GENIUS, VIRTUE, and REPUTATION. A FABLE. From Mons. DE LA MOTTE, Book v. Fable 6. Nicholas Herbert Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
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Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
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Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T131163 K104099.003 Dodsley, Robert, 1703-1764. A Collection of Poems in Six Volumes. By Several Hands. Vol. III. London printed by J. Hughs, for R. and J. Dodsley 1763 [1st ed. 1758] pp. 202-204. 6v.: music; 8⁰.

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GENIUS , VIRTUE , and REPUTATION . A FABLE . From Mons. DE LA MOTTE , Book v. Fable 6. AS GENIUS , VIRTUE , REPUTATION , Three worthy friends , o'er all the nation Agreed to roam ; then pass the seas , And visit Italy and Greece : By travel to improve their parts , And learn the languages and arts ; Not like our modern fops and beaus , T' improve the pattern of their cloaths : Thus GENIUS said ; — " Companions dear , " To what I speak , incline an ear . " Some chance , perhaps , may us divide : " Let us against the worst provide , " And give some sign by which to find " A friend thus lost , or left behind . " For me , if cruel fate should ever " Me and my dear companions sever , " Go , seek me 'midst the walls of Rome , " At Angelo's or Raphael's tomb ; " Or else at Virgil's sacred shrine , " Lamenting with the mournful Nine . " Next VIRTUE , pausing ; — ( for she knew The places were but very few , Where she could fairly hope to stay Till her companions came that way ; ) " Pass by ( she cry'd ) the court , the ball , " The masquerade and carnival , " Where all in false disguise appear , " But Vice , whose face is ever bare ; " 'Tis ten to one , I am not there . " CAELIA , the loveliest maid on earth ! " I've been her friend , e'er since her birth ; " Perfection in her person charms , " And virtue all her bosom warms ; " A matchless pattern for the fair : " Her dwelling seek , you'll find me there . " Cry'd REPUTATION , " I , like you , " Had once a soft companion too : " As fair her person , and her fame , " And COQUETTISSA was her name . " Ten thousand lovers swell'd her train ; " Ten thousand lovers sigh'd in vain : " Where-e'er she went , the danglers came ; " Yet still I was her favourite flame , " Till once , — ( 'twas at the public show ) " The play being done , we rose to go ; " A thing , who long had cy'd the fair , " His neck stiff yok'd in solitaire , " With clean white gloves first made approach , " Then begg'd to lead her to her coach : " She smil'd , and gave her lilly hand ; " Away they trip it to the Strand : " A hackney-coach receive the pair , " They went to — but , I won't tell where . " Then lost she Reputation quite , " Friends take example from that night , " And never leave me from your sight . " For oh ! if cruel fate intends " Ever to part me from my friends , " Think that I'm dead ; my death deplore , " But never hope to see me more ! " In vain you'll search the world around ; " Lost Reputation's never to be found . "