 | Miscellanies in Prose and Verse |  |
107
The NUNNERY.
Da mihi perpetuâ, Genitor charissime, dixit
Virginitate frui; dedit hoc pater ante Dianæ.
Ovid.
Virginitate frui; dedit hoc pater ante Dianæ.
Ovid.
What wond'rous projects form'd the fickle Fair?
How stately rose the castle built in air,
When maids their charms from lovers' eyes to screen
Made a rash vow no longer to be seen?
Whose pen shall dare to tell what secret cause,
Incited nymphs to spurn great Hymen's laws?
Or shew how soon the fatal cov'nant fail'd,
And mirth, and flattery, and shew prevail'd?
How stately rose the castle built in air,
When maids their charms from lovers' eyes to screen
Made a rash vow no longer to be seen?
Whose pen shall dare to tell what secret cause,
Incited nymphs to spurn great Hymen's laws?
Or shew how soon the fatal cov'nant fail'd,
And mirth, and flattery, and shew prevail'd?
Of maids a beauteous bevy late disdain'd,
In matrimonial fetters to be chain'd;
All banish man with one consenting voice,
Some think by force, but more agree by choice.
In matrimonial fetters to be chain'd;
All banish man with one consenting voice,
Some think by force, but more agree by choice.
But how this bold rebellion to maintain,
A thousand stratagems fill every brain;
Through diff'rent ways their resolutions tend,
But all unite in the same fatal end.
A thousand stratagems fill every brain;
108
But all unite in the same fatal end.
Round the tea-table many a time they sate,
Th'important scheme at leisure to debate;
Till one prolifick Head above the rest,
With serious mien th'assembled Fair addrest.
Th'important scheme at leisure to debate;
Till one prolifick Head above the rest,
With serious mien th'assembled Fair addrest.
How blest the nymphs in cloister'd walks immur'd,
From all the follies of the world secur'd;
With what contempt its empty pomp they view,
And with its pleasures bid its cares adieu;
Whatever joys they see, they envy none,
Because no state is equal to their own.
Triumphant Votaries! whose hearts possess
Unshaken peace and genuine happiness.
This bliss shall no good Protestant obtain?
Shall only Papists break the nuptial chain?
Forbid it, Stars! Let English wit contrive,
At equal ease and liberty to live.
If you, my Sisters, this advice approve,
My scheme our ills will cure, our fears remove;
From all the follies of the world secur'd;
With what contempt its empty pomp they view,
And with its pleasures bid its cares adieu;
Whatever joys they see, they envy none,
Because no state is equal to their own.
Triumphant Votaries! whose hearts possess
Unshaken peace and genuine happiness.
This bliss shall no good Protestant obtain?
Shall only Papists break the nuptial chain?
Forbid it, Stars! Let English wit contrive,
At equal ease and liberty to live.
109
My scheme our ills will cure, our fears remove;
Each fleeting will more durably to bind,
Let all our fortunes in one stock be join'd;
Then where some gloomy grove or lonely plain,
Hears the faint murmurs of the distant main,
Let modest art a pleasing mansion build,
With thirty willing vot'ries to be fill'd;
But volunteers alone let choice admit,
One cross'd in love is but a hypocrite.
One only male our vestal floor shall tread,
A priest with ardent heart and hoary head,
Of blameless manners, and of learning tried,
To read good lessons, and good books provide.
Hereafter on the hours we will agree,
For pray'r, for work, for reading and for tea.
Let all our fortunes in one stock be join'd;
Then where some gloomy grove or lonely plain,
Hears the faint murmurs of the distant main,
Let modest art a pleasing mansion build,
With thirty willing vot'ries to be fill'd;
But volunteers alone let choice admit,
One cross'd in love is but a hypocrite.
One only male our vestal floor shall tread,
A priest with ardent heart and hoary head,
Of blameless manners, and of learning tried,
To read good lessons, and good books provide.
Hereafter on the hours we will agree,
For pray'r, for work, for reading and for tea.
Thus spoke the Fair: The project all commend,
And all their wishes to the Nunnery bend.
The Chaplain nam'd, and articles begun,
Full half the work appear'd already done:
Whene'er they met they spoke of future joys,
And the Nun's Castle all their thoughts employs.
And all their wishes to the Nunnery bend.
110
Full half the work appear'd already done:
Whene'er they met they spoke of future joys,
And the Nun's Castle all their thoughts employs.
But when the various statutes were survey'd,
And nicely read by each judicious maid,
What sudden changes in their looks appear!
Some are too mild, and some are too severe.
Dorinda cry'd, are visits then a crime?
And shall we see no friends at any time?
Shall dancing be allow'd, Sempronia said,
And yet no partner ever to be had?
Must no man enter here? brisk Lucia cry'd:
Then burn the plan, fair Thestylis reply'd:
Let fellows rather stile me Wife than Nun.
And thus the Castle sunk ere yet begun.
And nicely read by each judicious maid,
What sudden changes in their looks appear!
Some are too mild, and some are too severe.
Dorinda cry'd, are visits then a crime?
And shall we see no friends at any time?
Shall dancing be allow'd, Sempronia said,
And yet no partner ever to be had?
Must no man enter here? brisk Lucia cry'd:
Then burn the plan, fair Thestylis reply'd:
Let fellows rather stile me Wife than Nun.
And thus the Castle sunk ere yet begun.
| Miscellanies in Prose and Verse | |