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CHAPTER 8th.
The Life and Poetical Works of James Woodhouse |  |
If judgment, age, and observation, teach,
And Husbands', Wives' true springs of action reach,
Vanessa's knew her heart's vain-glorious bent;
What all her bustle, all her bounties, meant:
Saw thro' the colouring that the latent Cause
Was popularity, and Self-applause.
One single interrogatory taught
What of Her boasted benefits He thought;
While, as Her specious projects crossed His head,
He mark'd a Man She fondly cloth'd and fed,
And thus, to Crispin, spoke his inmost Mind,
“Think you my Wife's not glad that Fellow's blind?”
And Husbands', Wives' true springs of action reach,
Vanessa's knew her heart's vain-glorious bent;
What all her bustle, all her bounties, meant:
Saw thro' the colouring that the latent Cause
Was popularity, and Self-applause.
One single interrogatory taught
What of Her boasted benefits He thought;
While, as Her specious projects crossed His head,
He mark'd a Man She fondly cloth'd and fed,
And thus, to Crispin, spoke his inmost Mind,
“Think you my Wife's not glad that Fellow's blind?”
Tho' thus he saw deception so distinct,
Concerning Self he weakly err'd—or wink'd.
In pious points His Faith felt deep demurs,
But plac'd implicit confidence in Her's—
Thought all her words, and works, free, just, and fair,
When He appear'd the object of Her care.
Imagin'd pure affection made her meek,
Whene'er her lips impress'd his wither'd cheek;
Her fond profession simple and sincere,
When cooing accent sounded soft—“My Dear!”
Concerning Self he weakly err'd—or wink'd.
In pious points His Faith felt deep demurs,
But plac'd implicit confidence in Her's—
Thought all her words, and works, free, just, and fair,
When He appear'd the object of Her care.
Imagin'd pure affection made her meek,
Whene'er her lips impress'd his wither'd cheek;
Her fond profession simple and sincere,
When cooing accent sounded soft—“My Dear!”
Ah! 'twas mere ignis fatuus fire and flame
That scatter'd witchcraft round the dazzling Dame;
Whose treacherous twinklings led his devious feet
To pitfalls that precluded all retreat.
That scatter'd witchcraft round the dazzling Dame;
Whose treacherous twinklings led his devious feet
To pitfalls that precluded all retreat.
De Moivre show'd him, by symbolic signs,
The size of solids, and the length of lines;
But ne'er by Algebra, or Fluxions, taught
A Wife's breadths—depths—or quantities, of thought.
No numerals, types, or figures, could unfold,
The countless fancies female heads can hold;
Nor conic sections, with a Newton's parts,
Dissect the schemes that occupy their hearts,
The utmost stretch of geometric skill,
Can never measure Maiden's whiffling Will;
Coquette's specific gravitation find,
Nor whirlpool plumb of cunning Consort's Mind!
Who can to Chaos compasses apply,
Or measure mental phantasms, as they fly?
With curves or angles full description frame,
Or what one moment scarce remains the same?
As well might Man weigh parts of empty Space,
Or fix the ratio of Time's abstract race—
Allow not Light, or Darkness, to escape,
Till figures had defin'd both bulk, and shape—
Mark Fire's momentum starting from the storm,
Or sketch the northern Meteor's fleeting form.
The size of solids, and the length of lines;
But ne'er by Algebra, or Fluxions, taught
A Wife's breadths—depths—or quantities, of thought.
No numerals, types, or figures, could unfold,
The countless fancies female heads can hold;
Nor conic sections, with a Newton's parts,
Dissect the schemes that occupy their hearts,
The utmost stretch of geometric skill,
Can never measure Maiden's whiffling Will;
Coquette's specific gravitation find,
Nor whirlpool plumb of cunning Consort's Mind!
Who can to Chaos compasses apply,
Or measure mental phantasms, as they fly?
With curves or angles full description frame,
Or what one moment scarce remains the same?
As well might Man weigh parts of empty Space,
Or fix the ratio of Time's abstract race—
Allow not Light, or Darkness, to escape,
Till figures had defin'd both bulk, and shape—
Mark Fire's momentum starting from the storm,
Or sketch the northern Meteor's fleeting form.
Could wedded combination, match'd like this,
Yield one lunation of connubial bliss?
Secure contentment on a weekly lease,
Or one complete nycthemeron pass in peace?
No chemic skill can ever frustrate fate,
And make such substances amalgamate—
No moral motives alter Heav'n's decree,
Or make such adverse principles agree.
Yield one lunation of connubial bliss?
Secure contentment on a weekly lease,
Or one complete nycthemeron pass in peace?
No chemic skill can ever frustrate fate,
And make such substances amalgamate—
No moral motives alter Heav'n's decree,
Or make such adverse principles agree.
She show'd, it's true, one proof of perfect love,
She wish'd him, Soul and Body, safe above;
Yet prov'd, by practice, and by pow'rful fear,
She scarcely wish'd, or hoped, to meet Him there;
Nor much regarded, would He deign to go,
Whether he soar'd above, or sunk below—
How could she while she felt the World absorb
Each wish for Objects on this earthly Orb.
She wish'd him, Soul and Body, safe above;
Yet prov'd, by practice, and by pow'rful fear,
She scarcely wish'd, or hoped, to meet Him there;
Nor much regarded, would He deign to go,
Whether he soar'd above, or sunk below—
How could she while she felt the World absorb
Each wish for Objects on this earthly Orb.
Could Heav'n e'er sanction one unholy wish,
Whose only object was but bread and fish?
Or grant a prayer where each petition strove
For pow'r and pelf to gratify Self-love?
Full frequent when we fondly wish, or pray,
Celestial Wisdom works far different way—
Oft marks vile motives actuate eager thought,
And gives the full reverse of what was sought:
Not like perverse Mankind, in peevish mood,
Witholding, or restraining, gracious good;
But oft will wicked Creatures' wish condemn,
Yet greater blessings grant, tho' hid from them!
Whose only object was but bread and fish?
Or grant a prayer where each petition strove
For pow'r and pelf to gratify Self-love?
Full frequent when we fondly wish, or pray,
Celestial Wisdom works far different way—
Oft marks vile motives actuate eager thought,
And gives the full reverse of what was sought:
Not like perverse Mankind, in peevish mood,
Witholding, or restraining, gracious good;
But oft will wicked Creatures' wish condemn,
Yet greater blessings grant, tho' hid from them!
Here was a mark how Heav'n her views unmask'd,
Which frustrated her hopes in all she ask'd—
She hoped kind Providence would help her plan,
Secure the Money, and discard the Man;
That she might realize her darling dreams,
Unbounded liberty, and splendid schemes!
To grow beyond all rivals rich and great,
By full possession of his fair Estate!
Become prime arbiter of hoarded pelf,
To build proud temples for her prouder Self!
Fine altars furnish with the richest cheer,
That she might snuff the incense offer'd there!
Extend idolatry, without controul;
To fill her vast vacuity of Soul!
Which frustrated her hopes in all she ask'd—
She hoped kind Providence would help her plan,
Secure the Money, and discard the Man;
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Unbounded liberty, and splendid schemes!
To grow beyond all rivals rich and great,
By full possession of his fair Estate!
Become prime arbiter of hoarded pelf,
To build proud temples for her prouder Self!
Fine altars furnish with the richest cheer,
That she might snuff the incense offer'd there!
Extend idolatry, without controul;
To fill her vast vacuity of Soul!
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CHAPTER 8th.
The Life and Poetical Works of James Woodhouse | |