CORINNA; OR, Humane FRAILTY.  
A POEM. With an Answer to the E. of R—'s satire against Man.  

Virtus est, vitium fugere, et Sapientia prima,  
Stultitia caruisse.  Hor. ep. lib. 1.  

At bona pars Hominum, decepta cupidine falso  Hor. ser. lib. 1.  

Qui color albus erat, nunc est contrarius albo.  Ovid.  
LONDON, Printed by I. W. and Sold by I. Nutt, 1699.   
CORINNA; OR, Humane Frailty, etc.  


NOT all the Precepts of Philosophy,  
The Sages Rules, or sad Catastrophe  
Of perverse Men, who like Monuments are set,  
To warn the erring World, t'avoid their Fate,  
Can keep in Reason's Bounds th' ungoverned Will,  
Of heedless Youth, inquisitive of ill.  
The middle Road of Safety they despise,  
And only by Experience will be wise.  
This juv'nile Age, with soareing Fancies blest,  
In all their Limbs, Beauty and Strength's expressed.  
An elate Pride in what they say or do,  
Disdain of all but of themselves does show.  
Not a young pampered Steeds unbridled Rage,  
More Mischief or Destruction does presage.  
But sooner much their Feirceness may be reined,  
Then stubborn Youth from follies be reclaimed.  
There's no example no advice can win,  
Them from experimenting untryd Sin.  
A secret pleasure's thought in what's unknown,  
Which they'll attempt, tho' sure to be undone.  
Nor only Youth, but all Mankind is led,  
By this fond itch which in our Natures bred.  
Not all the Shipwrecks on the treacherous Seas,  
Can hinder Man from venturing of his ease,  
And happy quiet in a safe retreat,  
To purchase Wealth, to make his heirs live great.  
Th' ambitious Man, on the last Statesman's fall,  
Raises himself the Favourite of all.  
Where for a while he like a meator Shines,  
Forgetting there must be a change of times.  
Until another envious Fool does come,  
And plot his ruin to supply his room.  
The Tradesman with his callings not content,  
But to the War his rigid purpose bend.  
Leaving his Wife and Family behind,  
Honour and Riches in big hopes to sinned.  
At last returns with loss of Limbs and Blood,  
The wretched pity of his Neighbourhood,  
But if successful in some things Men prove,  
How restless and uneasy 'tis they move.  
Until some other project they've begun,  
Some new Invention to lose what they'v won.  
The chastest Wife that never could be brought,  
In deed to wrong her Husband, will in thought.  
And many Cuckolds made with an intent.  
Only to try a new experiment.  
Whether a Lover can more pleasure give,  
Than what from Spouse they lawfully receive.  
Tho' no temptation in the Man there be,  
There is enough in the variety.  
Venture for change, divorce and civil broil,  
As Men for Honour sweat, aspire and toil.  
So longing Virgins yield to Men they hate,  
Only to be informed o'th' Marriage State:  
But why should I all others faults cry down,  
Who have as great a Number of my own?  
Of't I've by Friends, by Books been told in vain,  
Loves pleasures were not equal to its pain.  
The many ills which by the Fair were wrought,  
And what destructions, they on Men have brought,  
Of Cittys sacked, Countries made desolate,  
By plighted Vows, which they did violate.  
Of Jealous pangs, of Murders, and the train  
Of all their mischiefs, but 'twas all in vain.  
For bright Corinna drove my fears away,  
Like frighted Spirits at approach of Day.  
A thousand Beauties charmed my willing Sight,  
Her every touch gave fancy, new delight,  
Nor could a wish raise joy to greater height.  
What sudden raptures filled my swelling breast,  
When in my longing Arms she Love confessed.  
Convulsive tremble sei'sd my Limbs all ore,  
And vital Spirits flew from every poor.  
Such modest Coyness she at first did use,  
As ripened Maids unwilling to refuse,  
And begged, I'd not her easiness abuse.  
Such faint resistance, made my fierce Desire,  
But rage the more, like Winds opposed to Fire.  
She cried to see if any help was nigh,  
No I replied, nor any wittness by.  
Secure within this shady lonely Grove,  
We may enjoy the blessings of our Love,  
She sighed, and blushed, and yielded as she Srove.  
Wrapped in each others Arms entranced we lay,  
As if our hover Souls were fled away.  
A pointed pleasure through our Bodies run,  
And Life with joy was almost overcome.  
Ah Heaven! as I recovered breath, I cried,  
How has the World, and Friends this Sex belied.  
Can there in Nature be a higher Bliss,  
Or Heaven afford a greater happiness.  
Speechless She lay, with languid Eyes half closed,  
Her naked Beauties to my view exsposed.  
Nothing was ever formed so wondrous Fair,  
As her white Thighs, and bright disheveled hair.  
Such glories did my dazzled Senses charm,  
As would the blood of an old Hermit warm,  
And Priests decayed, with new desires alarm.  
I took her to my trembling Arms again,  
More willing now to ease my amorous pain.  
In various Shapes her Beauteous Limbs did twine,  
She clasped me with a rage as great as mine.  
Millions of mutual kisses gave, till we,  
Breathless and fainting lay with ecstasy.  
As two fierce warriors who with equal bent,  
Had fought till all their mighty Strength was spent.  
Rest by consent their Spirits to refresh,  
Panting and gasping on the bloody Grass.  
So we our softer combat did renew,  
And did the genial work of Fate pursue.  
Often we met and solemn Vows would take,  
That no strange Love or interest should break,  
The dear Engagements, which we then did make.  
Often we walked into that silent Grove,  
Where first we made a Sacrifice to Love.  
Where of't she'd call to mind the happy Hour,  
In which she yielded first to Love's soft power.  
Point to the mossy place where first we laid,  
More blest than Kings on beds of Purple made.  
Nor was her Wit less charming than her Face,  
In all she said or did there was a Grace.  
An air such as in Shining Courts is seen,  
And Innocent as Nymphs upon the Green.  
How would she chide me if I chanced to stay,  
Tho' 'gainst my will, beyond the promised Day.  
Go cruel Man, some other shares your Heart,  
Whom you'll betray no doubt to equal smart.  
If that her passion can compare with mine,  
Such will her torture be, for your base crime.  
Good God that I should think you could be true,  
Whose charming Tongue the whole Sex can subdue.  
Whom every Woman must dote on like me,  
And all be ruined by your perjury.  
While I the most transported Man alive,  
For false evasions do not meanly strive.  
But flying to her Arms by vigour prove,  
And manly strength, my constancy in Love.  
With strict embrace, melting in rapt'rous Joys,  
The extreme bliss, her causeless fears destroys.  
Confesses my wronged Faith she had abused,  
And that it was a Jealous trick she used.  
In this blessed State, I thought to live and die,  
Nor would have changed to gain a Monarchy.  
But lasting happiness to Man's denied,  
Lest pleasure flowing with a constant tide,  
Should make him forget Heaven, by too much pride.  
So my Fierce Joys a period quickly found,  
When I least thought received ' its mortal wound,  
Like blasted Fruit, upon the fertile Ground.  
And for the mighty bliss Heaven did ordain,  
That I as many Sorrow's should sustain.  
One Night as I without appointment came,  
Prompted by Fate and an impatient flame.  
I saw a Man, whom she, I thought carest,  
With all the Love and passion could b'exprest.  
Saying and doing those things o'er and o'er,  
Which she so oft, had done with me before.  
So Lais entertained the Grecian Youth,  
And gave to every wise Man bliss enough.  
Fruition was the only joy they sought,  
Not those vain pleasures in the Fancy wrought.  
For when Enjoyment's past, all other Bliss,  
Is but jmaginary Happiness.  
Not the intelligence of Lovers Eyes,  
Nor the shot lightning from the blazing Skies,  
Is half so quick, as was the jealous Fire,  
A sight so unexpected did inspire.  
Reason by Rage and Madness overcome,  
With my drawn Sword I flew into the Room,  
And this unhappy Rival gave his doom.  
But Gods! the astonishment which seized my Brain,  
When I perceived 'twas Drusus I had slain.  
Drusus my Friend, whom I had early Loved,  
And in a thousand Trials honest proved.  
Drusus tho' rough, yet generous brave and wise,  
Bred up together from our infancies.  
The constant Partner of my tender care,  
And in all Fortunes had an equal share,  
Our sports when Young and studies were the same,  
Together in the War, we fought for equal fame.  
From whom I ne'er would any secret hide,  
But in his Breast did all my thoughts confi'de.  
To him the Stories of my Love would tell,  
What my Corinna, and myself befell.  
Describe the Beauties of her Face and Mind,  
How innocent she was, how just and kind.  
Which he reproving me would never hear,  
But his aversenss to the Sex declare.  
'Twas his belief no Woman could be true,  
Or if they were, less passion was their due.  
That her fair Face my Senses did beguile,  
False was her Love, and treacherous her Smile.  
Besides it did emasculate my mind,  
And take my thoughts from things of higher kind.  
Which friendly libercy I near took ill,  
But with a Smile, would contradict him still,  
Love one, and seem complying to his will.  
Thinking no greater blessing Heaven could send,  
Then such a constant Mistress such a Friend:  
But soon the Scene was shifted, and I found,  
Horror and dismal ruin all around.  
With what relenting pity was I struck,  
How with amazement filled when thus he spoke.  
Forgive me, Friend, that I this Trial made,  
Which has my life and your content betrayed  
When I successless found all means did prove,  
To wean you from the dotage of your Love.  
Thinking no Woman without magic Art,  
So wholly could possess a Wiseman's Heart.  
I did resolve to see this tempting Fair,  
And break, those spells, which did your Soul ensnare.  
But ah! how frail are the resolves of Man,  
How little able Love's power to withstand.  
By my own policy I was undone,  
And taken by those charms I should have shun.  
Her crafty Maid, that cursed Implement,  
Subtle as the first Serpent to invent.  
By such as whom, all Virgin's are seduced,  
Matrons debauched, all Innocence abused.  
And without such no Woman can be won,  
Tho' e'er so lewd, or in her Nature prone.  
Gained by my Man, and Bribed with powerful Gold,  
Th' entrusted Secrets of her Mistress told.  
Brought me acquainted with the charming Fair,  
At certain times she knew you'd not be there.  
Where under a false Name I did pursue,  
The mad design to prove if she was true.  
Declared I Loved her better than bright Arms,  
Then Victory or Fame which Soldiers warms.  
That to win her, would much more pleasure yield,  
Then all the Trophies of the conquered Field  
Kingdoms and Empire would despise for her,  
And thought her Slave a happier Man by far,  
Something in my rough way, there was did Please,  
'Twas new, and so succeeded with more Ease.  
Cunning Letitia too did never Fail,  
To use such Eulogies as would Prevail.  
My shape and unaffected Sense to Praise,  
And every Virtue might her Passion raise.  
Moved by the feirceness of my Warm Address,  
The Merits of my Person did Confess.  
And had she no Engagement, she did own.  
I'd been Preferred to all she ere had known,  
With such a Grace, and Charming Modesty,  
To every thing I said, she did Reply.  
A tender Pity in my Breast did Rise,  
And Love began to Kindle at her Eyes.  
I did Repent. that I so far had gone,  
Before saw the Dangers I was Running on,  
Endeavoured to Retreat, but all in Vain,  
With too much force she did my Heart Detain,  
And thought to Die was a much lesser Pain.  
Her Friendship, or at most Platonic Love,  
Was all that I Durst Hope or she Approve.  
And more I Feared than you would think was Just,  
To be Enjoyed without a Breach of Trust.  
But my Desire was grown too Violent,  
Only with her Esteem to be Content.  
My Fierce Tempestuous Flame began to Rage;  
With that Fury no Reason could Assuage,  
In all she did such Melting Charms appeared,  
That my own Faith was Justly to be Feared,  
At last with many Struggle in my Breast,  
With Agonies of Love and Conscience Prest.  
To Fly this Fair Enchanter did intend,  
This Wretched Life in Painful Travel end,  
Rather than Wrong so Generous a Friend.  
I just was Taking of my last Adieu,  
Concealing still myself, and Love from you.  
Her Eyes all Bathed in Tears, and I half Dead,  
More of her Yielding, than my Death Afraid.  
The Moment we were Tenderly Embraced,  
Sighing as tho' that Moment was our Last.  
Then you Rushed in and Freed me from my Pain,  
And by my Death that quiet I Attain,  
Which in my Life I should have Sought in Vain.  
Forgive Corinna Since it was my Crime,  
Let her not Suffer for the Fault of Mine,  
My Friend— Forgive me too. Was all he Said,  
A Ghastly Paleness o'er his Face was Spread,  
And his Life Issued with the Crimsoned Flood.  
Unhappy Youth I with Loud Sorrow Cried,  
I wish to Heaven that I for the had Died.  
Ah! Why Corinna, new Friends did you make,  
When I Forsook the whole Sex for your sake?  
Thou thinkst, because thou never didst Consent,  
In deed to Wrong my Love, thou'rt Innocent.  
But thy Minds Adulterate, and no more,  
Shall I Enjoy such Pleasures as before.  
Now do I prove the Ills I was forewarned,  
Whom no Example or advice alarmed.  
Far from thy Sight, I will myself Convey,  
Lest to more Ruin thou shouldst me betray.  
False as Bewitching Sirens are thy Smiles,  
The Men more Cursed are taken by thy Wiles.  
Amazing as a Bright Consuming Fire,  
Safe only at a Distance to Admire,  
For all you Touch with Anguish do Expire,  
Beauteous as the Destroying Angels are,  
Noxious your power as a Malignant Star.  
To some Lone Village I will Far Remove,  
Far from the Fatal Sor'cry of your Love,  
For ever Mourn, my Friend Untimely Slain,  
And never Venture in the World again.   

Let my unhappy Fate, an instance be,  
Of this World's change and Mutability.  
That no Man on his Fortune may rely,  
Be Proud and Vain, or things forbidden Try.  
Nor led away by th' Aereal Phantom Love,  
More Bliss imagine, than he e'er can Prove.  
Place too much joy in any thing on Earth  
Pleasures he must resign too with his Breath.  
And are the Torment and the Sting of Death.    

An ANSWER TO THE satire, Against MAN.  
Propria Vineta Caedit. Hor. Ep.  
WERE I a Spirit free (which Thought's as Vain,  
As 'tis to alter what the heavens ordain)  
To choose what form of Flesh and Blood I'd please  
To Live in, both for happiness and ease?  
I would not wish to change from what I am,  
And be unthinking Brute rather then Man.  
I grant indeed that Man degenerate,  
By far is in a more deplored State,  
Then original Beast, which by instinct lead,  
Acts to the Principles, in's Nature, Bred.  
And wilful Men, I own, very of't do,  
Things against Reason and their Nature too.  
Self preservation's Nature's chiefest Law.  
And yet how many do themselves destroy?  
Reason obliges likewise, all Mankind,  
To use that justice which themselves would find.  
Yet what Oppression what Deceit is used,  
And how are honest Men by Knaves abused.  
These are not Actions proper to our kind,  
But the Effects of a corrupted Mind.  
And when by Lawless Passions we're subdued,  
Not acting by the Reason we're endued.  
We only do retain the forms of Men,  
And are no longer what we outward seem.  
Nabuchadnezzar from his Throne was driven,  
For's Blasphemy, 'til he acknowledged Heaven.  
Seven Years among the Savage Kind he ran,  
Fed on the Grass, and was no longer Man.  
Restored to reason, and his former State,  
Blessed his Creator, and his change of Fate.  
You will object perhaps, to be a King,  
" And a poor wretched Man's another thing,  
" A Dog is a more happy Animal,  
" And void of Pain, than he that's rational,  
" Cursed with a brawling Wife, both Sick and Poor,  
" Forced for Relief to Beg from Door to Door,  
" For succour to his reason flies in Vain,  
" The more he thinks the more ' Taugments his Pain.  
Deplorable indeed would be our Fate,  
If after this Life were no other State.  
Yet to alleviate his mighty Grief,  
Reason alone can give him most Relief.  
Let him with Patience his Misfortunes Bear.  
The Times will change or Death will end his Care,  
And a new Life reward his Sufferings here.  
But Brutus' insensible of future Bliss,  
No other Life has to Enjoy but this.  
In Vain the almighty's Image do we bear,  
If any Beast we to ourselves prefer.  
In Vain on thankless Men did Heaven bestow,  
Reason and Knowledge and his Likeness too,  
If other Creatures had more Excellence,  
Than what Resembles his Omnipotence.  
And how, I Swore, I can't conceive i'th' least,  
● Man of Sense could wish Himself a Beast.  
●esides the Impiety of such a Thought,  
●s would deface the Image Heaven had wrought,  
No advantage can by the change be got.  
For Beasts by Nature on each other Prey,  
Excited by no Hunger yet they slay.  
And were it not for the Industrious Swain,  
That Folds his Kids and Lambs upon the Plain,  
Thereed few but of the Rav'nnous Kind remain.  
So fell Actaeon when he was transformed,  
Mangled by the devouring Dogs and torn.  
The Gods did punish Inhumanities',  
Frequently by a Metamorphosis,  
As impious Lycaon for his Sacrifice.  
Much better had the Poet wished that all,  
Mankind would live like Creatures rational,  
Rather than Brutes, and monstrous Animals.  
In all our Actions we might Reason show,  
And do to all as we'd be done unto.  
Prince's Despotic power would not claim,  
Subjects more True and Loyal would become.  
Priests would throw off their damned Hypocrisy,  
And Lords no more their Words would Falsify,  
Nor any live by thriving Villainy.  
Laws would not be broke, nor Judges bribed,  
Nor Honest Men by a packed Jury tried.  
None would make use of power to oppress,  
Great ones, like Beasts, would not devour the less.  
None would his Mistress or his Friend betray,  
Or Bridegroom Cuckold on his Wedding Day.  
Physicians, Bawds, all in their Trade be True,  
And the Old World would be reformed a new.  
Then Men according to themselves would Live,  
And be the happiest Creatures which do Breath.  
FINIS.