Evelyn, Mary, 1665-1685. Mundus muliebris; Masculinity -- Poetry; Men -- Poetry; Sex role -- Poetry
Things that themselves ne'er understood.
Now let us then the _Beau_ survey,
Has he no Baubles to display:
There's first the _Dango_, and the _Snake_,
Those _Dildoes_ in the Nape of Neck;
That dangle down behind, to shew
Dimensions of the _Snake_ below:
'Tis thick, and long; but pizzl'd at th' end,
And would be thought the Woman's Friend:
Yet they who many times have try'd,
By _Dango_ swear the _Snake_ bely'd.
Then th' insignificant _Knee-Rowl_,
A mere _Whim-wham_, upon my Soul;
For that 'twas never made, I fear,
To save the Master's Knees at Prayer:
Which being worn o'th' largest size,
That Man _Rolls_ full, the Bully cries.
A Term of Art for Knees Concinnity,
Beyond the Sense of School-Divinity.
What _Beau_ himself would so unman,
To ride in scandalous Sedan?
A Carriage only fit for Midwives,
That of their Burthens go to rid Wives;
Unless to hide, from Revelation,
Th' Adulterer's haste to Assignation.
What Dunces are our Tonsors grown,
Where's their Gold Filings in an Amber Box,
To strew upon their Masters Locks,
And make 'em glitter in the Sun?
Sure English _Beaus_ may out-vie _Venus_,
As well as _Commodus_, or _Gallienus_.
'Twas Goldilocks, my lovely Boy,
Made _Agamemnon_ ruine _Troy_.
I could produce ye Emperours
That sate in Womens Dress whole hours,
Expos'd upon the publick Stage
Their Catamites, Wives by Marr'age.
Your old Trunk-hose are laid aside,
For what-d'-ye-call-em's Tail to hide;
So strait and close upon the Skin,
As onely made for Lady's Eyne;
To see the shape of Thighs and Groin:
Hard case _Priapus_ should be so restrain'd,
That had whole Orchards at command.
Yet these are Toys, in Men, more wise,
To Womens innocent Vanities.
While soft Sir _Courtly Nice_ looks great,
With the unmortgag'd Rents of his Estate:
What is the Learning he adores,
But the Discourse of Pimps and Whores?
She who can tye, with quaintest Art,
The spruce Cravat-string, wins his Heart;
Where that same Toy does not exactly sit,
He's not for common Conversation fit.
How is the Barber held Divine,
That can a Perriwig _Carine_!
Or else _Correct_ it; which you please;
For these are _Terms_ too, now-a-days,
Of modern Gallants to entice
The Barber to advance his Price:
For if a Barber be not dear,
He must not cover Coxcomb's Ear.
Bless us! what's there? 'tis something walks,
A piece of Painting, and yet speaks:
Hard Case to blame the Ladies Washes,
When Men are come to mend their Faces.
Yet some there are such Women grown,
They cann't be by their Faces known:
Some wou'd be like the fair _Adonis_;
Some would be _Hyacinthus_ Cronies;
And then they study wanton use
Of Spanish Red, and white Ceruse;
The only Painters to the Life,
That seem with Natures self at strife;
As if she only the dead Colours laid,
But they the Picture perfect made.
What _Zeuxis_ dare provoke these Elves,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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