Classic Poem

Upon some Alterations in her Face.

A H , Caelia! where are now the charms
That did such wondrous passions move?
Time, cruel Time, those eyes disarms,
And blunts the feeble darts of Love.

What malice does the tyrant bear
To women's interest, and to ours?
Beauties in which the public share,
The greedy villain first devours.

Who, without tears, can see a prince
That trains of fawning courtiers had
Abandon'd, left without defence?
Nor is thy hapless fate less sad.

Thou, who so many fools hast known,
And all the fools would hardly do,
Shouldst now confine thyself to one!
And he, alas! a husband too.

See the ungrateful slaves, how fast
They from thy setting glories run;
And in what mighty crowds they haste
To worship Flavia's rising sun!

In vain are all the practis'd wiles,
In vain those eyes would love impart;
Not all th' advances, all the smiles,
Can move one unrelenting heart.

While Flavia, charming Flavia, still
By cruelty her cause maintains,
And searce vouchsafes a careless smile
To the poor slaves that wear her chains.

Well, Caelia, let them waste their tears;
But sure they will in time repine,
That thou hast not a face like hers,
Or she has not a heart like thine.