The Works of Peter Pindar [i.e. John Wolcot] ... With a Copious Index. To which is prefixed Some Account of his Life. In Four Volumes |
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The Works of Peter Pindar [i.e. John Wolcot] | ||
422
ADVICE TO YOUNG WOMEN;
OR, THE ROSE AND STRAWBERRY. A FABLE.
Young women! don't be fond of killing,
Too well I know your hearts unwilling
To hide beneath the veil a charm—
Too pleas'd a sparkling eye to roll,
And with a neck to thrill the soul
Of ev'ry swain with Love's alarm.
Too well I know your hearts unwilling
To hide beneath the veil a charm—
Too pleas'd a sparkling eye to roll,
And with a neck to thrill the soul
Of ev'ry swain with Love's alarm.
Yet, yet, if Prudence be not near,
Its snow may melt into a tear.
Its snow may melt into a tear.
The dimpled smile, and pouting lip,
Where little Cupids nectar sip,
Are very pretty lures, I own:
But, ah! if Prudence be not nigh,
Those lips, where all the Cupids lie,
May give a passage to a groan.
Where little Cupids nectar sip,
Are very pretty lures, I own:
But, ah! if Prudence be not nigh,
Those lips, where all the Cupids lie,
May give a passage to a groan.
A Rose, in all the pride of bloom,
Flinging around her rich perfume,
Her form to public notice pushing,
Amidst the summer's golden glow,
Peep'd on a Strawberry below,
Beneath a leaf, in secret blushing.
Flinging around her rich perfume,
Her form to public notice pushing,
Amidst the summer's golden glow,
Peep'd on a Strawberry below,
Beneath a leaf, in secret blushing.
423
‘Miss Strawberry,’ exclaim'd the Rose,
‘What's beauty that no mortal knows?
What is a charm, if never seen?
You really are a pretty creature:
Then wherefore hide each blooming feature?
Come up, and show your modest mien.’
‘What's beauty that no mortal knows?
What is a charm, if never seen?
You really are a pretty creature:
Then wherefore hide each blooming feature?
Come up, and show your modest mien.’
‘Miss Rose,’ the Strawberry replied,
I never did possess a pride
That wish'd to dash the public eye:
Indeed I own that I'm afraid—
I think there's safety in the shade;
Ambition causes many a sigh.’
I never did possess a pride
That wish'd to dash the public eye:
Indeed I own that I'm afraid—
I think there's safety in the shade;
Ambition causes many a sigh.’
‘Go, simple child,’ the Rose rejoin'd,
‘See how I wanton in the wind:
I feel no danger's dread alarms:
And then observe the god of day,
How amorous with his golden ray,
To pay his visits to my charms!’
‘See how I wanton in the wind:
I feel no danger's dread alarms:
And then observe the god of day,
How amorous with his golden ray,
To pay his visits to my charms!’
No sooner said, but with a scream
She started from her fav'rite theme—
A clown had on her fix'd his pat.
In vain she screech'd—Hob did but smile;
Rubb'd with her leaves his nose awhile,
Then bluntly stuck her in his hat.
She started from her fav'rite theme—
A clown had on her fix'd his pat.
In vain she screech'd—Hob did but smile;
Rubb'd with her leaves his nose awhile,
Then bluntly stuck her in his hat.
The Works of Peter Pindar [i.e. John Wolcot] | ||