Kitap 2
Applaud your wit,-but costly gifts require.
This is the golden age, all worship gold;
320
Honours are purchas'd, love and beauty sold.
Should Homer come with his harmonious train,
And not present, Homer's turn'd out again.
Some of the sex have sense, their number's small,
Most ignorant, yet vain pretenders all:
325
Flatter alike, smooth empty stanzas send,
They seldom sense, but sound and rhyme commend.
Should you with art compose each polish'd line,
And make her, like your numbers, all divine,
Yet she'll a treat or worthless toy prefer
330
To all the immortal poet's boasted care.
But he that covets to retain her heart,
Let him apply his flattery with art;
With lasting raptures on her beauty gaze,
And make her form the subject of his praise.
335
Purple commend, when she's in purple dress'd;
In scarlet, swear she looks in scarlet best;
Array'd in gold, her graceful mien adore,
