Classic Poem

MADAM ,

Long since we heard of One, who mighty wise,
Would needs pretend to give us sage Advice;
The pompous Title Page I view'd with Awe,
And thought he might expound the sacred Law;
Inform our Minds, mysterious Precepts clear,
And by good Rules our future Conduct steer:
But when I found, instead of Truth's divine,
Malignant Humour lurk'd in ev'ry Line,
Each Period void of Charity and Sense,
Yet varnish'd over with the dull Pretence;
'Twas then, with just Disdain and Anger fir'd,
I to a lonesome gloomy Shade retir'd;
Wishing I could some happy Means invent,
Which might betimes the Moral Plague prevent.

 Poor Sex, cried I, with Malice still opprest,
By Knaves, and Fools, on ev'ry Side distrest!
Long have we drag'd a servile heavy Chain,
Yet were our Souls too noble to complain:
For Quiet Sake, we own'd the barb'rous Sway,
And tamely did their rigid Laws obey.
Such mild Submission, gen'rous Minds would own,
But savage Men are not with Mildness won;
Our Duty cannot calm their brutal Rage,
Nor silent Virtue, Thirst of Rule asswage.

 Rise! Rise ye Heroins, secure the Field,
Truth be your Guide, and Innocence your Shield;
Confute the Maxims of these sordid Tools,
And make them know, we follow Virtue's Rules.
Crush but this Hope forlorn of hireling Wit,
The num'rous Rebel Fry will soon submit.

 What! all asleep!
No gen'rous Soul with noble Ardour fir'd,
No free-born Muse with Sense of Wrong inspir'd?
Not one Zenobia to maintain our Right,
And meet their Champion in an equal Fight.
Oh were my Power but equal to my Will,
In lifted Combat would I prove my Skill;
This infant Muse her callow Wings should try,
“And bravely Conquer, or as bravely Die.
Ye Pow'rs above, some worthy Mind inspire,
Let Truth advance, and Calumny retire.
This said, with Wrongs and Insolence opprest,
A balmy Slumber lull'd my Mind to rest.

 When Lo! a sudden Voice I heard,
And looking up, a youthful Swain appear'd.
Awake, cry'd he, shake off this dull Despair,
For I O Peans, let thy Muse prepare:
See here, what Wonders Eloquence can do,
When join'd with Harmony and Beauty too:
Whilst thou in lazy Wishes pass'd the Day,
And sigh'd ingloriously thy Time away,
This gen'rous Nymph in Action spoke her Mind,
She came, she saw, and gain'd what she design'd:
By dint of Reason, she your Foes subdues,
See how they trembling fly, and she alone pursues.

 Marissa Hail! hail Eloquence divine!
What solid Judgment sparkles in each Line!
What strenuous Proofs in ev'ry Period shine!
With such Success the happy Goal you reach,
Not Wisdom's self could better Lessons teach;
Could more impartially the Case decide,
And solve the Doubts that rose on either Side.

 Fly! brutal Wretches fly! no more proclaim
Your want of Candour, and your Love of Shame:
No more the Foibless of the Sex explore,
But own the Force of Virtue's sovereign Pow'r:
Let bright Marissa! now your Rage disarm,
Whose Eyes are Darts, whose ev'ry Word's a Charm.

 He said——
Yet I delay'd the Blessing to receive,
And scarcely could the welcome News believe:
Wav'ring I stood, with Hope and Fear opprest,
Such diff'rent Passions strove within my Breast;
Lest he had utter'd more than was your Due,
For sure I thought it could not all be true.

 Forgive this Doubt; my Error soon I found,
And was in Wonder and Amazement drown'd;
Such Wit, and Learning, shin'd in ev'ry Part;
Such serious Piety, so free from Art:
Entranc'd with Joy, I found his Words were true,
And freely own'd, he scarce had spoke your Due.
'Twas then in rural Notes I sung your Fame;
'Twas then I bless'd our fair Defender's Name.
But while in artless, humble Lays, I strove
T' express my Duty, Gratitude, and Love;
I heard a joyful Murmur eccho round,
And all the beauteous Quire Marissa's Name resound.