The Virginia Gazette

The following VERSES, in Honour to the Female Sex, were written by an Irish Gentleman, and transcribed by a Gentlewoman in England, who transmitted them in a Letter to her Brother in New-England, by the last Ship.

On WOMAN.

MAN was a happy Favourite above,
When Heaven endow'd him with the Power to love;
His GOD ne'er thought him in a perfect State,
'Til WOMAN made his Paradise compleat.

'Tis true, her Weakness cost him something dear.
Yet in his Fall more Weakness did appear:
For Eve, Excuses numberless abound,
Not one for silly Adam can be found:
She, helpless, yielded to the stronger Power,
The subtl'st Serpent Hell had then in Store;
He, tho' he saw at Stake Eternal Life.
Was Fool enough to yield unto his Wife:
Nor do his Sons from his Example stray;
The Woman promise, but the Men obey.

By them the World has ever since been led,
And cully'd Men content with the Name of Head.
Our Wits by our Employments may appear,
Our Days of Labour, and our Nights of Care,
Fatigues of War, and Drudgeries of State,
Wisely endur'd to make our Women Great:
All that is Good in Life, for Life they chuse;
We glean up all the Bad which they refuse;
Suppose them in their Taste not over nice,
Say, Is not want of Taste our common Vice?
Suppose in Women you no Faith can find:
Say, are not Men less faithful than the Wind?

No Wonder that their Frailties go astray,
If e'en our Wisdom lead them from their Way.
On our own Conduct chiefly hangs our Fate;
Neglect them, and our Title's in debate:
Not Heat, but Provocation fires their Blood;
Good were all Men, all Women would be good.

By Nature virtuous, virtuous as they're fair;
We make them vicious, vicious when they are.
Cou'd Man but once resolve to sin no more,
Woman wou'd soon lost Innocence restore;
Woman! most happy Pledge of Heaven's good Will!
Woman! most perfect Product of it's Skill!
Woman! that all our pleasant Hours employs!
Woman! the Centre of all earthly Joys!

And yet, could I be all she is or can,
I would not cease to be that Creature MAN.
Man as I am, so Man I still would rest,
I would be Man to be by WOMAN blest!