| T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22. | | | | Phryne | | By Alexander Pope (1688–1744) |
| | | PHRYNE had talents for mankind; | |
| Open she was and unconfin’d, | |
| Like some free port of trade: | |
| Merchants unloaded here their freight, | |
| And agents from each foreign state | 5 |
| Here first their entry made. | |
| |
| Her learning and good breeding such, | |
| Whether th’ Italian or the Dutch; | |
| Spaniards or French, came to her, | |
| To all obliging she’d appear; | 10 |
| ’T was Si Signior, ’t was Yaw Mynheer, | |
| ’T was S’il vous plait, Monsieur. | |
| |
| Obscure by birth, renown’d by crimes, | |
| Still changing names, religions, climes, | |
| At length she turns a bride; | 15 |
| In diamonds, pearls, and rich brocades, | |
| She shines the first of batter’d jades, | |
| And flutters in her pride. | |
| |
| So have I known those insects fair | |
| (Which curious Germans hold so rare) | 20 |
| Still vary shapes and dyes; | |
| Still gain new titles with new forms; | |
| First grubs obscene, then wriggling worms, | |
| Then painted butterflies. | | | | |
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