Instructions to a Young Lady

Y'are now, Asteria, on the publick Stage,
Live in ill Times, and a Censorious Age,
But seen few years, yet like an Angel Fair,
As great your Merit, great must be your Care.
Be strict, if you'd have Reputation stay,
The least neglect throws the rich Gemm away.
Th' Hesperian Fruit, though by a Dragon kept,
Was by a bold Hand gather'd while he slept.
The more your Beauty shines, it but gives light
To the sharp Darts of prejudice and spite,
To take their fatal aim, and hit the white.
Beside, alas! though every Woman's frail,
The fairest are most liable to fail:
If fruit we chuse, we take the loveliest first,
The rest goes down, but not with such a gust:
Think of Lucretia, then of Tarquin's lust.
If Barefac't Violence does not prevail
To work your Ruin, Flatt'ry will not fail;
But O! beware the smooth enchanting Tale.
You know the Truth, the Snake's beneath the Flower,
Avoid his Tongue and you avoid his Power.
Let ev'n the good with Caution be believ'd,
For not to trust is not to be deceiv'd.
But who, alas! can scape sharp Envy's sting,
That wounds up from the Beggar to the King;
Nothing is free from it's unlicens'd rage,
Nor Innocence of Youth, nor Reverence of Age.
Shou'd Angels, as of old, from Heav'n come down
T' instruct, as then to scourge a Lustful Town,
They'd find ill Tongues wou'd slander spreadabout,
And bring their Heav'n-born Purity in doubt:
If this be so (as Truth 'tis to our shame)
You can't with too much niceness guard your Fame;
That to secure shou'd all your thoughts employ;
Hard to preserve and easy to destroy.
Vertue, though ne're so pure, may sully'd be,
She's made, or marr'd by Credibility;
Toss'd like a Ship, Opinion fills her Sails,
And they all slacken as Opinion fails:
That is the Sterling Stamp that makes her go,
For you are Vertuous if we think you so:
Strive then (nor is your labour spent for nought)
When we think well of you, we may improve the thought.
'Tis true, you'l say when Clouds as thick as night
Obscure the Sun, yet in himself he's bright,
Breaks through at last, and does exert his light;
And Vertue, though opprest, at last may rise,
And with it's cheerful Glories gild the Skies:
But do not let this Answer be forgot,
This may arrive, but much more likely, not.
If we a Voyage take (and let Life's Scene
Be that avoidless Voyage that I mean)
Is it not better far still to be free
From Reckless Storms, and Heav'ns Inclemency,
That no rough Waves shou'd rowl, no Winds shou'd blow,
But all be still above, and smooth below,
Till we have gain'd the Port, in Harbour ly,
And there, secure, their baffled rage defy?
To be more plain; had we not better live,
And take what Praise a grudging World will give,
Let life glide gently on, an even stream,
Free from ill Tongues and every wild extream,
Till to the Grave we go, and there enjoy
That long repose which Envy can't destroy?
Were it not wiser thus, than, by fond ways,
Proud of our worth, pull down what we wou'd raise?
For vertuous we may be, but when respect
We wou'd assume for being so, it dwindles to neglect.
Let it then be your study and delight
Never to give the least pretence to spite;
A Mad Dog, if not hooted, may not bite.
But above all, Religion be your Care;
Your Thoughts and Actions must be centr'd there:
It must not be with a light Air receiv'd,
For then as lightly it will be believ'd;
The great Deceit is when w'are by our selves deceiv'd.
What Arguments so e'r some men may bring
To make it seem a sowre unlovely thing,
When once embrac't, you'l find it has more charms
Than Love, or Wealth, or Power can usher to your Arms.
Yet, have a care, for, to our lasting shame,
All's not Religion that does bear the Name.
'Tis not a hot dispute, or Zeal that's cold,
Or Legends very false and very old,
Dull, superstitions, such as sense destroys,
And only fit for Chimney talk for Boys.
Nor is it whining, when, with Maudlin Eyes
W'are told the grunting Spirit's just about to rise.
That's true Religion that does make you strive
To love your Neighbour, and the Poor relieve,
To do no wrong, nor at no wrong connive,
And all the wrong that's done you to forgive.
Now Fair One let me this request obtain,
That these Instructions you would not disdain,
Because they're told you in a homely strain;
Not but I know your Conduct has been try'd,
And that you'l find out Fame without a Guide.