Classic Poem

IN THE WHIM OF THE MOMENT .

To look upon dress, upon shew, upon birth,
As the noblest distinction of life,
On riches as all that give pleasure on earth,
And that only cure sorrow and strife;

And though to these maxims one might say quoi bon ,
Yet this is the life of a lady of ton.

II.

Stale virtue and vice to erase from their list,
Those of life make a pitiful part,
Things certainly in people's mouths that exist,
But have nothing to do with the heart:

To maxims like these one may well say quoi ben ;
Yet this is the life of a lady of ton.

III.

Upon prudence as vulgar, and honesty low,
On each man of merit a brute,
As an angel an ape, or, 'tis all one, a beau,
Drest out in an elegant suit:

To maxims like these one may well say quoi bon ,
Yet this is the life of a lady of ton.

IV.

To be short — in a church as the best place to make
Appointments, or charms to display,
And the time most commode of all others to take
On Sunday for cheating at play,

These maxims 'tis certain ne sont pas trop bon ,
Yet this is the life of a lady of ton.