"Thus, female Minds, with Knowlege fraught, / Are just and liberal Notions taught; / Through Wisdom's Glass their Foibles view'd, / Stand self-convicted, and subdued: / No more Caprice their Conduct rules; / No more the Prey of Rakes, and Fools; / Their Souls, with Truth and Honour charm'd, / Are, thus, 'gainst all Seduction arm'd; / Nor need they dread the Pedant's Sneer, Who by the Card of Reason steer."
— Whyte, Samuel (1733-1811)
Author
Place of Publication
Dublin
Publisher
Printed by R. Marchbank
Date
1772
Metaphor
"Thus, female Minds, with Knowlege fraught, / Are just and liberal Notions taught; / Through Wisdom's Glass their Foibles view'd, / Stand self-convicted, and subdued: / No more Caprice their Conduct rules; / No more the Prey of Rakes, and Fools; / Their Souls, with Truth and Honour charm'd, / Are, thus, 'gainst all Seduction arm'd; / Nor need they dread the Pedant's Sneer, Who by the Card of Reason steer."
Metaphor in Context
Where Beauty, thus, and Sense unite,
What richer Gifts can Heaven bestow?
This charms the Soul, that glads the Sight,
Whence all our dearest Blessings flow:
Each aiding each, their Lustres shine,
Resistless, permanent, divine---
Thus, female Minds, with Knowlege fraught,
Are just and liberal Notions taught;
Through Wisdom's Glass their Foibles view'd,
Stand self-convicted, and subdued:
No more Caprice their Conduct rules;
No more the Prey of Rakes, and Fools;
Their Souls, with Truth and Honour charm'd,
Are, thus, 'gainst all Seduction arm'd;
Nor need they dread the Pedant's Sneer,
Who by the Card of Reason steer.
Through Ignorance, alone, and Pride,
The Fair are Learning's Aid deny'd;
And bred, merely, to taste or know,
The Glare of Dress, and Farce of Shew.
What Wonder, then, in Folly train'd,
Through Life the Impression is retain'd?
And if, as sure, they want not Powers,
Whate'er their Faults, the Crime is ours.
But here , for here , at least, you must
Admit their Claim; my Thesis just;
And, hence, this fair Conclusion draw,
Minerva owns no Salic Law.
(pp. 277-8, ll. 85-112)
What richer Gifts can Heaven bestow?
This charms the Soul, that glads the Sight,
Whence all our dearest Blessings flow:
Each aiding each, their Lustres shine,
Resistless, permanent, divine---
Thus, female Minds, with Knowlege fraught,
Are just and liberal Notions taught;
Through Wisdom's Glass their Foibles view'd,
Stand self-convicted, and subdued:
No more Caprice their Conduct rules;
No more the Prey of Rakes, and Fools;
Their Souls, with Truth and Honour charm'd,
Are, thus, 'gainst all Seduction arm'd;
Nor need they dread the Pedant's Sneer,
Who by the Card of Reason steer.
Through Ignorance, alone, and Pride,
The Fair are Learning's Aid deny'd;
And bred, merely, to taste or know,
The Glare of Dress, and Farce of Shew.
What Wonder, then, in Folly train'd,
Through Life the Impression is retain'd?
And if, as sure, they want not Powers,
Whate'er their Faults, the Crime is ours.
But here , for here , at least, you must
Admit their Claim; my Thesis just;
And, hence, this fair Conclusion draw,
Minerva owns no Salic Law.
(pp. 277-8, ll. 85-112)
Categories
Provenance
Reading
Citation
5 entries in the ESTC (1773, 1774, 1772, 1782).
See The Shamrock: or, Hibernian Cresses. A Collection of Poems, Songs, Epigrams, &c. Latin as well as English, The Original Production of Ireland. (Dublin: Printed by R. Marchbank, 1772). <Link to ECCO> <Link to 1774 edition in Google Books>
See The Shamrock: or, Hibernian Cresses. A Collection of Poems, Songs, Epigrams, &c. Latin as well as English, The Original Production of Ireland. (Dublin: Printed by R. Marchbank, 1772). <Link to ECCO> <Link to 1774 edition in Google Books>
Date of Entry
07/10/2013
