William Congreve

A Hue and Cry after Fair Amoret

FAIR Amoret is gone astray—
    Pursue and seek her, ev’ry lover;
I’ll tell the signs by which you may
    The wand’ring Shepherdess discover.

Coquette and coy at once her air,
    Both studied, tho’ both seem neglected;
Careless she is, with artful care,
    Affecting to seem unaffected.

With skill her eyes dart ev’ry glance,
    Yet change so soon you’d ne’er suspect them,
For she’d persuade they wound by chance,
    Tho’ certain aim and art direct them.

She likes herself, yet others hates
    For that which in herself she prizes;
And, while she laughs at them, forgets
    She is the thing that she despises.