EPILOGUES. SPOKEN AT EDINBURGH, BY MRS. BELLAMY, TO THE Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra. THE flame our hero felt for his Egyptian The man of sense disdains the softening passion; So coy-so cold-that Beauty ne'er can warm them; [them; So nice, that nothing but themselves can charm But hold-I run too fast, without reflection (Each general rule admits of some exception). Here' 'tis allow'd imperial beauty governs, And there the conquer'd sex adore their sovereigns. Let me to wave this bagatelle-declare SPOKEN AT EDINBURGH, IN THE CHARACTER OF LADY FANCIFUL. FANCY, we're told, of parentage Italic, Set up to sale their vast misshapen daughter, But Common Sense will certainly dethrone her, Without her dear coquettish arts to aid them, Fine ladies would be just as-Nature made them, Such sensible-sincere-domestic creatures, The jest of modern belles and petits-maîtres. I Safe with good sense, this circle's not in danger: But as the foreign phantom 's-here a stranger, gave her portrait, that the fair may know her, And if they meet, be ready to forego her: For trust me, ladies, she'd deform your faces, And with a single glance destroy the graces. SPOKEN AT NORWICH, IN THE CHARACTER OF IN 'LOVE IN A VILLAGE.' AFTER the dangers of a long probation, Why an old maid, I wish the wise would tell us, Set up that toast, that culprit, nobus corum, As for the men, whose satire oft hath stung us, Many there are that may be rank'd among us. Law, with long suits and busy mischiefs laden, In rancour far exceeds the ancient maiden. "Tis undenied, and the' assertion's common, That modern physic is a mere old woman. The puny fop that simpers o'er his tea-dish, And cries-Indeed-Miss Deborah's-quite old maidish! Of doubtful sex, of undetermined nature, Jesting apart, and moral truths adjusting! There's nothing in the state itself disgusting; Old maids, as well as matrons bound in marriage, Are valued from propriety of carriage: If gentle sense, if sweet discretion guide them, said it. TO THE MUSE OF OSSIAN. IN fond romance let fancy reign creative! Nor could the stormy clime, with all its rigour, When Honour call'd, the youth disdain'd to And as he fought, the favourite maid grew fonder: The brave by Beauty were rejected never, For girls are gracious when the lads are clever. If the bold youth was in the field vindictive, The bard, at home, had every power descriptive; He swell'd the sacred song, enhanced the story, And raised the warrior to the skies of glory. That northern lads are still unconquer'd fellows, The foes of Britain to their cost can tell us; The sway of northern beauty, if disputed, Look round, ye infidels and stand confuted: And for your bards, the letter'd world have known them, [them. They're such-the sacred Ossian can't disown To prove a partial judgment does not wrong you, And that your usual candour reigns among you, Look with indulgence on this crude endeavour, And stamp it with the sanction of your favour. SPOKEN IN THE CHARACTER OF LADY TOWNLEY, IN THE PROVOKED HUSBAND.' A LADY-let me recollect-whose night is 't? 'A wife reclaim'd, and by a husband's rigour, She'd give the circle this concise oration :- That in continued riot waste your lives; |