The
FEMALE
DRUM
:
Or
,
The
Origin
of
CARDS
.
A
Tale
.
Address'd
to
the
Honourable
Miss
CARPENTER
.
THOU
,
whom
to
counsel
is
to
praise
,
With
candor
view
these
friendly
lays
,
Nor
from
the
vice
of
gaming
free
,
Believe
the
satire
points
at
thee
;
Who
truth
and
worth
betimes
can'st
prize
,
Nor
yet
too
sprightly
to
be
wise
,
But
hear
this
tale
of
ancient
time
,
Nor
think
it
vain
,
tho'
told
in
rhyme
.
Elate
with
wide-extended
pow'r
,
Sworn
rivals
from
the
natal
hour
,
AV'RICE
and
SLOTH
,
with
hostile
art
Contended
long
for
woman's
heart
;
She
fond
of
wealth
,
afraid
of
toil
,
Still
shifted
the
capricious
smile
;
By
turns
,
to
each
the
heart
was
sold
,
Now
bought
with
ease
,
and
now
with
gold
;
Scarce
either
grasp
the
sov'reign
sway
,
When
chance
revers'd
the
prosp'rous
day
.
The
doubtful
strife
was
still
renew'd
,
Each
baffled
oft
,
but
ne'er
subdu'd
;
When
AV'RICE
shew'd
the
glitt'ring
prize
,
And
hopes
and
fears
began
to
rise
,
SLOTH
shed
on
ev'ry
busy
sense
The
gentle
balm
of
indolence
.
When
SLOTH
had
screen'd
,
with
artful
night
,
The
soft
pavilion
of
delight
;
Stern
AV'RICE
,
with
reproachful
frown
,
Would
scatter
thorns
amongst
her
down
.
Thus
each
by
turns
the
realm
controul'd
,
Which
each
in
turn
despair'd
to
hold
;
At
length
unable
to
contend
,
They
join
to
chuse
a
common
friend
,
To
close
in
love
the
long
debate
,
Such
love
,
as
mutual
fears
create
;
A
friend
they
chose
,
a
friend
to
both
,
Of
AV'RICE
born
,
and
nurs'd
by
SLOTH
;
An
artful
nymph
,
whose
reign
began
When
Wisdom
ceas'd
to
dwell
with
man
;
In
Wisdom's
aweful
robes
array'd
,
She
rules
o'er
politicks
and
trade
;
And
by
the
name
of
CUNNING
known
,
Makes
wealth
,
and
fame
,
and
pow'r
her
own
.
In
quest
of
CUNNING
then
they
rove
O'er
all
the
windings
of
the
grove
,
Where
twining
boughs
their
shade
unite
,
For
CUNNING
ever
flies
the
light
;
At
length
thro'
maze
perplex'd
with
maze
,
Through
tracts
confus'd
,
and
private
ways
,
With
sinking
hearts
and
weary
feet
,
They
gain
their
fav'rite's
dark
retreat
;
There
,
watchful
at
the
gate
,
they
find
SUSPICION
,
with
her
eyes
behind
;
And
wild
ALARM
,
awaking
,
blows
The
trump
that
shakes
the
world's
repose
.
The
guests
well
known
,
salute
the
guard
,
The
hundred
gates
are
soon
unbarr'd
;
Through
half
the
gloomy
cave
they
press
,
And
reach
the
wily
queen's
recess
;
The
wily
queen
disturb'd
,
they
view
,
With
schemes
to
fly
,
though
none
pursue
;
And
,
in
perpetual
care
to
hide
,
What
none
will
ever
seek
,
employ'd
.
"
Great
queen
(
they
pray'd
)
our
feuds
compose
,
"
And
let
us
never
more
be
foes
.
"
"
This
hour
(
she
cries
)
your
discord
ends
,
"
Henceforth
,
be
SLOTH
and
AV'RICE
friends
;
"
Henceforth
,
with
equal
pride
,
prepare
"
To
rule
at
once
the
captive
fair
.
"
Th'
attentive
pow'rs
in
silence
heard
,
Nor
utter'd
what
they
hop'd
or
fear'd
,
But
search
in
vain
the
dark
decree
,
For
CUNNING
loves
obscurity
;
Nor
wou'd
she
soon
her
laws
explain
,
For
CUNNING
ever
joys
to
pain
.
She
then
before
their
wond'ring
eyes
,
Bid
piles
of
painted
paper
rise
;
"
Search
now
these
heaps
,
(
she
cries
)
here
find
"
Fit
emblem
of
your
pow'r
combin'd
.
"
The
heap
to
AV'RICE
first
she
gave
,
Who
soon
descry'd
her
darling
Knave
:
And
SLOTH
,
ere
Envy
long
cou'd
sting
,
With
joyful
eyes
beheld
a
King
,
"
These
gifts
(
said
CUNNING
)
bear
away
,
"
Sure
engines
of
despotick
sway
;
"
These
charms
dispense
o'er
all
the
ball
,
"
Secure
to
rule
where'er
they
fall
.
"
The
love
of
cards
let
SLOTH
infuse
,
"
The
love
of
money
soon
ensues
;
"
The
strong
desire
shall
ne'er
decay
,
"
Who
plays
to
win
,
shall
win
to
play
;
"
The
breast
,
where
love
has
plann'd
his
reign
,
"
Shall
burn
,
unquench'd
,
with
lust
of
gain
;
"
And
all
the
charms
that
wit
can
boast
,
"
In
dreams
of
better
luck
be
lost
.
"
Thus
neither
innocent
,
nor
gay
,
The
useless
hours
shall
fleet
away
,
While
TIME
o'erlooks
the
trivial
strife
,
And
,
scoffing
,
shakes
the
sands
of
life
;
Till
the
wan
maid
,
whose
early
bloom
The
vigils
of
quadrille
consume
;
Exhausted
,
by
the
pangs
of
play
,
To
SLOTH
and
AV'RICE
falls
a
prey
.