On the Reasonableness of Her coming to the Oxford Act. Mary Jones 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. T115196 Jones, Mary, d. 1778. Miscellanies in Prose and Verse. By Mary Jones. Oxford Printed; and delivered by Mr. Dodsley in Pall-Mall, Mr. Clements in Oxford, and Mr. Frederick in Bath, MDCCL. 1750 pp. 66-67. vi,[1],xlv,[1],405p.

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On the Reasonableness of Her coming to the Oxford Act. Beauty , the bounty of indulgent Heav'n , To favour'd Maids of mortal race was giv'n ; Not to retire with to some lonely scene , But to shine forth , and to be seen of Men . The sun thus radiant with diffusive light , In his own native day appears most bright , And leaves the moon the empire of the night . By his example , Charlot , shine away ; Be thou the goddess , as he's god of day : So shall Oxonians own thy sacred pow'r , And worship Thee , as Persians Him adore . Whilst Danae liv'd immur'd within her tow'r , None but old Jove confess'd her gentle pow'r : But had the hapless maid dwelt always there , Who could have said she was , or was not fair ? Her charms had been unheard of in the throng ; Nor Horace left us his immortal song . The sea-born goddess , rising from the main , Unheeded might have dabbled there again ; Had not Apelles snatch'd the faultless dame , And made her charms immortal as his fame . 'Tis therefore common prudence to appear , That some Apelles may record you fair ; Left future dawbers should the task essay , And , like dull R — smear your charms away . Come then , and leave those unfrequented shades , To dirty shepherds , and to homely maids : To our Athenian Theatres repair , And let the learn'd and gay admire thee there . Inspire , and then reward some gen'rous youth , Nurs'd in the arms of science , and of truth : For trust me , Charlot , who no flatt'ry mean — To be admir'd , you only need be seen .