Delia
to
Phraartes
on
his
mistake
of
three
Ladies
writing
to
him
.
Say
,
noble
Youth
,
thou
Glory
of
the
Stage
,
Gay
soft
Delight
of
the
admiring
Age
;
What
would'st
thou
give
thou
didst
thy
Delia
know
,
Or
that
the
Nymph
who
writ
the
Billet
Deau
,
Could
have
oblig'd
you
with
Heroicks
too
?
To
purchase
your
Esteem
they
all
agreed
,
And
tho'
one
Scroul
,
'twas
a
Tripartite
Deed
.
Methinks
in
you
I
royal
Paris
see
,
Like
him
employ'd
ill
suiting
your
Degree
;
In
his
Disguise
he
rural
Conquests
won
,
But
you
brave
Youth
have
greater
Wonders
done
;
Your
Power
by
neither
Sex
can
be
withstood
,
Your
own
are
all
oblig'd
and
ours
subdu'd
Wit
Fortune
,
Beauty
for
your
Voice
contest
,
Each
with
your
Approbation
would
be
blest
;
For
the
charm'd
Nymphs
desire
as
much
to
please
,
As
did
the
three
contending
Goddesses
,
That
bless'd
young
Paris
in
the
mirtle
Grove
,
With
the
nice
Choice
of
Grandure
Wit
and
Love
.
They
would
appear
all
eager
of
Success
,
But
are
more
cautious
,
cause
their
Charms
less
,
Besides
they
are
resolv'd
they'll
not
undress
:
They've
only
yet
their
mystick
Charms
display'd
,
And
entertain'd
you
in
a
Masquerade
;
But
beg
you
would
not
take
the
Niceness
ill
,
For
they
resolve
to
wear
their
Vizards
still
;
May
the
soft
Riddle
never
be
explain'd
,
Lest
the
neglected
blush
to
be
disdain'd
;
Should
they
divide
;
their
Charms
would
be
too
small
,
Were
they
Celestial
;
You
would
merit
all
.
Yes
,
lovely
Youth
,
those
mightier
Charms
of
thine
,
Deserve
not
only
what
,
but
all
that
is
divine
:
E're
Nature
form'd
you
,
she
in
you
design'd
Perfection
far
beyond
all
human
Kind
:
But
scorn'd
Materials
from
her
common
Store
,
Travers'd
her
pregnant
Universe
all
'ore
;
Pick'd
up
each
softer
Atome
as
she
went
;
Took
too
those
bright
ones
next
the
Firmament
.
Thus
richly
furnish'd
she
the
Work
began
,
And
joy'd
to
find
it
would
be
more
than
Man
;
With
utmost
Care
did
every
Charm
encrease
,
And
e're
she
would
compleat
the
Beauteous
Piece
,
Dip'd
her
nice
Pencil
in
the
liquid
Light
,
Varnish'd
the
whole
,
till
Gods
themselves
less
bright
,
Each
Deity
deceiv'd
with
what
was
done
,
Bestow'd
some
Gift
and
thought
you
was
his
own
:
So
liberally
they
gave
;
in
you
we
see
,
All
their
Perfections
in
Epitome
.
No
Wonder
our
weak
Sex
is
charm'd
to
love
That
Form
which
might
the
pleasing
Object
prove
Of
all
the
wishing
Female
Court
above
:
Tis
they
alone
must
for
your
Heart
contend
,
Your
triple
Nymph
no
farther
doth
pretend
,
Than
to
adore
the
Glories
they
commend
;
They
are
resolv'd
they
will
remain
intire
,
Not
run
the
Hazard
of
dilated
Fire
;
To
other
Swains
their
single
Power
might
move
,
And
they
neglecting
charm
to
more
than
Love
.
They
know
your
Worth
;
so
the
deserving
three
Will
joyn
,
and
be
one
Delia
to
thee
;
Let
one
Idea
fill
thy
grateful
Breast
,
Think
they
are
so
,
in
that
Mistake
they're
blest
.