HESIOD, or the rife of woman. A fairy tale, in the ancient English ftyle. Pervigilium Veneris. The Vigil of Venus. Battle of the frogs and mice. To Mr. Pope. Have left on long record of woman's rife, Perhaps 'tis either, as the Ladies please ; In days of yore, (no matter where or when, 'Twas ere the low creation fwarm'd with men) That one Prometheus, fprung of heavenly birth, (Our Author's fong can witness) liv'd on earth. He carv'd the turf to mold a manly frame, And ftole from Jove his animating flame. The fly contrivance o'er Olympus ran, When thus the monarch of the stars began. Oh vers'd in arts! whose daring thoughts aspire, To kindle clay with never-dying fire! The next thy creature meets, be fairly mine: As fuits the counsel of a God to find; A pleafing bofom-cheat, a specious ill, Which felt they curfe, yet covet still to feel. He faid, and Vulcan ftrait the Sire commands, To temper mortar with etherial hands; In In fuch a fhape to mold á rifing Fair, As virgin goddeffes are proud to wear ; 'Twas thus the Sire ordain'd; the Pow'r obey'd; And work'd, and wonder'd at the work he made; The faireft, fofteft, fweeteft frame beneath, Now made to feem, now more than seem to breathe. The |