to tranflate him. Though there wanted not another reason, which was, that no one elfe would undertake it: at least, Sir C. S. who could have done more right to the author, after a long delay, at length abfolutely refufed fo ungrate ful an employment: and every one will grant, that the work must have been imperfect and lame, if it had appeared without one of the principal members belonging to it. Let the poet therefore bear the blame of his own invention; and let me fatisfy the world, that I am not of his opinion. Whatever his Roman ladies were, the English are free from all his imputations. They will read with wonder and abhorrence the vices of an age, which was the most infamous of any on record. They will bless themselves when they behold thofe examples, related of Domitian's time: they will give back to antiquity thofe monsters it produced: and believe with reason, that the fpecies of those women is extinguished; or at least, that they were never here propagated. I may fafely therefore proceed to the argument of a fatire, which is no way relating to them: and firft obferve, that my author makes their luft the most heroic of their vices: the rest are in a manner but digreffion. fkims them over; but he dwells on this: when he seems to have taken his last leave of it, on the sudden he returns to it: it is one branch of it in Hippia, another in Mesalina, but luft is the main body of the tree. He begins with this text in the first line, and takes it up with intermiffions to the end of the chapter. Every vice is a loader, but that's a ten. The fillers, or intermediate parts, are their revenge; their contrivances of fecret crimes; their arts to hide them; their wit to excuse them; and their impudence to own them, when they can no longer be kept Secret. Then the perfons to whom they are moft addicted; and on whom they commonly beftow the laft favours: as ftage-players, fidlers, finging-boys, and fencers. Thoft who pass for chate amongst them, are not really fo; but only for their vaft dowries, are rather fuffered, than loved by their own bufbands. That they are imperious, domineering, fcolding suices: fet up for learning and criticism in poetry; but are falje judges. Love to Speak Gresk (which was then the fashionable tongue, as French He I is now with us.) That they plead causes at the bar, and play prizes at the bear-garden. That they are goffips and news-mongers: wrangle with their neighbours abroad, and beat their fervants at home. That they lie-in for new faces once a month, are fluttish with their husbands in private; and paint and dress in public for their lovers. That they deal with Jews, diviners, and fortune-tellers: learn the arts of miscarrying, and barrenness, Buy children, and produce them for their own. Murder their husbands fons, if they ftand in their way to his eftate; and make their adulterers his heirs. From hence the poet proceeds to fhew the occafions of all thefes vices, their original, and how they were introduced in Rome, by peace, wealth, and luxury. In conclufion, if we will take the word of our malicious author, bad vomen are the general ftanding rule; and the good, but fome few exceptions to it. 'N Saturn's reign, at Nature's early birth, There was that thing call'd chastity on earth; Rough as their favage lords, who rang'd the wood, I In the golden age; when Saturn reigned. 2 Acorns were the bread of mankind, before corn was found. OF Or from what other atoms they begun, Ev'n 3 under Jove, but Jove without a beard; And marriage-beds creak'd with a foreign weight; But whores and filver in one age were born. He keeps thee not awake with nightly brawls, 3 When Jove had driven his father into banishment, the filver age began, according to the poets, 4 The poet makes Juftice and Chastity fifters; and fays, that they fled to heaven together, and left earth for ever, But But ftill Urfidius courts the marriage-bait, Had in a coffer 'fcap'd the jealous cuckold's fight, Should hope in this lewd town to find a maid! If his new bride prove not an arrant whore On 5 Ceres' feast, reftrain'd from their delight, And yet } 5 Ceres' feaft. When the Roman women were forbidden to bed with their husbands. 6 Jove and Mars. Of whom more fornicating ftories are told than of any of the other gods. Many Many a nymph has in a cave been spread, And much good love without a feather bed. The park, the mall, the play-houfe, or the court? One fees a dancing-mafter cap'ring high, } And fucks in paffion, both at eyes and ears. Still thou wilt have a wife, and father heirs; 7 She fled to Egypt; which wondered at the enormity of her crime. Forgetting |