Clarinda's Indifference at Parting with Her Beauty

Now, age came on, and all the dismal train
That fright the vicious and afflict the vain.
Departing beauty now Clarinda spies,
Pale in her cheeks and dying in her eyes;
That youthful air that wanders o'er the face,
That undescribed, that unresisted grace,
Those morning beams that strongly warm and shine,
Which men that feel and see can ne'er define,
Now, on the wings of restless time, were fled,
And evening shades began to rise and spread;
When, thus resolved, and ready soon to part,
Slighting the short reprieves of proffered art,
She spake—
“And what, vain beauty, didst thou e'er achieve,
When at thy height, that I thy fall should grieve?
When didst thou e'er successfully pursue?
When didst thou e'er th' appointed foe subdue?
'Tis vain of numbers, or of strength to boast,
In an undisciplined, unguided host,
And love, that did thy mighty hopes deride,
Would pay no sacrifice, but to thy pride.
When didst thou e'er a pleasing rule obtain?
A glorious empire's but a glorious pain.
Thou art, indeed, but vanity's chief source;
But foil to wit, to want of wit a curse:
For often by thy gaudy sign's descried
A fool, which unobserved, had been untried;
And when thou dost such empty things adorn,
'Tis but to make them more the public scorn.
I know thee well, but weak thy reign would be
Did none adore or praise thee more than me.
I see, indeed, thy certain ruin near,
But can't afford one parting sigh or tear,
Nor rail at time, nor quarrel with my glass,
But unconcerned, can let thy glories pass.”
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