Amusement, and if that Defign be answer'd, my Ambition is fatisfied: and indeed to say Truth, I have fo thorough a Confidence in your good Nature, that I am perfuaded you will look with a favourable Eye upon the following Performance, though not in Juftice, yet in Pity to, Your unknown humble Servant, The AUTHOR. THE vii THE PREFACE. Have always confider'd a Preface as the Apology, which an Author makes for his Performance; in which he has an undoubted Liberty of faying as much as he pleases in Favour of himself: As I cannot therefore but be apprehenfive of the Success of the following Piece, I must beg Leave to take this comfortable Privilege, as well as my Poetical Brethren. The principal Circumftance I have torge in Behalf of this Poem, is, that it is the first Production of a young and unex erienced Author (excepting a few trifling Pieces in the Magazines) and I am fo far from bidding Defiance to the Criticks, that I address myself to them in the modeft and fubmiffive Terms of, By your Leave, GENTLEMEN. As to the Poem itself, I have endeavour'd in fome particular Paffages to imitate the Manner of of Mr. Pope's Rape of the Lock, upon a PreSumption, that the following of fo good a Pattern would be deem'd meritorious in fo young a Writer as myfelf. I ought likewife to acknowledge, that I had in View the Epifode of the Patten in Mr. Gay's Trivia. How far I have reach'd the Spirit required in this Kind of Poetry, must be left to the Reader, to whofe Candour and Judgment I fubmit the following Poem. THE THE THIMBLE. CANTO the FIRST. W HAT Art Divine the fhining Thimble found Now first my Verfe reveals: Ye Virgins, hear, Attend, ye Matrons, and ye Belles, give Ear; you For you she flutters on her tender Wing; To you the tributary Strains belong, "Then take at once the Poet and the Song." When Woman's chief Concerns were Love and Play, And trifling was the Business of the Day; When few could find one useless Hour to spare, To mend an Apron, or to fay a Prayer; Fannia, the fairest of the Female Train, In the nice Toils of Industry was skill'd, *Pope's New Dunciad, Line 8. B Whether Whether the work'd the gayly-blooming Flower, Envy itself was Dumb, in Wonder loft, And Ladies ftrove which should applaud her most. From ev'ry Blemish Virgins guard their Skin, But now her Charms had fwell'd the Trump of Fame, IMITATIONS. Envy itself was dumb, in Wonder loft, And Factions ftrove which should applaud you moft. Mr. Addifon's Campaign. Each |