Female Fashions for 1799

A FORM, as any taper, fine ;

A head like half-pint bason ;

Where golden cords, and bands entwine,

As rich as fleece of JASON.

A pair of shoulders strong and wide,

Like country clown enlisting ;

Bare arms long dangling by the side,

And shoes of ragged listing !

Cravats like towels, thick and broad,

Long tippets made of bear-skin,

Muffs that a RUSSIAN might applaud,

And rouge to spoil a fair skin.

Long petticoats to hide the feet,

Silk hose with clocks of scarlet ;

A load of perfume, sick'ning sweet,

Bought of PARISIAN VARLET.

A bush of hair, the brow to shade,

Sometimes the eyes to cover ;

A necklace that might be display'd

By OTAHEITEAN lover !

A bowl of straw to deck the head,

Like porringer unmeaning ;

A bunch of POPPIES flaming red,

With motly ribands streaming.

Bare ears on either side the head,

Like wood-wild savage SATYR ;

Tinted with deep vermilion red,

To shame the blush of nature.

Red elbows, gauzy gloves, that add

An icy cov'ring merely ;

A wadded coat, the shape to pad,

Like Dutch-women — or nearly.

Such is CAPRICE ! but, lovely kind !

Oh ! let each mental feature

Proclaim the labour of the mind,

And leave your charms to NATURE.