Then art did all the bright machines difpofe,
And theatres of Parian marble rofe,
Then mimic thunder fhook the canvas sky,
And Gods defcended from their tow'rs on high.
With caution now let every youth prepare
To choose a partner from the mingled fair;
Vain would be here th' inftructed Muse's voice,
If the pretended to direct his choice:
Beauty alone by fancy is exprefs'd,
And charms in different forms each different breaft;
A fnowy skin this am'rous youth admires,
Whilft nut-brown cheeks another's bosom fires.
Small waifts and flender limbs fome hearts enfnare,
While others love the more fubftantial fair.
But let not outward charms your judgments fway,
Your reafon rather than your eyes obey,
And in the dance, as in the marriage noofe,
Rather for merit, than for beauty, choose:
Be her your choice, who knows with perfect skill
When she should move, and when she should be still,
Who uninftructed can perform her share,
And kindly half the pleafing burthen bear.
Unhappy is that hopeless wretch's fate,
Who fetter'd in the matrimonial state
With a poor, fimple, unexperienc'd wife,
Is forc'd to lead the tedious dance of life;
And fuch is his, with fuch a partner join'd,
A moving puppet, but without a mind:
Still muft his hand be pointing out the way,
Yet ne'er can teach fo faft, as she can stray,
Beneath her follies he muft ever groan,
And ever blufh for errors not his own.
But now behold united hand in hand,
Rang'd on each fide, the well-pair'd couples ftand!
Each youthful bofom beating with delight,
Waits the brisk fignal for the pleafing fight;
While lovely eyes, that flash unusual rays,
And fnowy bubbies pull'd above the stays,
Quick bufy hands, and bridling heads declare,
The fond impatience of the starting fair.
And see the sprightly dance is now begun!
Now here, now there the giddy maze they run,
Now with flow steps they pace the circling ring,
Now all confus'd, too swift for fight they spring:
So, in a wheel with rapid fury tofs'd,
The undiftinguifh'd fpokes are in the motion loft.
The dancer here no more requires a guide,
To no ftrict steps his nimble feet are ty'd,
The Mufe's precepts here wou'd useless be
Where all is fancy'd, unconfin'd, and free;
Let him but to the mufic's voice attend,
By this inftructed, he can ne'er offend;
If to his fhare it falls the dance to lead,
In well-known paths he may be sure to tread;
If others lead, let him their motions view,
And in their steps the winding maze purfue.
In every Country-dance a serious mind,
Turn'd for reflection, can a moral find;
In Hunt-the-Squirrel thus the nymph we view,
Seeks when we fly, but flies when we pursue:
Thus in Round-dances, where our partners change,
And unconfin'd from fair to fair we range,
As foon as one from his own confort flies,
Another feizes on the lovely prize:
Awhile the fav'rite youth enjoys her charms,
Till the next comer steals her from his arms,
New ones fucceed, the last is still her care;
How true an emblem of th' inconftant fair!
Where can philosophers, and fages wise,
Who read the curious volumes of the skies,
A model more exact than dancing name,
Of the creation's univerfal frame?
Where worlds unnumber'd o'er th' ætherial way,
In a bright regular confufion stray;
Now here, now there they whirl along the sky,
Now near approach, and now far diftant fly,
Now meet in the fame order they begun,
And then the great celeftial dance is done.
Where can the mor'list find a jufter plan
Of the vain labours, and the life of man?
Awhile thro' juftling crowds we toil, and sweat,
`And eagerly pursue we know not what.
Then when our trifling short-liv'd race is run,
Quite tir'd fit down, juft where we first begun.
Tho' to your arms kind fate's indulgent care
Has giv'n a partner exquifitely fair,
Let not her charms fo much engage your heart,
That you neglect the skilful dancer's part;
Be not, when you the tuneful notes should hear,
Still whisp'ring idle prattle in her ear;
When you should be employ'd, be not at play,
Nor for your joys all others fteps delay:
But when the finifh'd dance you once have done,
And with applaufe thro' ev'ry couple run,
There reft awhile: there fnatch the fleeting blifs,
The tender whisper, and the balmy kiss;
Each fecret wish, each fofter hope confefs,
And her moift palm with eager fingers press ;
With smiles the fair fhall hear your warm defires,
When mufick melts her foul, and dancing fires.
Thus mix'd with love, the pleafing toil pursue,
Till the unwelcome morn appears in view ;
Then, when approaching day its beams difplays,
And the dull candles fhine with fainter rays,
Then when the fun juft rifes o'er the deep,
And each bright eye is almost fet in fleep,
With ready hands, obfequious youths, prepare
Safe to her coach to lead each chofen fair,
And guard her from the morn's inclement air :
Let a warm hood enwrap her lovely head,
And o'er her neck a handkerchief be spread,
Around her fhoulders let this arm be caft,
Whilft that from cold defends her flender waist ;
With kiffes warm her balmy lips fhall glow,
Unchill'd by nightly damps, or wintry fnow;
While gen'rous white-wine, mull'd with ginger warm,
Safely protects her inward frame from harm.
But ever let my lovely pupils fear
To chill their mantling blood with cold small beer;
Ah, thoughtless fair! the tempting draught refuse,
When thus forewarn'd by my experienc'd Mufe;
Let the fad confequence your thoughts employ,
Nor hazard future pains, for prefent joy,
Destruction lurks within the pois'nous dose,
A fatal fever, or a pimpled nofe.
Thus thro' each precept of the dancing art
The Mufe has play'd the kind inftructor's part,
Thro' every maze her pupils fhe has led,
And pointed out the fureft paths to tread;
No more remains; no more the goddess fings,
But drops her pinions, and unfurls her wings;
On downy beds the weary dancers lie,
And fleep's filk cords tie down each drowsy eye;
Delightful dreams their pleafing sports reftore,
And ev'n in fleep they feem to dance once more.
And now the work completely finish'd lies,
Which the devouring teeth of time defies;
Whilft birds in air, or fifh in ftreams we find,
Or damfels fret with aged partners join'd;
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