To Mrs. Frances-Arabella Kelly. Mary Barber Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Broad Street Oxford OX1 3BG UK
Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
Taylor Institution Library St Giles' Oxford OX1 3NA UK info@eighteenthcenturypoetry.org https://www.eighteenthcenturypoetry.org/
Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T42622 519 p. 45 Barber, Mary, ca. 1690-1757. Poems on Several Occasions [poems only]. London Printed for C. Rivington, at the Bible and Crown in St. Paul's Church-Yard 1734 pp. 151-153. xlviii,283,[7]p.; 8⁰.

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To Mrs. Frances-Arabella Kelly "[Frances-Arabella Kelly] was the daughter of Captain Dennis Kelly and distinguished for her beauty; she captivated Swift and was a member of the Deanery circle. She died in 1733." (Tucker [1992], 216) . To Day , as at my Glass I stood , To set my Head-cloaths , and my Hood ; I saw my grizzled Locks with Dread , And call'd to mind the Gorgon's Head . Thought I , whate'er the Poets say , Medusa's Hair was only gray : Tho' Ovid , who the Story told , Was too well-bred to call her old ; But , what amounted to the same , He made her an immortal Dame . Yet now , whene'er a Matron sage Hath felt the rugged Hand of Age , You hear out witty Coxcombs cry , Rot that old Witch — she'll never die . Tho' , had they but a little Reading , Ovid would teach them better Breeding . I fancy now , I hear you say , Grant Heav'n , my Locks may ne'er be gray ! Why am I told this frightful Story ? To Beauty a Memento mori . And , as along the Room you pass , Casting your Eye upon the Glass , Surely , say you , this lovely Face Will never suffer such Disgrace : The Bloom , that on my Cheek appears , Will never be impair'd by Years . Her Envy , now , I plainly see , Makes her inscribe those Lines to me . These Beldams , who were born before me , Are griev'd to see the Men adore me : Their snaky Locks freeze up the Blood ; My Tresses fire the purple Flood . Unnumber'd Slaves around me wait , And from my Eyes expect their Fate : I own , of Conquest I am vain , Tho' I despise the Slaves I gain . Heav'n gave me Charms , and destin'd me For universal Tyranny .