Poems on Several Occasions :: :: University of Virginia Library

Phyllis, a Nymph of Form divine,
A constant Saint at Cynthia's shrine,
Would always at the Fellows rail,
Nay, scorn to see a filthy Male.
She laugh'd at all the puny Arts,
Which conquer other Female Hearts:
The Toys which silly Girls betray
On her, alas! were thrown away.

Lord, what was Equipage, or Lace?
Or, where the happiness of Place?
On Ribbands red, or Ribbands blue
She equally would look askew;
Nay, scarcely deign her eyes to set
On gilded Coach, or Coronet;
And, lest Temptation should invade,
She thus invok'd Diana's aid:

Fair Goddess of the Virgin Train,
Let me not ask thy help in vain;
Still be the Virgin Train thy care;
Attend and hear thy Suppliant's Prayer.
From Man, the greatest Curse below
That Woman-kind can shun or know,
Who when he smiles the most betrays,
And wraps our ruin in our praise,
Protect me still, immortal Maid,
My great example, and my aid:
Oh! let not Powder, or Toupee
Engage thy vot'ry's heart from Thee:
Let me not be by Titles led,
Or yield to all persuasive Red,
But live and die unknown to Love,
Then reign with Thee a Star above.

With Cynthia thus to take her part,
She made a shift to keep her heart;

Yet still appear'd exceeding gay
At Park, the Masquerade, or Play,
And look'd, with a regardless air,
On all the pretty Fellows there;
Nay, stood the danger of their Chat,
And heard them talk of This and That.
Each to advance his Passion try'd,
And wonder'd He should be deny'd.
Cupid enrag'd, (as well he might)
Determin'd to revenge the Slight:
He chose his darts of utmost length;
He shot them with redoubl'd strength:
Nor length, nor strength, nor choice avail'd,
The Nymph was safe, the Godhead fail'd.

A young Projector, who from far
Beheld this more than Trojan war,
And found that Phyllis was above
The weak efforts of common Love;
That she despis'd the canting Strain
Of flame, and dart, and death, and chain;
Resolv'd upon so odd a scheme,
As you nor I should never dream.
This haughty Heroine, quoth he,
Appears a Conquest worthy me,
And may be gain'd, I'm bold to say,
If taken in a proper way.

Achilles, as I've often heard,
Who, as invincible, was fear'd;
Achilles had one mortal Part,
And thither Paris sped the Dart:
Our Authors plainly all agree
Achilles had, and so must She:
A strange event my tale will prove;
He found it out, and gain'd her love:
But where this Part so mortal lay
In sooth is past my skill to say;
Tho' this at least I can reveal,
Achilles's was within his Heel.