The Declaimer. Poem by Henry Baker

Woman! thoughtless, giddy Creature,
Laughing, idle, flutt'ring thing:
Most uncertain Work of Nature,
Still, like Fancy, on the Wing.

Slave to ev'ry changing Passion,
Loving, hating, in extream:
Fond of ev'ry foolish Fashion,
And, at best, a pleasing Dream.

Lovely--Trifle! dear--Illusion!
Conquering--Weakness! wisht--for--Pain!
Man's chief Glory, and Confusion,
Of all Vanity most vain!

Thus, deriding Beauty's Power,
Bevil call'd it all a Cheat;
But in less than half an Hour
Kneel'd, and whin'd, at Celia's Feet.