University of Virginia Library

ODE TO UGLINESS.

Daughter of Hecate, thou'rt undone!
Joy to my soul, thine empire falls:
No more, thou hobbling, envious crone
Thy pow'r the female world appalls.

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With smiles the queen of love appears,
No longer trembling for the Graces:
No more thy rude attack she fears,
On faultless forms, and fairest faces.
Beauty will never lose her prime,
Nor mourn her losses, as of yore!
Defeated too thy brother Time,
The god of wrinkle, wounds no more.
See Age display her iv'ry rows!
Her lip preserves its purple bloom!
Her bosom heaves with Alpine snows,
And kisses breathe the rich perfume!
The furrow'd cheek, and hoary head,
No longer now, as usual, greet;
And, what our grandmothers all dread,
The nose and chin no longer meet.
Time's pow'r the good old grannies brave.
And, ogling, dart their am'rous fire;
Decline with graces to the grave,
And with the blush of health expire!