University of Virginia Library

ON A LADY, Who is the most Beautiful and Witty when she is Angry.

Long had I known the soft, enchanting Wiles,
Which Cupid practis'd in Aurelia's Smiles.
Till by degrees, like the fam'd Asian, taught,
Safely I drank the sweet, tho' poys'nous Draught.
Love vex'd to see his Favours vainly shown,
The peevish Urchin murder'd with a Frown.
What cautious Youth would thence have fear'd Surprize?
Can Beauty from Deformity arise?
In cloudless Nights do Light'nings harmless fly,
And only blast from a tempestuous Sky?
Mild Venus haunts the Shades and peaceful Groves,
Her Thoughts, her Looks, are tender as her Doves.
Smooth'd were the Waves, and ev'ry Triton sung,
When from old Ocean first the Goddess sprung.
Aurelia shuns the Calm, and loves the Storm,
Ruffles her Passions to improve her Form.
She by some Art, to th'artful Sex unknown,
Has all the Graces, when the rest have none.
Th'unsated Victor seeks new Triumphs still,
And whom her Eyes but wound, her Tongue must kill.
No hope of Safety, if inflam'd her Breast;
At once the Charmer Looks, and Talks the best.
So Dryden sweetest sung, by Envy fir'd,
Thirst of Revenge, where Phœbus fail'd, inspir'd.
His Antony did Sydley's Muse o'ertake,
And Absalon was writ for Zimri's sake.
New Injuries new Lawrels did presage,
And a Mac Fleckno was the Child of Rage.