Classic Poem

Nature with swiftness arm'd the horse,
She gave the royal lion force
His destin'd prey to seize on:
To guide the swiftness of the horse,
To tame the royal lion's force,
She gifted man with reason!

Poor woman! what
Was then our lot?
Submission, truth, and duty—
Our gifts were small;
To balance all
Some God invented beauty!

For empire, Reason made a stand,
But long has Beauty's conquering hand
In due subjection kept her:
To rule the world let Reason boast,
She only fills a viceroy's post,
'Tis Beauty holds the sceptre.