Poems on Several Occasions ... To which is added, the Plague of Wealth, Occasion'd By the Author's receiving fifty Pounds from his Excellency the Lord Carteret, for the foremention'd Ode. With several Poems not in the Dublin Edition. By Matthew Pilkington. Revised by the Reverend Dr. Swift |
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The ADVICE.
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| XXXIV. |
 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
81
The ADVICE.
To MIRA.
Two Females fair, for Beauty fam'd,
This Flavia, t'other Mira nam'd,
Were form'd with ev'ry perfect Grace,
Each Excellence of Mind and Face.
This Flavia, t'other Mira nam'd,
Were form'd with ev'ry perfect Grace,
Each Excellence of Mind and Face.
Tho' many a Heart for Flavia bleeds,
In Wedlock Mira first succeeds:
But soon the Blush that painted o'er
Her Virgin Cheek, appears no more,
Her Bloom in weak'ning Child-birth flies,
And ev'ry rosy Beauty dies.
In Wedlock Mira first succeeds:
But soon the Blush that painted o'er
Her Virgin Cheek, appears no more,
Her Bloom in weak'ning Child-birth flies,
And ev'ry rosy Beauty dies.
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From Flavia's Cheeks the Roses fade,
And fast her Maiden Charms decay'd,
In Dairies, Fields, or lonely Bow'rs
She wastes her solitary Hours,
For Plays—, she sees a Sylvan Scene,
And sighs for Town—, but sighs in vain.
And fast her Maiden Charms decay'd,
In Dairies, Fields, or lonely Bow'rs
She wastes her solitary Hours,
For Plays—, she sees a Sylvan Scene,
And sighs for Town—, but sighs in vain.
How Beauty fades! perplexing Thought!
Thus both are on a Level brought,
By diff'rent Causes both survey
Their Pride-inspiring Charms decay.
Thus both are on a Level brought,
By diff'rent Causes both survey
Their Pride-inspiring Charms decay.
Then thus, ye Fair, I both advise,
Since Beauty ev'ry Moment flies,
Since ev'ry Hour those Charms decrease
Which deck the most alluring Face:
Improve, what Time can ne'er impair,
What only renders Woman fair,
What keeps a Husband always kind,
Improve, the Beauties of the Mind.
Since Beauty ev'ry Moment flies,
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Which deck the most alluring Face:
Improve, what Time can ne'er impair,
What only renders Woman fair,
What keeps a Husband always kind,
Improve, the Beauties of the Mind.
| Poems on Several Occasions | |