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Poems on Several Occasions

With Anne Boleyn to King Henry VIII. An Epistle. By Mrs. Elizabeth Tollet. The Second Edition
  

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The Coquette and Prude.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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The Coquette and Prude.

The vain Coquette you soon may know;
The perfect Tally to the Beau:
Ambitious all the Sex to please,
She likes and leaves with equal Ease.

126

With mimic Airs, and Dress design'd
At nothing less than all Mankind,
She rolls her Eyes alike on all;
At Court, or Theatre, or Ball.
Her Mind important Projects fill;
To make a Party at Quadrille:
A Ticket when Faustina sings;
And such considerable Things.
Of what is new, and what is gay,
Is all she has to think or say:
She only fears some rural Clown
Should drag her from the charming Town.
At last the Youth obtains her Grace,
Whose Merit is the finest Lace:
Who dresses alamode de France;
And bows—with perfect Complaisance.
Another, more reserv'd or rude,
Assumes the Conduct of a Prude:
To odious Man so grave and shy
She scarce can give him a Reply.
Of vast Discretion to reprove
That despicable Foible Love:
She wonders Girls are fond or frail;
And takes a virtuous Pride to rail.
In Company shou'd she be gay,
What the censorious World wou'd say?
But gives herself excessive Airs
Of edifying Zeal at Pray'rs.
She means to act the prudent Part;
And suffer none to touch her Heart:

127

Insensible, as she pretends;
Yet slave to mercenary Ends.
To Terms like these if native Wit
And conscious Virtue must submit,
What Motive is there to compell
A Milk-Maid to commence a Belle!