EPISTLE II. TO A.LADY.1 OF THE CHARACTERS OF WOMEN. ARGUMENT. That the particular characters of women are not so strongly marked as those of men, seldom so fixed, and still more inconsistent with themselves. Instances of contrarieties given, even from such characters as are more strongly marked, and seemingly, therefore, most consistent: as 1. In the affected. 2. In the soft-natured. 3. In the cunning and artful. 4. In the whimsical. 5. In the lewd and vicious. 6. In the witty and refined. 7. In the stupid and simple. The former part having shown that the particular characters of women are more various than those of men, it is nevertheless observed that the general characteristic of the sex, as to the ruling passion, is more uniform. This is occasioned partly by their nature, partly by their education, and in some degree by necessity. What are the aims and the fate of this sex: 1. As to power. 2. As to pleasure. Advice for their true interest. The picture of an estimable woman, with the best kind of contrarieties. NOTHING SO true as what you once let fall, f "Most women have no characters at all:" Matter too soft a lasting mark to bear, And best distinguish'd by black, brown, or fair. 1 Martha Blount. How many pictures of one nymph we view, And how unlike each other, all how true! Arcadia's countess here, in ermin'd pride, Is there, Pastora by a fountain side: Here Fannia, leering on her own good man, And there a naked Leda with a swan. Let then the fair one beautifully cry, In Magdalen's loose hair and lifted eye; Or dress'd in smiles of sweet Cecilia shine, With simpering angels, palms, and harps divine; Whether the charmer sinner it, or saint it, If folly grow romantic, I must paint it. Come, then, the colours and the ground prepare; Dip in the rainbow, trick her off in air; Choose a firm cloud before it fall, and in it Catch, ere she change, the Cynthia of this minute. Rufa, whose eye quick glancing o'er the park, Attracts each light gay meteor of a spark, Agrees as ill with Rufa studying Locke, As Sappho's diamonds with her dirty smock, Or Sappho at her toilet's greasy task, With Sappho fragrant at an evening mask: So morning insects, that in muck begun, Shine, buzz, and fly-blow in the setting sun. How soft is Silia! fearful to offend; The frail one's advocate, the weak one's friend. And good Simplicius asks of her advice. All eyes may see from what the change arose; All eyes may see-a pimple on her nose. Papillia, wedded to her amorous spark, Sighs for the shades-"How charming is a park!" A park is purchas'd; but the fair he sees All bath'd in tears-"Oh, odious, odious trees!" Ladies, like variegated tulips, show; 'Tis to their changes half their charms we owe: Fine by defect, and delicately weak, Their happy spots the nice admirer take. As when she touch'd the brink of all we hate. To make a wash would hardly stew a child; 2 Duchess of Hamilton. Now deep in Taylor and the Book of Martyrs, Yet still a sad good christian at her heart. She sins with poets through pure love of wit. The nose of Hautgout, and the tip of Taste, 3 Henrietta, usually called the young Duchess of Marlborough; to whom Congreve left the greater part of his fortune. Then all for death, that opiate of the soul! Say, what can cause such impotence of mind? With too much quickness ever to be taught; Turn then from wits, and look on Simo's mate; No ass so meek, no ass so obstinate: Or her that owns her faults but never mends, Because she's honest, and the best of friends : Or her whose life the church and scandal share, For ever in a passion or a prayer: Or her who laughs at hell, but (like her grace)* Cries, "Ah! how charming if there's no such place!" Or who in sweet vicissitude appears Of mirth and opium, ratifie and tears; To kill those foes to fair ones, time and thought. But what are these to great Atossa's mind? Scarce once herself, by turns all womankind! 4 The Duchess of Montague. 5 The famous Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough. |