TO LADY M. W. MONTAGUE

In beauty or wit,

No morlal as yet To question your empire has dar'd ;

But men ol discerning ,

Hâve llioughl thaï, in learning, To yield to a lady was hard.

'Twas a woman al firsl

(Indeed she was curst). In knowledge tlial tasled delight ;

And .sages agrée,

The law should decree To ihe first possessor the right.

Then bravely, fair dame ,

Renew the old claim, Which to your whole sex does beloag.

And let them receive

From a second bright Eve , The knowledge of right and of wrong.

But if the first Eve

Hard doom did receive , When only one apple had she ,

What a punishmcnt new

Shall be found out for you , Who tasting hâve robb'd the whole iree?

{Pope.)