The Modern World disrob'd or, both sexes Stript of their pretended vertue. In Two Parts. First, Of the Ladies. Secondly, Of the Gentlemen. With Familiar Descant upon every Character [by Edward Ward] |
 | I. |
The Hospitable House-keeper:
|
 | II. |
 | The Modern World disrob'd |  |
113
The Hospitable House-keeper:
OR, The Bountiful Lady.
117
My
Lady's Honour, if she's lewd,
Is but an airy Bubble;
'Tis Vertue, not her boasted Blood,
That makes a Woman noble.
Is but an airy Bubble;
'Tis Vertue, not her boasted Blood,
That makes a Woman noble.
A wanton Harlot we have seen
Advanc'd to be a Dutchess;
And many a lustful Persian Queen
Were subject to Debauches.
Advanc'd to be a Dutchess;
And many a lustful Persian Queen
Were subject to Debauches.
Therefore, since Lady-Punks, we find
In ev'ry lofty Station;
None but the chast and noble Mind,
Deserves our Admiration.
In ev'ry lofty Station;
None but the chast and noble Mind,
Deserves our Admiration.
For what vain Mortal would regard
My Lady's boasted Honour,
When fifty more, besides my L---,
Her Woman swears, have known her?
My Lady's boasted Honour,
When fifty more, besides my L---,
Her Woman swears, have known her?
Yet Poets make such now-a-days,
As chast as bright Diana;
But I'd as soon bestow my Praise
On lustful Messilana.
As chast as bright Diana;
But I'd as soon bestow my Praise
On lustful Messilana.
118
Man may commend a Common-Shore,
That every Scoundrel uses;
But still a Whore will be a Whore,
In Spite of all the Muses.
That every Scoundrel uses;
But still a Whore will be a Whore,
In Spite of all the Muses.
Therefore, were I to shew my Skill,
I'd praise my good old Countess;
And in the smoothest Numbers, tell
Her Vertues, and her Bounties.
I'd praise my good old Countess;
And in the smoothest Numbers, tell
Her Vertues, and her Bounties.
The Graces of her noble Mind,
Would be a Theme uncommon;
But who, among the Sex, can find
So excellent a Woman?
Would be a Theme uncommon;
But who, among the Sex, can find
So excellent a Woman?
| The Modern World disrob'd | |