by Alexander Pope (1688 - 1744)
Clarissa Graceful
Language: English
Say, why are Beauties prais'd and honour'd most, The Wise Man's Passion, and the Vain Man's Toast? Why deck'd with all that Land and Sea afford, Why Angels call'd, and Angel-like ador'd? Why round our Coaches crowd the white-gloved Beaux, Why bows the Side-box from its inmost Rows? How vain are all these Glories, all our Pains, Unless good Sense preserve what Beauty gains: That Men may say, when we the Front-box grace, Behold the first in Virtue as in Face! Oh! if to dance all Night, and dress all Day, Charm'd the Small-pox, or chas'd old Age away; Who would not scorn what Housewife's Cares produce, Or who would learn one earthly Thing of Use? To patch, nay ogle, might become a Saint, Nor could it sure be such a Sin to paint. Oh! if to dance all Night, and dress all Day, Charm'd the Small-pox, or chas'd old Age away; And trust me, dear! good Humour can prevail, When Airs, and Flights, and Screams, and Scolding fail. Beauties in vain their pretty Eyes may roll; Charms strike the Sight, but Merit wins the Soul.
Authorship:
- by Alexander Pope (1688 - 1744), from "The Rape of the Lock", Canto V [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by David Evan Thomas (b. 1958), "Clarissa Graceful", subtitle: "Heroi-comical Cantata for soprano, recorder, oboe, violin, bassoon and harpsichord", 2005. [soprano, recorder, oboe, violin, bassoon and harpsichord] [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Dave Evan Thomas
This text was added to the website: 2006-06-12
Line count: 22
Word count: 186