The Virginia Gazette

POET'S CORNER.

ADVICE TO THE LADIES.

The Counsels of a Friend, Belinda, hear,
Too roughly kind to please a Lady's Ear;
Disdain the Flatteries of a Lover's Pen,
And hear such Truths as seldom come from Men;
Nor think I praise you ill when thus I show
What female Vanity might fear to know.
Some Merit 'tis to dare to be sincere,
But greater yours Sincerity to bear.
Hard is the Fortune that your Sex attends,
Women, like Princes, find few real Friends;
All who approach them their own Ends pursue,
Lovers and Ministers are Seldom true;
Hence oft from Virtue heedless Beauty strays,
And the most trusted Guide the most betrays;
Hence by fond Dreams of fancied Power amus'd,
When most you tyrannize you're most abus'd.
Make not too dangerous Wit a vain Pretence,
But wisely rest content with modest Sense,
For Wit, like Wine, intoxicates the Brain,
Too strong for feeble Women to sustain;
Of those who claim it more than Half have none,
And Half of those who have it are undone.
Seek to be good, but aim not to be great,
A Woman's noblest Station is Retreat;
Her fairest Virtues fly from public Sight,
Domestic Worth, which shuns too strong a Light.
Contemn the little Pride of giving Pain,
Nor think that Conquest justifies Disdain.
Short is the Period of insulting Power,
Offended Cupid finds his vengeful Hour;
Soon will resume the Empire which he gave,
And soon the Tyrant shall become the Slave.