To LAURA

Long, ah too long has man's contemptuous eye, Unskilled the worth of woman to descry, Looked with superior insolence and scorn, On nature's fairest gift, tho latest born.

THIS chap will all his wit & wisdom show, In ten fine compliments, and one low bow; Answering to such, there flies the female fop, Whose head is but a perfect mill'ner's shop. Such to each other must appear divine, For little hearts with little hearts must join,

THOU fair, who far from city noise and strife, Draw'st the pure ether of a rural life, Deny not audience to the muse's strain While youthful blood flows warm in every vein; While suppliant lovers evening visits pay, And, blest supreme, enjoy the hours away: Learn to distinguish, with superior care, The vows of honest worth, from flatt'ry's air. O'er your young heart still keep a watchful eye, And hearing ears to rakes and fools deny. Despise the fop, in glitt'ring gewgaws drest, Whose worth lies but in powder and in vest; Who yields his heart for ev'ry sparkling eye, For ev'ry maid can fall in love and die. But let the youth, whose honest, cultured soul, Nor under vice, nor flatt'ry's base control. Contemns the vows, to ev'ry fair one made, And the vile wretch who innocence betrayed, Let such an youth your whole affections gain, And with the mutual sigh reward his pain.