The British Poets, Including Translations Volume 79 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1822 Excerpt: ...to wealth, no tool to power. My mansion's warm and very neat; You'd say, a pretty snug retreat. My rooms no costly paintings grace, The humbler print supplies their place. Behind the house my garden lies, And opens to the southern skies: The distant hills gay prospects yield, And plenty smiles in every field. The faithful mastiff is my guard, The feather'd tribes adorn my yard; Alive my joy, my treat when dead, And their soft plumes improve my bed. My cow rewards me all she can; (Brutes leave ingratitude to man ) She, daily thankful to her lord, Crowns with nectareous sweets my board. Am I diseased?--the cure is known; Her sweeter juices mend my own. I love my house, and seldom roam; Few visits please me more than home. I pity that unhappy elf Who loves all company but self, By idle passions borne away To opera, masquerade, or play; Fond of those hives where Folly reigns, And Britain's peers receive her chains; Where the pert virgin slights a name, And scorns to redden into shame. But know, my fair (to whom belong The poet and his artless song), When female cheeks refuse to glow, Farewell to virtue here below. Our sex is lost to every rule, Our sole distinction, knave or fool. Tis to your innocence we run; Save us, ye fair, or we're undone: Maintain your modesty and station, So women shall preserve the nation. Mothers, 'tis said, in days of old Esteem'd their girls more choice than gold: Too well a daughter's worth they knew, To make her cheap by public view (Few, who their diamonds' value weigh, Expose those diamonds every day): Then, if Sir Plume drew near, and smiled, The parent trembled for her child: The first advance alarm'd her breast; And Fancy pictured all the rest. But now no mother fears a foe, i No daughter shudders at a beau. Pleasure is all th...