LXVII.—THE INSCRIPTIONS ON SEVERAL SMALL FRENCH PICTURES, TRANSLATED.
Angelica singing.
What, music and devotion too?
This is the business angels do:
When hearts, and hymns, and voices join,
It makes the pleasant work divine.
Chloris stringing of Pearls.
Virtue and truth in heart and head,
Which teach you how to act and speak,
Are brighter pearls than those you thread,
Chloris, to tie about your neck.
Phyllis playing with a Parrot.
If women will not be inclin'd
To seek th'improvements of the mind,
Believe me, Phyllis, for 'tis true,
Parrots will talk as well as you.
Claudina the Cook-maid.
The cook, who in her humble post
Provides the family with food,
Excels those empty dames that boast
Of charms and lovers, birth and blood.
Florella singing to her Harp.
Florella sings and plays so well,
Which she doth best is hard to tell;
But 'tis a poor account to say,
All she can do is sing and play.
Amaryllis spinning.
O what a pretty spinner's here!
How sweet her looks! How neat her linen!
If love and youth came both to see her,
Youth wou'd at once set love a spinning.
Dorinda sewing.
We stand expos'd to every sin
While idle, and without employ;
But business holds our passions in,
And keeps out all unlawful joy.
Iris suckling three Lap-dogs.
Fond foolish woman! While you nurse
Those puppies at your breast,
Your name and credit fares the worse
For every drop they taste.
Iris, for shame, those brutes remove,
And better learn to place your love.
Pomona the Market-maid.
Virtue adorns her soul within,
Her homely garb is ever clean:
Such innocence disdaining art
Gives love an honourable dart.
