Classic Poem

When love's taught dangers animate the stage ,
Let the soft scenes your hearts , ye fair! engage:
Let each bright list'ner mark the wiles , we show,
And catch dumb caution , from the pictur'd woe ,
Guiltless of farce , to night, the meaning player
Courts not your laughter , but alarms your care .

M AN , the deceiver , veils his cruel art ,
And skreens himself within th' attempted heart ;
There, to ungen'rous empire , climbs, e'er long,
Help'd by the confidence he means to wrong :
This to detect, we act his falshood o'er,
And the deluder known, betrays no more.

SUCH the best business of the comic muse;
Love has a thousand lessons to infuse,"
Not always lightness should ungrace the scene;
To laugh at folly , but indulges spleen :
Coxcombs and F OPS , in harmless error, stray,
And trip, undangerous , out of passion's way:
M ISERS and S OTS , less mirth than pity move,
And dulness brings an antidote , for love .
But there's a T RAITOR , arm'd in amorous mail ,
Born to attempt, and fashion'd to prevail:
Disguis'd in softness, by deep arts endear'd,
And always dangerous , because never fear'd ;
H IM in our glass of life , to night we show ,
Nor stoop the condescending scene, too low.

H ENCE , if too grave , for Comedy, we seem ,
Think us but suited to our serious theme ;
'Tis no light loss , when charming woman falls,
On our defence the sex's merit calls,
We, who the picture's of a world impart,
Neglect not , what concerns its fairest part :
All danger to that sex , thus frankly shown ,
At the same time, does honour to our own .
Nor let neglect of laughter move the pit ,
To dread, in consequence, a dearth of wit :
Unmeaning mirth may live, in empty noise ,
But solid converse swells our softer joys .
Once , in an age of TUMBLING, DANCE , and SONG ,
Suppose not two short hours of sense, too long :
Not e'en the fashion , change of taste denies:
Oft merry here, let us be, sometimes, wise .