| Alexander Pope (1688–1744). Complete Poetical Works. 1903. | | | | Poems: 1718–27 | The Curll Miscellanies
VI. On the Countess of Burlington Cutting Paper |
| | | PALLAS grew vapourish once and odd; | |
| She would not do the least right thing, | |
| Either for Goddess or for God, | |
| Nor work, nor play, nor paint, nor sing. | |
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| Jove frown’d, and ‘Use (he cried) those eyes | 5 |
| So skilful, and those hands so taper; | |
| Do something exquisite and wise—’ | |
| She bow’d, obey’d him, and cut paper. | |
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| This vexing him who gave her birth, | |
| Thought by all Heav’n a burning shame, | 10 |
| What does she next, but bids, on earth, | |
| Her Burlington do just the same. | |
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| Pallas, you give yourself strange airs; | |
| But sure you ’ll find it hard to spoil | |
| The Sense and Taste of one that bears | 15 |
| The name of Saville and of Boyle. | |
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| Alas! one bad example shown, | |
| How quickly all the sex pursue! | |
| See, madam, see the arts o’erthrown | |
| Between John Overton and you! | 20 | | | |
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