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Amelia Opie - The Moon and the Comet
Work rating: Low

This fact is clear….Both man and woman
Prize not what`s good, but what`s uncommon ;
And most delighted still they are,
Not with the excellent, but rare,….
I could of this give proofs most stable,
But, par exemple , take a fable.

`T was night….but still a mimic day
Shone softly forth from milky way;
For now the bright unclouded moon
`Was riding in her highest noon….`
Who, as she slowly sailed along,
Beheld a most unusual throng
With eyes upraised devoutly gazing,
And heard, "Behold! see there! amazing!"
"What can this mean?" dame Cynthia said,
"Perhaps," and high she drew her head,
"Perhaps that I to earth tonight
Shine with unwonted beauty bright;
And therefore mortals in amaze
Come crowding forth on me to gaze;"
And then,….for heavenly beauties love,
Like earthly ones, applause to move,….
She stooped, within a lake below
To see how looked her sparkling brow:
And as her crescent she adjusted,
She thought, if mirrors might be trusted,
That night, so wondrous was her beauty,
To gaze on her was mortals` duty.
But O! sad fall to female pride!
She soon with wondering looks descried
`Twas not on her that eyes were turned;
For her no curious ardour burned;
At her no telescopes were aimed,
Nor wonder at her charms proclaimed;….
Some other idol now, she found,
Had fickle man in fetters bound;
And Cynthia was compelled to own,
Unseen her matchless beauty shone.
"But what," she cried, "thus rivals me?
I all the stars and planets see….
Orion has his belt in order;
Of Saturn`s ring bright shines the border;
Mars sports his coat of reddest hue;
The Bear has put his horses to;….
But still, these sights so oft are seen,
There`s nothing new in them I ween:
And after all I know the cry
Is, `they are nought when I am by….`
`Tis strange; and I shall surely pout
Until I`ve found my rival out."

This said, she looked on every side
With eager looks of wounded pride,
And round with all the spite inspected
Of conscious beauty quite neglected;
When, lo! she saw with wondring breast,
Just twinkling in the northern west, 
And dimly seen, since seen from far,
A rayless, misty, long-tailed star;
While homage from her charms was ravished,
To be on this poor Comet lavished!

W—k—e, beware! Though amateurs,
And nobles, artists, connoisseurs,
Thy works admire, thy skill commend,
And smiling o`er thy canvass bend,
Thy powers will be no more respected,
Thy crowded easel soon neglected,
If ever artist should appear
(The comet of dame fashion`s sphere,)
Who works to wondering London shows
Not done with fingers, but with….toes.
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