LETTER III.

CONTAINING The Birth of Fashion , a Specimen of a Modern Ode .

Sure there are Charms by Heav'n assign'd
To modish Life alone,
A Grace, an Air, a Taste refin'd,
To vulgar Souls unknown.

Nature, my Friend, profuse in vain
May ev'ry Gift impart,
If unimprov'd, they ne'er can gain
An Empire o'er the Heart.

Dress be our Care, in this gay Scene
Of Pleasure's blest Abode,
Enchanting Dress! if well I ween,
Fit Subject for an Ode.

Come then, Nymph of various Mien,
Vot'ry true of Beauty's Queen,
Whom the young and ag'd adore,
And thy diff'rent Arts explore,
Fashion , come. — On me a-while
Deign fantastic Nymph to smile.
M ORIA Thee, in Times of Yore,
To the motley Proteus bore;
He, in Bishop's Robes array'd,
Went one Night to Masquerade,
Where thy simple Mother stray'd.
She was clad like harmless Quaker,
And was pleas'd my Lord should take her
By the Waist, and kindly shake her;
And, with Look demure, said she.
" Pray my Lord, — do you know me?
He with soothing flatt'ring Arts,
Such as win all female Hearts,
Much extoll'd her Wit and Beauty,
And declar'd it was his Duty,
As she was a Maid of Honour,
To confer his Blessing on her.
There mid Dress of various Hue,
Crimson, yellow, green and blue,
All on Furbelows and Laces,
Slipt into her chaste Embraces;
Then, like sainted Rogue, cry'd He,
" Little Quaker, — you know me .

Fill'd with Thee she went to France ,
Land renown'd for Complaisance,
Vers'd in Science debonnair,
Bowing, dancing, dressing Hair;
There she chose her Habitation,
Fix'd thy Place of Education.
Nymph, at thy auspicious Birth
H EBE strew'd with Flow'rs the Earth;
Thee to welcome, all the Graces,
Deck'd in Ruffles, deck'd in Laces,
With the God of Love attended,
And the C YPRIAN Queen, descended.
Now you trip it o'er the Globe,
Clad in party-colour'd Robe,
And, with all thy Mother's Sense,
Virtues of your Sire dispense.

Goddess, if from Hand like mine
Ought be worthy of thy Shrine,
Take the flow'ry Wreath I twine.
Lead, oh! lead me by the Hand,
Guide me with thy Magic Wand;
Whether thou in Lace and Ribbons
Choose the Form of Mrs. G IBBONS ,
Or the Nymph of smiling Look,
At Bath yclept J ANETTA C OOK .
Bring, O bring thy Essence Pot,
Amber, Musk, and Bergamot,
Eau de Chipre, Eau de Luce,
Sans Pareil, and Citron Juice,
Nor thy Band-Box leave behind,
Fill'd with Stores of ev'ry Kind;
All th'enraptur'd Bard supposes,
Who to F ANCY Odes composes;
All that F ANCY'S self has feign'd,
In a Band-Box is contain'd:
Painted Lawns, and chequer'd Shades,
Crape, that's worn by love-lorn Maids.
Water'd Tabbies, flow'r'd Brocades;
Vi'lets, Pinks, Italian Posies,
Myrtles, Jessamin and Roses.
Aprons, Caps, and 'Kerchiefs clean,
Straw-built Hats, and Bonnets green,
Catgut, Gauzes, Tippets, Ruffs,
Fans and Hoods, and feather'd Muffs.
Stomachers, and Parisnets,
Ear-Rings, Necklaces, Aigrets.
Fringes, Blonds, and Mignionets.
Fine Vermillion for the Cheek,
Velvet Patches a la Grecque .
Come, but don't forget the Gloves
Which, with all the smiling Loves,
V ENUS caught young C UPID picking
From the tender Breast of Chicken;
Little Chicken, worthier far
Than the Birds of J UNO'S Car,
Soft as C YTHGEREA'S Dove,
Let thy Skin my Skin improve;
Thou by Night shalt grace my Arm,
And by Day shalt teach to charm.
Then, O sweet Goddess, bring with Thee
Thy boon Attendant Gaiety,
Laughter, Freedom, Mirth, and Ease,
And all the smiling Deities;
Fancy, spreading painted Sails,
Loves that fan with gentle Gales. —
But hark — methinks I hear a Voice,
My Organs all at once rejoice;
A Voice, that says, or seems to say ,
" Sister, hasten, Sister gay,
" Come to the Pump-Room, — come away.