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Answer to the Foregoing, Addressed to Miss----

Lord Byron·1788–1824
Lines:16Movement:Romanticism
Dear simple girl, those flattering arts,(From which thou'dst guard frail female hearts,Exist but in imagination,Mere phantoms of thine own creation;For he who views that witching grace,That perfect form, that lovely face,With eyes admiring, oh! believe me,He never wishes to deceive thee:Once in thy polish'd mirror glanceThou'lt there descry that eleganceWhich from our sex demands such praises,But envy in the other raises.--Then he who tells thee of thy beauty,Believe me, only does his duty:Ah! fly not from the candid youth;It is not flattery,--'tis truth.