[Page 117]

A SONG.

WRITTEN TO A LADY.

1 WHEN the nymphs were contending for beauty and fame,
2 Fair Sylvia stood foremost in right of her claim,
3 When to crown the high transports dear conquest excites,
4 At court she was envy'd and toasted at White's.
II.
5 But how shall I whisper this fair one's sad case?
6 A cruel disease has spoil'd her sweet face;
7 Her vermillion is chang'd to a dull settled red,
8 And all the gay graces of beauty are fled.
III.
9 Yet take heed, all ye fair, how you triumph in vain,
10 For Sylvia, tho' alter'd from pretty to plain,
11 Is now more engaging fince reason took place,
12 Than when she possess'd the perfections of face.
IV.
13 Convinc'd she no more can coquet it and teaze,
14 Instead of tormenting — she studies to please:
15 Makes truth and discretion the guide of her life,
16 And tho' spoil'd for a toast, she's well form'd for a wife.

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About this text

Title (in Source Edition): A SONG. WRITTEN TO A LADY.
Author: Anonymous
Themes: illness; injury; beauty
Genres: song
References: DMI 31243

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Source edition

Mendez, Moses. A collection of the most esteemed pieces of poetry: that have appeared for several years. With variety of originals, by the late Moses Mendez, Esq; and other contributors to Dodsley's collection. To which this is intended as a supplement. London: printed for Richardson and Urquhart, 1767, p. 117. [8],320p. ; 8⁰. (ESTC T124631; DMI 1073; OTA K099398.000) (Page images digitized from a copy in the Bodleian Library [Harding C 148].)

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The text has been typographically modernized, but without any silent modernization of spelling, capitalization, or punctuation. The source of the text is given and all editorial interventions have been recorded in textual notes. Based on the electronic text originally produced by the TCP project, this ECPA text has been edited to conform to the recommendations found in Level 5 of the Best Practices for TEI in Libraries version 4.0.0.