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.