The fourth of the series of poems taken from Steele's 1714 Poetical Miscellanies. This is probably by Anne Finch.
See
Annotated Chronology
No. 163. One of the four poems in 1714 Steele
Myra Reynolds thought was Finch's; this poem too seems certainly Finch's; there
is the blunt prosody (very like her other epigrams), the distaste for
mindless coquets (e.g., "Ardelia's Answer," "Melinda on an Insippid Beauty").
The cutting harshness recalls "Adam Pos'd.
It has something of Pope's Martial epigram, "I am his highness' dog";
but related to her own "Melinda on an Insippid Beauty," Finch displays
anger and vocabulary she used in her Ardelia's Answer to Ephelia (her
dislike of Coquettry). See Reynolds, p. lxxxviii.
To Belinda, p 43
In Church the Prayer-Book, and the Fan display'd,
And solemn Curt'sies, shew the wily Maid;
At Plays the leering Looks and wanton Airs,
And Nods and Smiles, are fondly meant for Snares.
Alas! vain Charmer, you no Lovers get;
There you seem Hypocrite, and here Coquet.
Home Back
Contact Ellen Moody.
Pagemaster: Jim Moody.
Page Last Updated: 8 January 2003