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WRITTEN IN "LETTERS OF AN ITALIAN NUN AND AN ENGLISH GENTLEMAN, BY J. J. ROUSSEAU; FOUNDED ON FACTS."

"Away, away,--your flattering arts May now betray some simpler hearts; And you will smile at their believing, And they shall weep at your deceiving."

ANSWER TO THE FOREGOING, [i] ADDRESSED TO MISS----.

Dear simple girl, those flattering arts, (From which thou'dst guard frail female hearts,)[ii] Exist but in imagination, Mere phantoms of thine own creation; [iii] For he who views that witching grace, That perfect form, that lovely face, With eyes admiring, oh! believe me, He never wishes to deceive thee: Once in thy polish'd mirror glance [iv] Thou'lt there descry that elegance Which from our sex demands such praises, But envy in the other raises.-- Then he who tells thee of thy beauty, [v] Believe me, only does his duty: Ah! fly not from the candid youth; It is not flattery,--'tis truth. [vi]

July, 1804.