Classic Poem

When Mira casts around her conquering Eyes,
A thousand Victims fall a Sacrifice:
No Bounds her Charms acknowledge but her Will ,
And, wheresoe'er she darrs a Look, can kill.

Why should she, then, new Artifices find,
T' extend her Pow'r , and vanquish human Kind?
Cannot the pointed Rayes, shot from her Eyes ,
Her graceful Person , and her Mein suffice?
But she must triumph in acquired Art ,
And turn her very Needle to a Dart .

Now, all those Hearts , that dust her Charms withstand,
Must yield, when storm'd, and taken, S WORD in Hand:
And such (if such there are) that miss'd her Eye ,
Must now, by this unerring Weapon , Die.
So the skill'd Poacher , first the Covey fets,
Then shoots the Partridge that escap'd his Nets .

Let other Beauties all their Stores unfold,
Their silver Ribbons , and their Chains of Gold ,
The Harvest will not recompence their Care,
S HEE reaps the Wheat, they only glean the Tare
Some small Excursions they , perchance, may make,
Raise Contributions, or some Hostage take,
But S HEE the Towns invests, and thro' the Lines do's break.
For who defiance bids, or safe remains,
When Muslin binds, and Threads are turn'd to Chains.
But Threads , nor Muslin , could our Hearts command
Unless conducted by fair M IRA'S Hand.
Let but Her Fingers guide the slender Thread ,
And Men are willingly to Bondage led.
Thus bungling Anglers, Dace and Chub can kill,
With clumsy Line, a floating Cork and Quill!
But it requires a Master's Art and Care,
To rob the Waters with a single Hair.

When from the Wars Penthesilea came,
Loaded with Trophies and acquired Fame ,
The haughty Q UEEN , behind her Chariot brough
Kings , she had conquer'd, Nations , she had sought
Naked, and chain'd, thro' gaping Crowds the thrust,
And, only, cover'd were with Shame and Dust;
Faintly they lagg'd, behind her guilded Coach ,
The People's Laughter, and their own Reproach.

But the glad Slaves that wait in Mira 's Train,
Tho' Caprives led, yet triumph in the Chain.
With Joy submit Her grateful Yoke to bear,
And round their Necks the Marks of Bondage wear
So the proud Negro (conscious of no Shame)
Struts, in his Plumes , behind his beauteous Dame
Each Look he watcheth, runs at ev'ry Beck,
And glories in the Callar round his Neck .
For Shame, Ye beauteous Nymphs, for Shame, unite
Assert your Liberties, and curb her Might,
Shall she , each Day, her Monarchy distend,
Invade each Lover , and subdue each Friend ?
Have we, so long, 'gainst boundless Empire fought,
And a long look'd for Peace so dearly bought?
And from their Conquests , shall our Hero's come,
To find a more despotick Pow'r at Home?
Then, all the Ensignes of your Sex display,
And draw your Squadrons out, in bright Array;
Her universal Monarchy restrain,
Bestore the Ballance , and your Towns regain.
But — — — vain I talk — — — the Planets may assoon
Infinite to pull the the glorious Phaebus down.

Tis WE(unwilling to be eas'd) support
Her Acquisitions , and maintain her Court:
Like Turkish Slaves, submissively we wait,
And pawn Our Liberties , to make Her great.
Bent on our Fate , like dazl'd Moths , we fly,
in the Flame , until we sink, and die.
our brightest Beams, are but like Stars by Night;
at Mira , tho' she's scorching , she is bright ;
and, Men will rather burn, than want her Light.
Or will she, e'er, her lasting Pow'r resign,
when she'll please to let her D AUGHTERS shine.

They, they , alone, are able to succeed,
To share her Empire , and preserve the Breed.
So Theodosius when he long had sway'd,
And the whole Globe had Homage to him pay'd)
With Regal Purple did his Sons invest;
Bid One , the O RIENT command, the Other , rule the W EST .