Nor think of Nature's state I make a jest[8]: The state of Nature is a state undrest; The love of Pleasure at our birth began, Pleasure the aim of all things, and of Man. Law then was not, the swelling flame to kill, Man walk'd with beast, and--so he always will; And Woman too, the same their board and bed, And would be now, but Folks are better bred; In some convenient grot, or tufted wood, 180 All human beings Nature's circuit trod; The shrine was her's, with no gay vesture laid; Unbrib'd, unmarried stood the willing maid; Her attribute was universal Love, And man's prerogative to range and rove. But how unlike the Pairs of times to come, Wedded, yet separate, abroad at home, Who foes to Nature, and to evil prone, Despising all, but hating most their own. A wayward craving this Neglect succeeds, 190 As every Monster monst'rous children breeds; Strange motly passions from this vice began, And Man unnatural turn'd to worship Man. For this the Muse now calls the Fair to rise, To shew our failings, and to make us wise; Be now to Bacchus, now to Venus prone, And share each folly Man has thought his own; Shame him from Vice, by shewing him your shame, And part with yours, to reinstate his Fame; Be generously vile, and this your view: 200 That Man may hate his errors seen in you. Say, when the Coxcomb flatters and adores, When (taking snuff) your pity he implores; With many a gentle Dem'me swears to die, And humbly begs Destruction from your eye; When your own arts he takes, and speaks in smiles, With Softness woos, and with a Voice beguiles; Does it not move your pity and disdain, Such flow'ry passion, and such mincing pain; Your various Follies you with anger scan, 210 So shewn by one whom Nature meant for Man. E'en so do we our faults in you despise, And Vice has double malice in those Eyes. When Chloe toasts her Beau, or raves too loud; When Flavia leaves her home, and joins a croud; When Silvia fearless rolls the roguish eye, And Damon's want of confidence supply; When betts, and duns, and every rougher name, Sound in the ear of either Sex the same; How should we tell, when thus you love and hate, 220 Who acts the Man, and who's effeminate? Drink, then! disclaim your Sex, be Man in all, Shew us at once, distinction ought to fall; And from the humble things ye were of old, Be reeling Cæsars in a cyprian mould. Better for us, 'tis granted, it might be[9], Were you all Softness, and all Honour we; That never rougher Passion mov'd your mind; That we were all or excellent or blind; But, as we now subsist by passions strife, 230 Which are (POPE writes) the elements of life, The general order, since the whole began, Should be dissolv'd, and Manners make the Man.