University of Virginia Library


199

[Me, and the Muses could'st thou bribe]

Me, and the Muses could'st thou bribe,
And cause us all our Pow'rs unite,
To teach thee in Heroic Strains to write;
Yet, Scheffer, thou could'st ne'er describe
Her matchless Figure, her exalted Deeds,
And the amazing Theme pursue;
But thou must make 'em less, to make 'em true.
The simple History all Faith exceeds.
When her own Knight incircled moves,
He doubts the Virtues, which he proves.
Old P---t, who boasts the Nerves of Youth,
(Renown'd for Probity and Truth)
Wou'd be suspected, should he tell,
How he attack'd, and how he fell.
And A--- too, once Rival of her Fame,
By Man unconquer'd, when she tries
The puissant Genius of this wond'rous Dame,
Tinges her sable Cheeks, and raptur'd cries;
In Woman can there be such Might!
In Female Friendship such Delight!