University of Virginia Library


142

The Beau-Officer:

OR, The Coward in Commission.


146

True Fortitude in Poor or Rich,
Is such a graceful Talent,
That ev'ry Coward has an Itch
To be accounted valiant.

147

Some cheat the World with Soldiers Cloths,
And strut in Red, like Heroes,
When they've scarce Courage to oppose
An Army of Cock-Sparrows.
Others in Publick fight Sham-Duels,
On Purpose to be parted,
And bully poor submissive Fools,
They know to be faint-hearted.
Or else in Play-house, at a Night,
Contend about their Doxies,
And draw their hurtless Blades, to fright
The Ladies in the Boxes:
Who squeak, that Men with brandish'd Swords
Should prove so rash and silly,
When they themselves, with fewer Words,
Would stand a Thrust more freely.
Thus Dastards many Ways contrive
To seem robust and froward,
And oft, against their Nature, strive
To shun the Name of Coward.
Yet ev'ry Man, we plainly see,
Is fearful of his Brother;
Or why should one desire to be
Thought braver than another?
Therefore, since Courage is a Name,
That most Men do delight in,
The Scarlet Beau we must condemn,
That is avers'd to fighting.