 
 
 [wide. 
 And ftretch'd their ftubborn Lengths front Side 
 
 [to Side* 
 No more was wanting but the Needle's Aid, 
 
 Which "Betty to her skilful Hand convey'd ; 
 
 That want fupplyM, the Dame her work pur- 
 
 ^ Clued, 
 Fix'd all fhe form'd, and all flie fix'd reviewed, 
 
 Till now the Work was to Perfeftion brought, 
 
 And Ufe and Beauty center'd in the 'Coat. 
 
THE 
 
 PETTICOAT 
 
 A N 
 
 ' Heroi-Comical POEM. 
 
 B O (Tk II. 
 
^§531 »£. 
 
 ^ r 
 
 J — r 
 
 w i ^ 
 
 
 '^&il 
 
(a?) 
 
 THE 
 
 PETTICOAT 
 
 A N 
 
 Heroi-Comical Pqem; 
 
 Book II. 
 
 Omne tulit funEfrum qua mifcuit utile dulcL Hor. 
 
 ^ H E ruddy Morn had now repelPd 
 h [the Night, 
 
 ^ And Darknefs fled before the Dawn 
 ^ [of Light ^ 
 
 The early Lark afcends with daring 
 
 [Wings, 
 
 And to the Sun her Morning Anthem fings ; 
 
 The 
 
(H) 
 
 The mifty Dews from Fenny Marfhes rife, 
 
 r — 
 i\|id waking .Peafants rub their half-fliut Eyes t 
 
 ^V'hen reftlefs Chloe threw her Curtains by, 
 
 To fee if Day appeared in Eajlern Sky ; 
 
 With Joy fhe faw, and pullM the tinkling Bell, 
 
 This ^etty heard, and kneW the Signal well ; 
 
 Yet wonder'd at the unexpected Chime, 
 
 Six tedious Hours before 'twas Breakfaft-Time; 
 
 She thought fome Frenzy, fure, had feiz'd the 
 
 Cl IBI/ [Dame, 
 
 Then turn'd her round, and thought it but a 
 
 [Dreamy 
 Her heavy Eyes again in Slumbers clos'd. 
 
 And ev'ry drowfy Faculty compos'd : 
 
 "When frefh Alarms th' aftonilTi'd Ear confound. 
 
 And loud repeated Peals again refound ; 
 
 Now, fome fhort time in Yawning fpent, fhe 
 
 [rofe. 
 And in a Hurry huddled on her Cloaths ; 
 
 Then 
 
(25) 
 
 Then, breathlefs, to her Lady's Room fhe flies, 
 And Entring, Madam^ did you Call ? Jhe cries : 
 I fcarce could truft my Senfes, as they fay, 
 To hear you ftirring when 'twas hardly day ; 
 Who'd think your Ladyfhip fhould Rife fo foon. 
 When 'twas but Yeflerday you Lay till Noon ? 
 Blefs me ! 'twould frighten any Flefh alive, 
 It wants, at leaft, a Qiiarter now of Five ! 
 
 Impatient Chloe quits her needful Reft, 
 Of ev'ry Earthly Good fhe thinks poffeft : 
 (Oh Sex for ever blind to future Fate, 
 Whom trivial Griefs defrefs^ and trivial Joys 
 
 lelats /) 
 
 Eao;er to meet the Grand Cabal ag^ain. 
 She waits the w^afting of the Time in piin, 
 
 E Atten- 
 
( 26 ) 
 
 Attentive to the beating Watch appears^ 
 And ev'ry Minute, ev'ry Second, hears : i 
 
 When now, the Warning told the Hour's approach, ] 
 
 "Ben/s difpatch'd to Rohm for the Coach. 
 
 But how Crofs Fate does our Defigns prevent, 
 By fome unlook'd for, Lucklefs Accident ? 
 No fooner did fhe at the Coach arrive, 
 And Orders gave to Rohin where to drive. 
 But found, (Oh fatal Chgnce ! ) yet found too late. 
 The Petticoat too Wide, the Door too Strait : 
 Entrance, by Force, fhe oft attempts to gain, 
 ^ettfs affiftance too fhe calls in vain. 
 The ftubborn Whalebone bears her back again,' 
 Vex'd at the Balk, on Foot fhe trips her way, 
 For Woman's Will admits of no Delay : 
 
 On 
 
( 27 ) 
 
 On either Side, a faithful Slave attends, 
 
 And Safe from harms the Petticoat defends. 
 
 The Nymphs affemblcd, now in Council {ate, 
 To fix fome weighty Matters in Debate ; 
 When Chloe, in this fpacious Garb array'd, 
 (No longer now of prying Eyes afraid,) 
 Advanc'd with Solemn Pace and graceful Mien, 
 Whilft various Zephyrs fwell the new Machine : 
 With Art, each Fold difpofes in its place, 
 And fmoothseach Wrinkle with becoming Grace; 
 
 Then thus began • 
 
 Ye Nymphs ! who make it your peculiar Care, 
 With ufeful Precepts to inftruft the Fair, 
 To ufe each Artifice that Woman can, 
 Againft the bold encroaching Creature Man ; 
 
 E z Behold 
 
(28) 
 
 Behold this Work, whofe Praife I juftly claim, ^ 
 And make, Unrivard, this Pretence to Fame : 
 In vain you bid the tow'ring Head afcend, 
 By various Rows of ftiflF'ning Wire fuftain'd, 
 Unlefs, by this, you Guard the lighter Part, 
 Which, weak by Nature, needs the help of Art; 
 All Ages paft are with Examples fraught, 
 And long Experience has this Leffbn taught ; 
 The firmefi: Superftrufture mufl: decay, 
 When e'er the folid Bafis finks away ; 
 A May-Pole will not like a Church endure. 
 And Ships without their Ballaft never Sail fecure. 
 
 This Doctrine ev'ry prudent Nymph allowed, 
 And joint Applaafes eccho'd from the Crowd: 
 
 As 
 
(29 ) 
 
 As when, the Glory of the Tragick Scene, 
 The Manly Booth, in Majefty ferene, 
 Attraflis the pleasM Speftators ravifh'd Ears, 
 And feems to be the Cato he appears ; 
 At ev'ry Paufe, refounding Shouts prevail. 
 And often flop, and interrupt liis Tale. 
 
 Again, th' Exalted Dame her Speech renews, 
 Refumes the Word, and Learnedly purfues ; 
 Let "Dido's Stratagem be hence forgot. 
 And to her Memory no Praife allot. 
 For were the Fair to purchafe Carthage now, 
 The Bull's-Hide Trick they'd wholly difalloM', 
 And make their Bargain, but for fo much Ground, 
 As this Capacious Hoo^ might compafs round. 
 
 The 
 
(?o) 
 
 The Fardingaly for bafer Ends defign'd, 
 To hide the growing Shame of Nymphs too kind, 
 Will now ('tis hop'd) its vain Pretenfions quit, 
 And to a Work like this, Compleat, fubmit. 
 
 She ceasM : Fair Chloris next difcharg'd 
 
 Lher Fan^ 
 
 And in perfuafive Accents thus began ; 
 Men are of late fo proud and faucy grown, 
 They dare for ev'ry Nymph a Paffion own, 
 
 [fhown.' 
 
 And from a Civil Anfwer, brag of Favours 
 
 Should now, by Chance, (for Flefli we know is 
 
 [frail,) 
 Some favVite Fop above the reft prevail • 
 
 Admit the very worft that Men can boaft. 
 
 We need but keep our Counfel at the moft. 
 
 This New Machine a fure Defence fhall prove, 
 
 And guard the Sex againft the Harms of Love. 
 
(3^ ) 
 
 As the fierce Torctipine, whom Nature Armsj 
 Abroad fecurely Preys, nor dreads Alarms, 
 But whenfoe'er th' approaching Foe fhe fpies, 
 To meet the Foe the briftled Monfter flies ; 
 Quick from her Back flie calls a Wood of Quills, 
 Which darting forth, whoe'er fhe hits, fhe kills : 
 So might the Fair, thus arm'd, remain fecure. 
 And brave the Dangers which they fhun'd before, 
 Safe in their Ramparts all Affaults defie, 
 And dare the Efforts of the Enemy. 
 
 She faid, and fate : and Herculea rofe, 
 (Her the whole Sex had for their Champion chofe;) 
 Nature at firfl: her Soul for Man defign'd, 
 But by Miftake to Woman's Mold confin'd ; 
 
 Her 
 
( ?o 
 
 Her Mien was Mafculine, and Manly Grace, 
 And more than Female Boldnefs fluHiM her Face. 
 Applauding Murmurs round the Circle ran, 
 When with difdainful Smiles flie thus began : 
 The Ufe of Art, fliould Nature chance to fail, 
 I own is Good, and may like that prevail ; 
 But furely none to ufe bafe Arts will yield, 
 Till by decay of Nature's Force compelled ; 
 By Art we're taught the Fluttering Fan to hold, 
 "Whilft Love in Ambulli lies in ev'ry Fold ; 
 > Already we have flhewn the Shoulders lare^ 
 And panting Breafts exposed to open Air ; 
 And fliall we now let ev'ry Coxcomb fee. 
 At ev'ry blaft of Wind, the Naked Kjiee ? 
 Oh Nymphs, for fhame, fuch trifling Arts de- 
 
 [clinel 
 
 Each Fop will find the Caufe of this Defign, 
 
 And, 
 
(33) 
 
 And, fraught with Impudence, the Guard bear 
 
 [down. 
 
 Then with Difdain refufe the Conquer'd Town. 
 
 Truft your ov/n Charms, let Nature give Sur- 
 
 [prize ^^ 
 The Torcufine lefs ftore of Darts fupplies. 
 
 Than Cufid fhafts from ev'ry Female's Eyes. 
 
 In mufty Records we have Stories told, 
 
 Of Trofs Defeat by Stratagem, of Old, 
 
 Yet fure Defect of Courage does it fhow, 
 
 To take Advantage of a weaker Foe : 
 
 What Hero to fuch Tricks would have recourfe? 
 
 Troy fliould have ftood, if not reducM by Force. 
 
 She fpoke the dire Contagion quickly fpread, 
 
 And fonie were heard to fecond what flie faid ; 
 
 Of thefe, whofe Satire was from Envy ftirr'd, 
 
 The Mufe declines the Venom to record. 
 
 F When 
 
( 34) 
 
 When each mahcious Nymph her Faults had 
 
 [found. 
 The LearnM Aurelia lafl: furvey'd it round ; 
 
 AuRBLiAj vers'd in ev'ry Female Art, 
 
 .With piercing Eyes examined ev'ry part ; 
 
 Each Cmious Fold laid open to the view, 
 
 Each Curious Fold prefented fomething New ; 
 
 She paus'd, and Thought her Admiration raisM, 
 
 Reviewed it all, and all fhe viewed, Ihe prais'd ; 
 
 Nor gave her Fraife without the jufteft Caufe ; 
 
 Yet fcatter'd Cenfure midft of her Applaufe. 
 
 Up rofe the Trude^ and with a Look ferene, 
 
 Difplay'd to all the Circle the Machine ; 
 
 View here, ((he cry'd,) what Chloe's Art has 
 
 [done, 
 
 This Work may fure for former Faults attone j 
 Her tedious Abfence pleads a juft excufe, 
 Whofe private Labours turn to publick Ufe. 
 
 In 
 
I 
 
 (35) 
 
 In this the Mafter ftrokes of Art behold, 
 Great the Invention, as the Work is bold ! 
 Should now Good natur'd Nymplis, (which 
 
 [Heav'n forefend!) 
 To Grant too early Favours condefcend ; 
 
 See here, the happy means proposed to fliun, 
 
 The Fatal Danger, when the Fault is done. 
 
 Had CiiLOE'sSelf, — but let none hence infer, 
 
 That Virtue fo fevere as her's could err ! 
 
 Had fhe, in Need, devisM this rare Machine, 
 
 Untouched, as now, her Chaftity had bee.i : 
 
 Let no Coy Nymphs of Remedy defpair, 
 
 Contrivance is the Province of the Fair. 
 
 Secure from Cenfure, let each dauntlefs Mai', 
 
 Rufh to the Field, and find a ready Aid ; 
 
 Let no vain pears of future Ills detain, 
 
 The Lovefick Virgin from the Longing Swain, 
 
 [F 2 Scandal 
 
( ?o 
 
 Scandal no more fhall blaft the DamfePsNamev 
 
 Safe in this Covert, fhall remain her Fame, 
 
 And Tieldy or not^ for ever be the fame. 
 
 Unharm'd by Love, each Nymph fhall now ap- 
 
 [pear. 
 Nor Shame henceforth reftrain the Willing Fair, 
 
 Sure, firft, fome Grateful Youth, to eafe the Dame, 
 
 That kindly Yielded to reward his Flame, 
 
 In happy Hour, this Lucky Hint fupply'd : 
 
 Or Bridegroom, pitying his too bafbful Bride, 
 
 Devis'd this Whim, the Fair One to allure, ^ 
 
 ThatjfoothM with hopes of fuch a feeming Cure,^ 
 
 I^earlefs, flie might the dangVous Blifs endure,*^ 
 
 So valiant Ajax, with large Promife fed, 
 The Youthful Teucer, and to Battle led : 
 
 But 
 
( 37) 
 But when the Thunder of the War grew loud, 
 Himfelf, protefted from the Hoftile Crowd, 
 His ample Target to the Warrior lent, 
 In time of Need, his Danger to prevent : 
 The youthful Teucer this oAfylum chofe. 
 And darM, Secure, the thickeft of his Foes ; 
 AuRELi A fpoke — the reft her Words rever'd. 
 And all around their mingled Shouts were heard. 
 
 « 
 Where Praife fo juft is due, the Grateful Mufe, 
 Difdains her humble Tribute to refufe; 
 Hail Spacious Canofy^ fpread Heavenly wide 1 
 What Wonders doft thou fiow^ what Wonders 
 
 Ihlde ? 
 
 Could I but half thy numVous Beauties tell. 
 For ever on the Lovely Theme I'd dwell. 
 
 The 
 
ZJ 
 
 (38) 
 
 The Canvas here to Nobler Ufe apply'd, 
 Shall fpread its ample Breadth with envy'd Pride- 
 Tho' from the 'Pencil, firft, \t gain'd a Name, 
 The Fair have rais'd it to fuperior Fame. 
 
 This Praife, Illuftrious Nymph ! be juftly thine, 
 (^ This Work alone, proclaims thy Pow'r Divine, 
 Venus no more fhall o'er the Sex prefide, 
 But all adore, who all defers can hide. 
 : To teach thefeAm'rous Faults, beher's algne, 
 All Woman-kind the Deity fhall own, K 
 
 That did the Means to cover them make known. -^ 
 I Thy Matchlefs Fame for ever lliall furvive, 
 Who didft fo quickly fuch a Work contrive 
 Leap thus the World to 'Being at a Call 
 e4«i Jove's a4lmighty Viat fornid a IBall. 
 
 ' TJie 
 
( 39) 
 
 The Senate now adjourn'd, the Dames decree 
 
 The Matchlefs Chloe fhall their Leader be ; 
 
 TheMatchlefs Cmloe now accepts the place 
 
 And moves the foremoft, with Majeftick Grace- 
 
 Thefpacious Petticoat, in bright Array, 
 
 Like the tall Ship, does all its Pride difplay, 
 
 Swells with full Gales, and fweeps along the 
 
 tway. 
 
 
 FINIS.