Recall thy wonted worth with conscious pride, Hast bade thine Edwards and thine Henries rear, Or of the moral or the martial deed. EPISTLE V. FASHION. BY JOSEPH WARTON, D. D. Honestius putamus, quod frequentius; recti apud nos locum tenet error, ubi publicus factus. Seneca. YES, yes, my Friend, disguise it as you will, 'Twas not a taste, but pow'rful mode, that bade Yon purblind, poking peer run picture mad; With the same wonder-gaping face he stares On flat DUTCH dawbing, as on GUIDO's airs; What might his oak-crown'd manors mortgag'd gain? Alas! five faded landscapes of LORAINE. Not so GARGILIUS-sleek, voluptuous lord, A hundred dainties smoke upon his board; Earth, air, and ocean ransack'd for the feast, In masquerade of foreign OLIOs dress'd; Who praises, in this sauce-enamour'd age, Calm, healthful temp'rance, like an INDIAN sage: But could he walk in public, were it said, "GARGILIUs din'd on beef, and eat brown bread?" Happy the grotto'd hermit with his pulse, Who wants no truffles, rich ragouts -nor HULSE. How strict on Sundays gay LAETITIA'S face! Close CHREMES, deaf to the pale widow's grief, Parts with an unsunn'd guinea for relief; No meltings o'er his ruthless bosom steal, More than fierce Arabs, or proud tyrants feel; Yet, since his neighbours give, the churl unlocks, Damning the poor, his triple-bolted box. Why loves not HIPPIA rank obscenity? Why would she not with twenty porters lie? Not aw'd by virtue-but. "The world would talk.". Yet how demurely looks the wishing maid, Each panting warble of VESCONTI's throat, But curd-fac'd CURIO comes! all prate and smile, Supreme of beaux, great bulwark of our isle! Mark well his feather'd hat, his gilt cockade, Rich rings, white hand, and coat of stiff brocade ; Such weak-wing'd May-flies BRITAIN'S troops dis grace, That FLANDRIA, wond'ring, mourns our alter'd race: With him the fair, enraptur'd with a rattle, Of VAUXHALL, GARRICK, or PAMELA prattle: 'Tis meaner (cries the manling) to command O FRANCE, whose edicts govern dress and meat, Thy victor BRITAIN bends beneath thy feet! Strange! that pert grashoppers should lions lead, And teach to hop, and chirp across the mead: Of fleets and laurell'd chiefs let others boast, Thy honors are to bow, dance, boil, and roast, Let ITALY give mimic canvass fire, Carve rock to life, or tune the lulling lyre; For gold let rich POTOSI be renown'd, Be balmy-breathing gums in INDIA found: 'Tis thine for sleeves to teach the shantiest cuts, Give empty coxcombs more important struts, Prescribe new rules for knots, hoops, manteaus, wigs, Shoes, soups, complexions, coaches, farces, jigs. MUSCALIA dreams of last night's ball till ten, Drinks chocolate, stroaks FoPS, and sleeps agen; Perhaps at twelve dares ope her drowsy eyes, Asks Lucy if 'tis late enough to rise; By three each curl and feature justly set, She dines, talks scandal, visits, plays piquette: Meanwhile her babes with some foul nurse remain, For modern dames a mother's cares disdain ; Each fortnight once she bears to see the brats, "For oh they stun one's ears, like squalling cats!" |