Delia to Phraartes on his mistake of three Ladies writing to him. Sarah Fyge Egerton 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. T125148 Egerton, Sarah Fyge, 1668-1723. Poems on Several Occasions, Together with a Pastoral. By Mrs. S. F. [poems only] London printed, and are to be sold by J. Nutt, near Stationers-Hall 1703 pp. 94-97. [20],117,[3],15,[1]p.; 8⁰.

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Delia to Phraartes on his mistake of three Ladies writing to him . Say , noble Youth , thou Glory of the Stage , Gay soft Delight of the admiring Age ; What would'st thou give thou didst thy Delia know , Or that the Nymph who writ the Billet Deau , Could have oblig'd you with Heroicks too ? To purchase your Esteem they all agreed , And tho' one Scroul , 'twas a Tripartite Deed . Methinks in you I royal Paris see , Like him employ'd ill suiting your Degree ; In his Disguise he rural Conquests won , But you brave Youth have greater Wonders done ; Your Power by neither Sex can be withstood , Your own are all oblig'd and ours subdu'd Wit Fortune , Beauty for your Voice contest , Each with your Approbation would be blest ; For the charm'd Nymphs desire as much to please , As did the three contending Goddesses , That bless'd young Paris in the mirtle Grove , With the nice Choice of Grandure Wit and Love . They would appear all eager of Success , But are more cautious , cause their Charms less , Besides they are resolv'd they'll not undress : They've only yet their mystick Charms display'd , And entertain'd you in a Masquerade ; But beg you would not take the Niceness ill , For they resolve to wear their Vizards still ; May the soft Riddle never be explain'd , Lest the neglected blush to be disdain'd ; Should they divide ; their Charms would be too small , Were they Celestial ; You would merit all . Yes , lovely Youth , those mightier Charms of thine , Deserve not only what , but all that is divine : E're Nature form'd you , she in you design'd Perfection far beyond all human Kind : But scorn'd Materials from her common Store , Travers'd her pregnant Universe all 'ore ; Pick'd up each softer Atome as she went ; Took too those bright ones next the Firmament . Thus richly furnish'd she the Work began , And joy'd to find it would be more than Man ; With utmost Care did every Charm encrease , And e're she would compleat the Beauteous Piece , Dip'd her nice Pencil in the liquid Light , Varnish'd the whole , till Gods themselves less bright , Each Deity deceiv'd with what was done , Bestow'd some Gift and thought you was his own : So liberally they gave ; in you we see , All their Perfections in Epitome . No Wonder our weak Sex is charm'd to love That Form which might the pleasing Object prove Of all the wishing Female Court above : Tis they alone must for your Heart contend , Your triple Nymph no farther doth pretend , Than to adore the Glories they commend ; They are resolv'd they will remain intire , Not run the Hazard of dilated Fire ; To other Swains their single Power might move , And they neglecting charm to more than Love . They know your Worth ; so the deserving three Will joyn , and be one Delia to thee ; Let one Idea fill thy grateful Breast , Think they are so , in that Mistake they're blest .