Social Commentaries

An Epigram on an Ugly Lady

by George Saville Carey 1743–1807

From Analects in Verse and Prose, vol. II (London, 1770)

Social Commentaries

Celinda is ugly, pretends oft to know it,
But she thinks, that she's handsome, and often will show it;
If you tell her she's handsome, she'll say, how you flatter,
She'd wish to be taller, and fairer, and fatter;
But shou'd you still further in converse proceed,
And talk of a nymph, that is handsome indeed,
She'll soon shew her mind, which you plainly may see,
She thinks there's no creature, so handsome as she.

✦ ✦ ✦

Who thought herself handsome, and often made use of a common piece of finesse peculiar to pretty women: "How can you say I'm pretty?"

MLA

Carey, George Saville. “An Epigram on an Ugly Lady.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/carey_gs/36/.

Chicago

Carey, George Saville. “An Epigram on an Ugly Lady.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/carey_gs/36/.

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