Clarissa blest with ev'ry Grace,
A Shape divine, and charming Face,
Had triumph'd long o'er many a Swain,
And oft' been woo'd, but woo'd in vain;
Not so Amanda , blooming Youth,
Soft Innocence, and artless Truth,
Were all the Beauties she cou'd boast,
Not form'd by Nature for a Toast;
Yet some there were, who in her Mind
A thousand nameless Charms cou'd find:
She lov'd not Visits, Park, or Play,
But mop'd, and read her Time away;
Insensible to a Degree,
Her Heart was all her own, and free;
Yet oft of Love's soft pleasing Pains,
The Nymph wou'd write in melting Strains.
The lambent Flame that warm'd her Breast,
Each tender flowing Line confess'd;
Moneses , whose enchanting Form
Was one continu'd endless Charm:
To whom indulgent Heav'n had join'd,
All that cou'd beautify a Mind;
Had often own'd bright Beauty's Power,
Had sigh'd and lov'd — — for half an Hour.
But yet the lovely Youth confess'd,
Whoe'er could wound his destin'd Breast,
Her Charms must over Time prevail,
Her Wit must please when Beauty fail'd;
Yet since he cou'd not hope to find,
One blest with all those Charms of Mind;
He thought Clarissa worth his Care,
And all the Hours he had to spare;
Soft Vows, and tender speaking Eyes,
Pleading Looks, and melting Sighs;
Make the believing Maid approve
His false, but well dissembled Love.
But while Clarissa 's Charms he own'd,
He with a secret Passion burn'd.
Amanda found the Way to win
His Heart, and let her Image in;
His Pain the lovely Youth conceals,
All but what his Eyes reveals:
His Eyes, that all his Passion tell,
And speak the Love he felt so well.
Amanda heard the Youth complain,
She heard and felt an equal Flame;
But still with native Shyness arm'd,
She shuns the lovely Swain she charm'd;
His Looks, his Sighs, his Actions move,
And in soft Language plead for Love.
Clarissa still exults, and cries,
He's yet a Victim to my Eyes;
He neither will, nor can be free;
Me he still love's, and only Me:
Ah! cease to claim my charming Prize;
Amanda , to the Fair replies,
Cou'd I, Clarissa , cou'd I boast,
The Hearts that to thy Charms are lost,
With Joy I wou'd them all resign,
To keep my lov'd Moneses mine.
In vain the Nymph declares her Flame,
Clarissa still asserts her Claim;
And 'till the lov'd Moneses owns,
The conqu'ring Maid for whom he burns;
'Till he'll the happy Fair unfold,
The Sequel must remain untold.
A Shape divine, and charming Face,
Had triumph'd long o'er many a Swain,
And oft' been woo'd, but woo'd in vain;
Not so Amanda , blooming Youth,
Soft Innocence, and artless Truth,
Were all the Beauties she cou'd boast,
Not form'd by Nature for a Toast;
Yet some there were, who in her Mind
A thousand nameless Charms cou'd find:
She lov'd not Visits, Park, or Play,
But mop'd, and read her Time away;
Insensible to a Degree,
Her Heart was all her own, and free;
Yet oft of Love's soft pleasing Pains,
The Nymph wou'd write in melting Strains.
The lambent Flame that warm'd her Breast,
Each tender flowing Line confess'd;
Moneses , whose enchanting Form
Was one continu'd endless Charm:
To whom indulgent Heav'n had join'd,
All that cou'd beautify a Mind;
Had often own'd bright Beauty's Power,
Had sigh'd and lov'd — — for half an Hour.
But yet the lovely Youth confess'd,
Whoe'er could wound his destin'd Breast,
Her Charms must over Time prevail,
Her Wit must please when Beauty fail'd;
Yet since he cou'd not hope to find,
One blest with all those Charms of Mind;
He thought Clarissa worth his Care,
And all the Hours he had to spare;
Soft Vows, and tender speaking Eyes,
Pleading Looks, and melting Sighs;
Make the believing Maid approve
His false, but well dissembled Love.
But while Clarissa 's Charms he own'd,
He with a secret Passion burn'd.
Amanda found the Way to win
His Heart, and let her Image in;
His Pain the lovely Youth conceals,
All but what his Eyes reveals:
His Eyes, that all his Passion tell,
And speak the Love he felt so well.
Amanda heard the Youth complain,
She heard and felt an equal Flame;
But still with native Shyness arm'd,
She shuns the lovely Swain she charm'd;
His Looks, his Sighs, his Actions move,
And in soft Language plead for Love.
Clarissa still exults, and cries,
He's yet a Victim to my Eyes;
He neither will, nor can be free;
Me he still love's, and only Me:
Ah! cease to claim my charming Prize;
Amanda , to the Fair replies,
Cou'd I, Clarissa , cou'd I boast,
The Hearts that to thy Charms are lost,
With Joy I wou'd them all resign,
To keep my lov'd Moneses mine.
In vain the Nymph declares her Flame,
Clarissa still asserts her Claim;
And 'till the lov'd Moneses owns,
The conqu'ring Maid for whom he burns;
'Till he'll the happy Fair unfold,
The Sequel must remain untold.