 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
97
WOMAN.
An Elegy.
Ah, why with every charm is Woman grac'd?
Why strongest feelings to our lot assign'd?
Like Pageants why aloft by Flatt'ry plac'd?
Is it to make our Chains more galling bind?
Why strongest feelings to our lot assign'd?
Like Pageants why aloft by Flatt'ry plac'd?
Is it to make our Chains more galling bind?
With hearts to give, and souls to taste delight,
Of Love and all the gentler passions fram'd,
Soft as young Pity, cheerful as the Light,
Why at our Peace is Man's fell dagger aim'd?
Of Love and all the gentler passions fram'd,
Soft as young Pity, cheerful as the Light,
Why at our Peace is Man's fell dagger aim'd?
If we are weak, 'tis for our fouls are kind,
We ne'er suspect a guile our hearts disdain;—
If we are frail—our passions like the wind—
From Us why crave what Manhood can't attain?
We ne'er suspect a guile our hearts disdain;—
If we are frail—our passions like the wind—
From Us why crave what Manhood can't attain?
In Childhood, when by Wisdom bent with Care,
The supple twig to Virtue should incline,
Merit, we're taught, consists in being fair,
Our study—Dress alone wherein to shine.
The supple twig to Virtue should incline,
Merit, we're taught, consists in being fair,
Our study—Dress alone wherein to shine.
From school, that cloister'd cell, when we are freed.
Where Ignorance with birchen Pride bears sway,
To bonds more harsh our servile lot's decreed,
A jealous Sire or Guardian to obey.
Where Ignorance with birchen Pride bears sway,
To bonds more harsh our servile lot's decreed,
A jealous Sire or Guardian to obey.
There each unguarded word, each harmless look,
(The cheerful blood then dancing in our veins)
Dark Calumny within her venom'd book,
The leaves of snake-skin form'd, makes foul with stains.
(The cheerful blood then dancing in our veins)
Dark Calumny within her venom'd book,
The leaves of snake-skin form'd, makes foul with stains.
98
As children painted butterflies pursue,
Which caught, with cruelty they soon destroy,
Our fated sex thus men enraptur'd view,
When won, our ruin all their boast—their joy.
Which caught, with cruelty they soon destroy,
Our fated sex thus men enraptur'd view,
When won, our ruin all their boast—their joy.
At Hymen's shrine shou'd they announce their flame,
Where mutual vows a mutual flame attest,
Unwarp'd fidelity from Us they claim,
Of their own vows they, scornful, make a jest.
Where mutual vows a mutual flame attest,
Unwarp'd fidelity from Us they claim,
Of their own vows they, scornful, make a jest.
Falshood from Us, tho' to our Lordlins due,
In all its blackest dies is blazon'd forth;
Falshood from Them—(how few, alas, are True!)
The partial Tyrants colour o'er with Worth.
In all its blackest dies is blazon'd forth;
Falshood from Them—(how few, alas, are True!)
The partial Tyrants colour o'er with Worth.
Forbid to taste what Learning's banquet shows,
Or quaff the streams that Wisdom's fount supplies,
Yet for those very wants themselves impose,
The tyrant Sex our hapless Sex despise.
Or quaff the streams that Wisdom's fount supplies,
Yet for those very wants themselves impose,
The tyrant Sex our hapless Sex despise.
No Sex bright, Genius boasts: In Us it beams
With equal glow if nourish'd at the roots;
Fed by the All-inspiring Muses stream,
Above the heavens the Female Laurel shoots.
With equal glow if nourish'd at the roots;
Fed by the All-inspiring Muses stream,
Above the heavens the Female Laurel shoots.
Of ev'ry kind the Male protects his Mate,
Whether on earth, in air, or in the main,
Whilst Woman—Ah, how wretched Woman's fate!
In her Protector meets her direst bane.
Whether on earth, in air, or in the main,
Whilst Woman—Ah, how wretched Woman's fate!
In her Protector meets her direst bane.
Of joy our little portion's but a gleam,
A flash of sunshine in a wint'ry day;
That gone, we wake from our bewitching dream,
And all around is darkness and dismay.
A flash of sunshine in a wint'ry day;
99
And all around is darkness and dismay.
Unhappy Sex! tho' here depriv'd of rest,
Some future state shall full reward extend,
Where we with Freedom's Manna shall be blest,
And ev'ry Lover prove a constant Friend.
Some future state shall full reward extend,
Where we with Freedom's Manna shall be blest,
And ev'ry Lover prove a constant Friend.
| Poems on Several Occasions | |