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Poem
May 4, 1786
Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
A satirical poem by Dr. Johnson advising women on the dangers of beauty and vanity, warning how it leads to rivalry, loss of virtue, and eventual downfall through flattery and neglect of prudence.
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OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
Parnassian Spring:
ADVICE to the FAIR SEX.
By Dr. JOHNSON.
The teeming mother, anxious for her race,
Begs for each birth the fortune of a face:
Yet Vane could tell what ills from beauty spring,
Lord Sedley curs'd the form that pleas'd a King.
Ye nymphs of rosy lips and radiant eyes,
Whom pleasure keeps too busy to be wise;
Whom joys with oft varieties invite,
By day the frolic, and the dance by night;
Who frown with vanity, who smile with art,
And ask the latest fashion of the heart;
What care, what rules your heedless charms shall save,
slave?
Each nymph your rival, and each youth your slave.
Against your fame with fondness hate combines,
The rival batters, and the lover mines.
With distant voice neglected Virtue calls,
Less heard and less, the faint remonstrance falls;
Tir'd with contempt, she quits the slipp'ry reign,
And Pride and Prudence take her seat in vain.
In crowds at once, where none the pass defend,
The harmless Freedom, and the private Friend.
The guardians yield, by force superior ply'd;
By interest, Prudence; and by Flattery, Pride.
Then Beauty falls betray'd, despis'd, distress'd,
And hissing Infamy proclaims the rest.
ADVICE to the FAIR SEX.
By Dr. JOHNSON.
The teeming mother, anxious for her race,
Begs for each birth the fortune of a face:
Yet Vane could tell what ills from beauty spring,
Lord Sedley curs'd the form that pleas'd a King.
Ye nymphs of rosy lips and radiant eyes,
Whom pleasure keeps too busy to be wise;
Whom joys with oft varieties invite,
By day the frolic, and the dance by night;
Who frown with vanity, who smile with art,
And ask the latest fashion of the heart;
What care, what rules your heedless charms shall save,
slave?
Each nymph your rival, and each youth your slave.
Against your fame with fondness hate combines,
The rival batters, and the lover mines.
With distant voice neglected Virtue calls,
Less heard and less, the faint remonstrance falls;
Tir'd with contempt, she quits the slipp'ry reign,
And Pride and Prudence take her seat in vain.
In crowds at once, where none the pass defend,
The harmless Freedom, and the private Friend.
The guardians yield, by force superior ply'd;
By interest, Prudence; and by Flattery, Pride.
Then Beauty falls betray'd, despis'd, distress'd,
And hissing Infamy proclaims the rest.
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
Epigram
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Satire Society
What keywords are associated?
Advice To Women
Beauty Dangers
Vanity Folly
Moral Warning
Dr Johnson
Satire On Society
What entities or persons were involved?
By Dr. Johnson.
Poem Details
Title
Advice To The Fair Sex.
Author
By Dr. Johnson.
Subject
Advice To The Fair Sex On Beauty And Vanity
Form / Style
Rhymed Couplets
Key Lines
Yet Vane Could Tell What Ills From Beauty Spring,
Lord Sedley Curs'd The Form That Pleas'd A King.
Ye Nymphs Of Rosy Lips And Radiant Eyes,
Whom Pleasure Keeps Too Busy To Be Wise;
What Care, What Rules Your Heedless Charms Shall Save,
Slave?
Each Nymph Your Rival, And Each Youth Your Slave.
Then Beauty Falls Betray'd, Despis'd, Distress'd,
And Hissing Infamy Proclaims The Rest.