He knew the vices our Lotharios boast, And he would show of every vice the ghost, 120 The evil’s self, without disguise or dress, Vice in its own pure native ugliness: Not, as the drunkenness of slaves, to prove Vice hateful, but that seeing, I might love. He drove me out, and I was pleased to see Care of himself: it served as care for me; For he would tell me, that he should not spare Man, horse, or carriage, if I were not there: Provoked at last, my malice I obey’d, And smiling said, “Sir, I am not afraid.” 130 This check’d his spirit; but he said, “Could you Have charge so rich, you would be careful too.” And he, indeed, so very slowly drove, That we dismiss’d the over-cautious love. My next admirer was of equal age, } And wish’d the child’s affection to engage, } And keep the fluttering bird a victim in his cage. } He had no portion of his rival’s glee, But gravely praised the gravity in me; Religious, moral, both in word and deed, 140 But warmly disputatious in his creed; Wild in his younger time, as we were told, And therefore like a penitent when old. Strange he should wish a lively girl to look Upon the methods his repentance took! Then he would say, he was no more a rake To squander money for his passions’ sake; Yet, upon proper terms, as man discreet, He with my mother was disposed to treat, To whom he told, “the price of beauty fell 150 In every market, and but few could sell; That trade in India, once alive and brisk, Was over done, and scarcely worth the risk.” Then stoop’d to speak of board, and what for life A wife would cost----if he should take a wife. Hardly he bargain’d, and so much desired, That we demurr’d; and he, displeased, retired. And now I hoped to rest, nor act again The paltry part for which I felt disdain, When a third lover came within our view, 160 And somewhat differing from the former two. He had been much abroad, and he had seen The world’s weak side, and read the hearts of men; But all, it seem’d, this study could produce, Was food for spleen, derision, and abuse; He levell’d all, as one who had intent To clear the vile and spot the innocent; He praised my sense, and said I ought to be From girl’s restraint and nursery maxims free; He praised my mother; but he judged her wrong 170 To keep us from th’ admiring world so long; He praised himself; and then his vices named, And call’d them follies, and was not ashamed. He more than hinted that the lessons taught By priests were all with superstition fraught; And I must think them for the crowd design’d, Not to alarm the free and liberal mind. Wisdom with him was virtue. They were wrong