The Knave of Clubs thrice lost: Oh who could guess This fatal stroke, this unforeseen distress? SMILINDA. See Betty Lovet! very a propos, She all the cares of love and play does know; LOVET. Tell, tell your griefs; attentive will I stay, Though time is precious, and I want some tea. CARDELIA. Behold this equipage, by Mathers wrought, SMILINDA. This snuff-box,-once the pledge of Sharper's love, When rival beauties for the present strove; At Corticelli's he the raffle won; Then first his passion was in public shown: Hazardia blushed, and turned her head aside, The snuff-box,-on the hinge see brilliants shine; CARDELIA. Alas! far lesser losses than I bear, SMILINDA. But ah! what aggravates the killing smart, The cruel thought, that stabs me to the heart; This cursed Ombrelia, this undoing fair, By whose vile arts this heavy grief I bear; She, at whose name I shed these spiteful tears, She owes to me the very charms she wears. An awkward thing, when first she came to town; Her shape unfashioned, and her face unknown: She was my friend; I taught her first to spread Upon her sallow cheeks enliv'ning red: I introduced her to the park and plays; And, by my interest, Cozens made her stays. Ungrateful wretch, with mimic airs grown pert, She dares to steal my fav'rite lover's heart. CARDELIA. Wretch that I was, how often have I swore, SMILINDA. How many maids have Sharper's vows deceived? How many cursed the moment they believed? Yet his known falsehoods could no warning prove: Ah! what is warning to a maid in love? CARDELIA. But of what marble must that breast be formed, To gaze on basset, and remain unwarmed? When kings, queens, knaves, are set in decent rank Exposed in glorious heaps the tempting bank, Guineas, half-guineas, all the shining train; The winner's pleasure, and the loser's pain: In bright confusion open rouleaux lie, They strike the soul, and glitter in the eye. Fired by the sight, all reason I disdain; My passions rise, and will not bear the rein. Look upon basset, you who reason boast; And see if reason must not there be lost. SMILINDA. What more than marble must that heart compose, Can hearken coldly to my Sharper's vows? Then, when he trembles! when his blushes rise! Think of that moment, you who prudence boast: CARDELIA. At the Groom-porter's,1 battered bullies play, SMILINDA. Soft Simplicetta doats upon a beau: Prudina like a man, and laughs at show. Their several graces in my Sharper meet; Strong as the footmen, as the master sweet. 1 At the palace. TO LADY MARY WORTLEY MONTAG I. In beauty, or wit, To question your empire has dared: Have thought that in learning, II. Impertinent schools, The Bible to use, Lest flocks should be wise as their gui III. 'Twas a woman at first In knowledge that tasted delight, The laws should decree To the first possessor the right. 1 Daughter of the Duke of Kingston, born 1690: a woman o genius, but very eccentric. Her letters equal Madame de Sev she lived to a great age, chiefly abroad. She had marrie Montagu, and accompanied him on his Embassy to Constanti after his recall she lived at Twickenham. Lady Mary intr innoculation into England. Her daughter married Lord Bu favourite minister of George III. IV. Then bravely, fair dame, Which to your whole sex does belong; From a second bright Eve, The knowledge of right and of wrong. V. But if the first Eve Hard doom did receive, Who tasting, have robbed the whole tree? EXTEMPORANEOUS LINES, ON THE PICTURE OF LADY MARY W. MONTAGU. BY KNELLER. FROM DALLAWAY'S LIFE OF LADY M. W. M. THE playful smiles around the dimpled mouth, So would I draw (but oh! 'tis vain to try, EPIGRAM. FROM A LETTER TO A LADY MARY WORTLEY MONTAGU. Hic jacet immiti consumptus morte Tibullus, Here stopt by hasty death Alexis lies, |