The Bas Bleu (1786) [ People / Practices ]
… mean to ope my slender piece; The rare Symposium to proclaim Which crown'd th' Athenians' social name; Or how Aspasia's parties shone, The first Bas-bleu at Athens known; Where SOCRATES unbending sat, With ALCIBIADES in chat; And PERICLES … rules Nor Ladies Precieuses ridicules;* For polish'd WALPOLE show'd the way, How wits may be both learn'd and gay; And CARTER taught the female train, The deeply wise are never vain; And she who SHAKSPEARE's wrongs redrest, Prov'd that the … night lab'rer's keener care; And, pleas'd, to gentler scenes retreat, Where Conversation holds her seat. Small were that art which would ensure The Circle's boasted quadrature! See VESEY's plastic genius make A Circle every figure take; Nay, …
Bluestockings | Women | Greece
Anthology