Who does not _worth_ nor _Beauty_ mind, And gives some sordid _Woman_ Gold, Our foolish Sex is bought & sold; We cringe, & court, & sigh, & whine And swear the Nymph is quite divine. And sometimes, tho' Examples here, Exceeding seldom do appear, When a good Girl of solid sense, Who does not make the least pretence, To what our Fancies rate so high, A great estate & sparkling Eye; Who knows tis only want of these, Makes her incapable to please, And therefore Studies hard to find, And plant such Virtues in her Mind As shall the place of Friends supply With constant mirthful Company: Sometimes these Virtues far outdo, The power of _wealth_ & _Beauty_ too, And make a low-born Virgin rise, To seem a _Goddess_ in our Eyes. But when we image in our Mind, Beauty, & Wealth, & Genius join'd, And see them all to one belong, The Colours are so bright so strong; None can resist the powerful Blaze But all with _Love_, & _Rapture_ gaze If Madam, my Presage be true, I may apply all these to you; And free from _Fear_, or _Interest_ say, That on some happy Future Day, When years shall have the _worth_ exprest, Which yet lies prison'd in your Breast; And settled more the charming Grace, Of grave _good Humour_ in your Face; As you have been by _Fortune_ blest, And born of _Fame_, & _Wealth_ possest, Those full-blown Charms the world will see, And with one common voice agree, That such perfection is design'd To be a pattern for Mankind. Sure then I've cause with Heart sincere, To bless the _Chance_ which led me here, And plac'd me down by _Wisdom's_ Flow'r, Which still grows lovelier every Hour; Whose tender Branches bud & shoot And promise early useful Fruit; Tho' _Chance_ has given me in Care, To Nurse this plant & make it fair, Yet generous _Nature_ had before, Been so unsparing of her Store, That unemploy'd, with wondering Eyes, I only stand, & see it rise! PHILIP. V FITHIAN. Westmorland-County} Virginia } February 2d: 1774.} Index Achan's Tavern, Del., 18 Addison, Joseph, 58, 180 Aesop, _Fables_, 54, 132 Agriculture, 94, 125, 127, 133 attempts to diversify, xv "new grounds," xiv, xxviii tobacco the mainstay of, xiv wasteful system of cultivation, xiv, 88 _see also_ land, tenancy Ague, _passim_ Aiken, Mr., 103 "Albany," Westmoreland County, Buckner home, 248 Alexandria, Va., 18, 77, 97, 240, 247 Allen, Moses, 3, 240 Allestree, _A Gentleman's Calling_, xvii All Fours (game), 104, 247 American Colonies, rapid growth of, 63 toasts to trade of, 64 _see also_ American Revolution, Continental Congress _American Historical Review_, Fithian manuscripts published in, xxxii, 239