TRUTH and FALSHOOD: A TALE.
[]IT chanc'd, one crouded levee day,
That TRUTH, who ſeldom loves to ſtray,
Wander'd, ſo authors grave report,
Along the park, and ſtrol'd to court.
That very day mal a propos,
But things ſometimes will happen ſo,
Her rival FALSHOOD thither came,
Who little thought to meet the dame;
Together there they preſs'd along,
And mingled in the motley throng,
There, as they never cou'd agree,
They joſtled for precedency;
Quarrel'd like other female foes,
While bitt'reſt taunts alternate roſe.
"Madam, quoth FALSHOOD, why ſo rude▪
"I wonder you will here intrude;
"It wou'd be look'd on full as well,
"If you wou'd keep within your cell;
[2] For ſurely a more aukward mien
"Or ſimpler look was never ſeen;
"Henceforth retire, unhappy maid,
"Thy influence loſt, thy pow'r decay'd,
"Thy triumphs o'er, thy pride ſuppreſs'd,
"Ev'n thy religion grown a jeſt;
"Diſpute not for precedency,
"But yield to faſhion and to me.
THUS as ſhe ſpoke they chanc'd to ſpy
The graceful B—D paſſing by:
TRUTH view'd her fav'rite with delight;
She ſaw and kindled at the ſight:
"Now ſlave (ſhe cry'd) thy taunts forbear
"Behold my pow'r, my influence there;
"Hear ev'ry tongue in her commend
"The ſiſter, daughter, miſtreſs, friend,
"The mother kind, the tender wife,
"All that can ſoften human life;
"Above thy poor deluſive wiles,
"She ſcorns thy arts, and hates thy ſmiles.
"Prepare to conquer or to yield;
"For now I dare thee to the field.
"Try all thy ſhifts, thy ſubtle lies,
"All that thy malice can deviſe;
"If thou canſt taint her ſpotleſs fame,
"Or caſt a ſhade o'er B—D's name;
"Henceforth remember I agree
"To be thy ſlave and follow thee.
[3]
THUS ſpake fair TRUTH, with conſcious pride;
Indignant FALSHOOD thus reply'd;
"THE danger's great, the taſk is hard,
"But conqueſt is my ſure reward.
"If I can get my tale believ'd,
"And thou confeſs the world deceiv'd,
"Henceforth, remember, thou agree
"To be my ſlave and follow me.
THIS ſaid, away the goddeſs flew,
And ſummon'd all th' infernal crew;
ENVY, with looks of deadlieſt hate,
And RANCOUR eager for debate,
ILL-NATURE curſt, SUSPICION ſly,
And gaping fond CREDULITY,
And CALUMNY with iron lungs,
And SLANDER with a thouſand tongues.
"Now, my illuſtrious friends, (ſhe cry'd,)
"Your zeal and loyalty be try'd;
"Now let your ardent love be ſeen,
"To ſerve your miſtreſs and your queen;
"Forge me a bold and impious tale,
"O'er truth and virtue to prevail;
"To pleaſe the miſchief-loving mind,
"And ſooth the malice of mankind;
"To ſhew your all-ſubduing art,
"And leave a ſting in B—D's heart.
[4]
SHE ſpake; and lo! at her command
The VICES all, a faithful band;
Each to his impious taſk aſſign'd,
In dreadful amity combin'd.
B—D is falſe, SUSPICION cry'd;
B—D is falſe, the crowd reply'd;
Quick ran the tale in whiſpers round,
And babbling eccho caught the ſound;
The world was glad to be deceived,
And many doubted, more believ'd;
Pronounc'd the crime already known,
In hopes 'twou'd mitigate their own.
The ſage PRUDERIA ſhook her head;
"'Twas ſtrange! 'twas paſſing ſtrange indeed!
"But we are women, women all,
"And like our grandam EVE muſt fall.
FLIRTILLA vow'd "'twas ſomething odd
"A truth ſo bold ſhould ſteal abroad;
"She never lov'd thoſe virtuous wives,
"Who lead ſuch tame domeſtic lives;
"And always fear'd ſome darling ſin,
"Some guilty paſſion lurk'd within.
Thus CALUMNY each tongue inſpir'd;
THUS SLANDER ev'ry boſom fir'd;
Ingenious MALICE play'd her part,
The poiſon ran through ev'ry heart,
[5] And ſold to infamy and ſhame
The nobleſt and the faireſt name.
FALSHOOD triumphant left the town,
And pleaſed to W—b—n haſted down.
She met the vanquiſh'd goddeſs there
Retir'd to ſooth the injur [...]d fair,
And with a ſmile inſulting ſaid;
"Now wilt thou yield, preſumptuous maid?
"Thy conq'ror now, thy miſtreſs ſee,
"Ariſe, my ſlave, and follow me.
"I come, (fair TRUTH with ſcorn reply'd)
"To damp thy hopes, and check thy pride,
"Go to that vile deteſted ſeat,
"Where malice, pride, and folly meet;
"But let no more thy raſhneſs dare
"To blaſt the good, or wound the fair;
"For know, I mean to meet thee there.
"What will thy little arts avail,
"When TRUTH ſhall come to thwart thy tale?
"Soon will thy triumphs then be o'er,
"Thy vain deluſions pleaſe no more;
"Brighten'd by thee her ſpotleſs mind,
"As the pure gold by fire refin'd,
"Shall with ſuperior luſtre ſhine,
"And all her virtues more divine;
[6] "B—D ſhall preſs her to his arms,
"And ſmile at her exalted charms;
"Thy pious purpoſe ſhall commend,
"And thank thee as his warmeſt friend.
"BUT to be juſt, I own thy pow'r,
"And from this great important hour
"My duty I ſhall better know,
"And learn inſtruction from a foe.
"Henceforth I'll borrow arms of thee,
"Thy zeal and active induſtry;
"Cautious thy ſteps I will attend,
"My injur'd vot'ries to defend;
"To bring a balm for virtue's aid,
"And heal the wounds which thou haſt made;
"To bruſh thy cobweb arts away,
"Diſpel the cloud, and gild the day;
"I'll ſerve, to ſet my fav'rites free,
"And follow but to conquer thee.
FINIS.