Margaretta V. Faugeres (1771–1801)

WHEN Laura appear’d, poor Apelles complain’d,

That his sight was bedimm’d, and his optics much pain’d;

So his pallet and pencil the artist resign’d,

Lest the blaze of her beauty should make him quite blind.

But when fair Anne enter’d the prospect was changed,

The paints and the brushes in order were ranged;

The artist resumed his employment again,

Forgetful of labor, and blindness, and pain;

And the strokes were so lively that all were assured

What the brunette had injured the fair one had cured.

Let the candid decide which the chaplet should wear,

The charms which destroy, or the charms which repair.