Page:The Rosciad - Churchill (1761, 2nd edition).djvu/22

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THE ROSCIAD.
Six rude mishapen beasts the chariot draw,Whom Reason loaths, and Nature never saw;Monsters, with tails of ice, and heads of fire; 395Gorgons, and hydras, and chymaeras dire.Each was bestrode by full as monstrous wight,Giant, Dwarf, Genius, Elf, Hermaphrodite.The Town, as usual, met him in full cry:The Town, as usual, knew no reason why. 400But Fashion so directs, and Moderns raise,On Fashion's mould'ring base, their transient praise.
Next, to the field a band of females drawTheir Force; for Britain owns no Salique Law:Just to their worth, we female rights admit, 405Nor bar their claim to Empire or to Wit.
First, giggling, plotting chamber-maids arrive,Hoydens and Romps, led on by Gen'ral Clive.In spight of outward blemishes she shoneFor Humour fam'd, and Humour all her own. 410Easy, as if at home, the stage she trod,Nor sought the Critic's praise, nor fear'd his rod.Original in spirit and in ease,She pleas'd by hiding all attempts to please.No comic actress ever yet could raise, 415On Humour's base, more merit or more praise.

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