Thanks to our Stars! the Painter's Skill,
Hath giv'n us no new Letch;
For all must own that Mother Eve,
Is here an ugly Wretch:
But then the well contrived Piece,
Doth raise no fierce Desires;
Nay, rather serves to quench, than add
New Fuel to our Fires:
But had he drew, as Milton wrote,
How wretched were our Fate!
Not Adam's Case were half so bad,
As our unhappy State;
The Object nigh, no Damsel near,
To lay the raging Flame,
Dame Nature might have been provok'd,
To what I would not name:
Then who can say, the Painter here,
Hath shew'd nor Art, nor Skill?
For sure, if Judgment's reckon'd aught,
He has perform'd not ill.