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FAB. VIII.

p:20

FAB: IX.

FABLE VIII.

The LADY and the WASP.

HAT whispers must the Beauty bear!

WHAT

What hourly nonfenfe haunts her ear!
Where-e'er her eyes difpenfe their charms,
Impertinence around her fwarms.

Did not the tender nonsense strike,
Contempt and fcorn might look diflike;
Forbidding airs might thin the place,
The flightest flap a fly can chase.

But who can drive the num'rous breed?
Chafe one, another will fucceed.

Who knows a fool, muft know his brother;

One fop will recommend another:

And with this plague fhe's rightly curft,
Because the liften'd to the firft.

As DORIS, at her toilette's duty,

Sat meditating on her beauty,

She now was penfive, now was gay,
And loll'd the fultry hours away.

As

As thus in indolence fhe lies,
A giddy Wafp around her flies.
He now advances, now retires,
Now to her neck and cheek afpires.
Her fan in vain defends her charms;
Swift he returns, again alarms;

For by repulfe he bolder grew,

Perch'd on her lip, and fipt the dew.

She frowns, fhe frets. Good gods! fhe cries, Protect me from these teazing flies!

Of all the plagues that heav'n hath fent,
A Wafp is most impertinent.

The hov'ring infect thus complain'd,
Am I then flighted, fcorn'd, difdain'd?
Can fuch offence your anger wake?
'Twas beauty caus'd the bold mistake.
Thofe cherry lips that breathe perfume,
That cheek fo ripe with youthful bloom,
Made me with ftrong defire pursue
The fairest peach that ever grew.

Strike him not, JENNY, DORIS cries,
Nor murder Wafps like vulgar flies:
For though he's free (to do him right)
The creature's civil and polite.

In

In ecftacies away he pofts;

Where-e'er he came, the favour boasts;

Brags how her fweeteft tea he fips,

And fhews the fugar on his lips.

The hint alarm'd the forward crew.
Sure of fuccefs, away they flew.

They fhare the dainties of the day,
Round her with airy mufic play;
And now they flutter, now they reft,
Now foar again, and fkim her breast.
Nor were they banish'd, till fhe found

That Wafps have ftings, and felt the wound.

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