But ah! what aggravates the killing smart, The cruel thought, that stabs me to the heart; This cursed Ombrelia, this undoing fair, By whose vile arts this heavy grief I bear; She, at whose name I shed these spiteful tears, She owes to me the very charms she wears. An awkward thing, when first she came to town; Her shape unfashion'd, and her face unknown: 60 She was my friend; I taught her first to spread Upon her sallow cheeks enlivening red: I introduced her to the park and plays; And, by my interest, Cozens made her stays. Ungrateful wretch! with mimic airs grown pert, She dares to steal my favourite lover's heart. CARDELIA. Wretch that I was, how often have I swore, When Winnall tallied, I would punt no more? I know the bite, yet to my ruin run; And see the folly, which I cannot shun. 70 SMILINDA. How many maids have Sharper's vows deceived? How many cursed the moment they believed? Yet his known falsehood could no warning prove: Ah! what is warning to a maid in love? CARDELIA. But of what marble must that breast be form'd, To gaze on basset, and remain unwarm'd? When Kings, Queens, Knaves, are set in decent rank; Exposed in glorious heaps the tempting bank, Guineas, half-guineas, all the shining train; The winner's pleasure, and the loser's pain: 80 In bright confusion open rouleaus lie, They strike the soul, and glitter in the eye. Fired by the sight, all reason I disdain; My passions rise, and will not bear the rein. Look upon basset, you who reason boast, And see if reason must not there be lost. SMILINDA. What more than marble must that heart compose, Can hearken coldly to my Sharper's vows? Then, when he trembles, when his blushes rise, When awful love seems melting in his eyes! 90 With eager beats his Mechlin cravat moves: He loves!--I whisper to myself--he loves! Such unfeign'd passion in his looks appears, I lose all memory of my former fears; My panting heart confesses all his charms, I yield at once, and sink into his arms: Think of that moment, you who prudence boast; For such a moment, prudence well were lost. CARDELIA. At the groom-porter's, batter'd bullies play, Some dukes at Mary-bone bowl time away. 100 But who the bowl or rattling dice compares To basset's heavenly joys, and pleasing cares? SMILINDA. Soft Simplicetta dotes upon a beau; Prudina likes a man, and laughs at show. Their several graces in my Sharper meet; Strong as the footman, as the master sweet. LOVET. Cease your contention, which has been too long; I grow impatient, and the tea's too strong. Attend, and yield to what I now decide; The equipage shall grace Smilinda's side: 110 The snuff-box to Cardelia I decree. Now leave complaining, and begin your tea. LINES ON RECEIVING FROM THE EIGHT HON. THE LADY FRANCES SHIRLEY[63] A STANDISH AND TWO PENS.