I. <br />In beauty, or wit, <br />No mortal as yet <br />To question your empire has dared: <br />But men of discerning <br />Have thought that in learning <br />To yield to a lady was hard. <br /> <br />II. <br />Impertinent schools, <br />With musty dull rules, <br />Have reading to females denied; <br />So Papists refuse <br />The Bible to use, <br />Lest flocks should be wise as their guide. <br /> <br />III. <br />'Twas a woman at first <br />(Indeed she was curst) <br />In knowledge that tasted delight, <br />And sages agree <br />The laws should decree <br />To the first possessor the right. <br /> <br />IV. <br />Then bravely, fair dame, <br />Resume the old claim, <br />Which to your whole sex does belong; <br />And let men receive, <br />From a second bright Eve, <br />The knowledge of right and of wrong. <br /> <br />V. <br />But if the first Eve <br />Hard doom did receive, <br />When only one apple had she, <br />What a punishment new <br />Shall be found out for you, <br />Who tasting, have robb'd the whole tree?<br /><br />Alexander Pope<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/to-lady-mary-wortley-montagu/
