A lover loft, is but a common care;
And prudent Nymphs against that change prepare:
The Knave of Clubs thrice loft: Oh! who could guess
This fatal stroke, this unforeseen Distress ?
See Betty Lovet! very à propos,
She all the cares of Love and Play does know :
Dear Betty shall th' important point decide;
Betty, who oft the pain of each has try'd;
Impartial, she shall say who fuffers most,
By Cards, Ill-Ufage, or by Lovers loft.
Tell, tell your griefs; attentive will I stay, Though time is precious, and I want some Tea.
Behold this Equipage, by Mathers wrought,
With Fifty Guineas (a great Pen'worth) bought.
See, on the Tooth-pick, Mars and Cupid strive;
And both the struggling figures seem alive.
Upon the bottom shines the Queen's bright Face;
A Myrtle Foliage round the Thimble-case ;
Jove, Jove himself does on the Sciffars shine
The Metal, and the Workmanship, divine!
This Snuff-box,-once the pledge of Sharper's love, When rival beauties for the Prefent ftrove;
At Corticelli's he the Raffle won;
Then firft his Paffion was in public shown:
Hazardia blufh'd, and turn'd her head afide,
A Rival's envy (all in vain) to hide.
Z 3
This Snuff-box,-on the Hinge fee Brilliants shine:
This Snuff-box will I ftake; the Prize is mine.
Alas! far leffer loffes than I bear,
Have made a Soldier figh, a Lover swear.
And oh! what makes the disappointment hard,
'Twas my own Lord that drew the fatal Card.
In Complaifance, I took the Queen he gave;
Though my own fecret wish was for the Knave.
The Knave won Sonica, which I had chose;
And the next Pull, my Septleva I lose.
But ah! what aggravates the killing smart, The cruel thought, that stabs me to the heart; This curs'd Ombrelia, this undoing Fair,
By whofe vile arts this heavy grief I bear;
She, at whofe name I shed these spiteful tears,
She owes to me the very charms fhe wears.
An awkward Thing, when first she came to Town;
Her Shape unfashion'd, and her Face unknown:
She was my friend; I taught her first to spread
Upon her fallow cheeks enlivening red:
I introduc'd her to the Park and Plays;
And by my intereft, Cozens made her Stays.
Ungrateful wretch, with mimic airs grown pert,
She dares to steal my Favourite Lover's heart.
Wretch that I was, how often have I fwore,
When Winnall tally'd, I would punt no more!
I know the Bite, yet to my Ruin run;
And fee the Folly, which I cannot shun.
How many Maids have Sharper's vows deceiv'd! How many curs'd the moment they believ'd! Yet his known Falfehoods could no Warning prove: Ah! what is Warning to a Maid in Love?
But of what marble must that breast be form'd, To gaze on Baffet, and remain unwarm'd?
When Kings, Queens, Knaves, are fet in decent rank;
Expos'd in glorious heaps the tempting Bank,
Guineas, Half-guineas, all the fhining train;
The Winner's pleasure, and the Lofer's pain:
In bright Confusion open Rouleaus lie,
They strike the Soul, and glitter in the Eye.
Fir'd by the fight, all reason I disdain;
My Paffions rife, and will not bear the rein,
Look upon Baffet, you who reafon boast;
And fee if reafon must not there be loft.
What more than marble must that heart compose,
Can hearken coldly to my Sharper's Vows?
Then, when he trembles! when his Blushes rife!
When awful Love feems melting in his Eyes!
With eager beats his Mechlin Cravat moves:
He loves,-I whisper to myfelf, he loves!
Such unfeign'd Paffion in his looks appears,
I lose my Memory of my former Fears;
My panting heart confeffes all his charms,
I yield at once, and fink into his arms.
Think of that moment, you who Prudence boast;
For fuch a moment, Prudence well were loft.
At the Groom-Porter's, batter'd Bullies play, Some Dukes at Marybone bowl Time away.. But who the Bowl, or rattling Dice compares To Baffet's heavenly Joys, and pleasing Cares?
Soft Simplicetta doats upon a Beau; Prudina likes a Man, and laughs at Show. Their feveral graces in my Sharper meet; Strong as the Footman, as the Master sweet.
Ceafe your contention, which has been too long;
I grow impatient, and the Tea's too strong.
Attend, and yield to what I now decide;
The Equipage fhall grace Smilinda's Side:
The Snuff-box to Cardelia I decree,
Now leave complaining, and begin your Tea,
UN JOUR DIT UN AUTEUR, &c.
NCE (fays an Author, where I need not say)
Two Travellers found an Oyster in their way;
Both fierce, both hungry; the difpute grew ftrong,
While Scale in hand Dame Juftice paft along.
Before her each with clamour pleads the Laws,
Explain'd the matter, and would win the cause.
Dame Juftice weighing long the doubtful Right,
Takes, opens, swallows it, before their fight.
The cause of ftrife remov'd fo rarely well,
There take (fays Justice) take you each a Shell.
We thrive at Westminster on Fools like you:
'Twas a fat Oyster-Live in peace-Adieu.
ANSWER to the following Question of Mrs. HowE.
WHAT IS PRUDERY?
Seen with Wit and Beauty seldom.
'Tis a fear that ftarts at fhadows.
'Tis (no, 'tis'nt) like Mifs Meadows.
'Tis a Virgin hard of Feature,
Old, and void of all good-nature;
Lean and fretful; would feem wife;
Yet plays the fool before the dies,
'Tis an ugly envious Shrew,
That rails at dear Lepell and You,
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