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THE Metamorphos'd Beau, &c.
THE Royal Britannia, who after many brave and glorious Exploits, perform'd in Service of its Country, at length came to an Anchor in Fleet-street, a Harbour both Safe and Secure, notwithstanding those dangerous Rocks and quick Sands, that border about it, Threatning Ruine and Destruction to any bold Adventurer that should dare to Attempt, or Expect Shelter in its Liberty, which several by fatal Experience can Testifie; but now, thanks to our Senate, is made Navigable.
Upon the Arrival of which, I went Aboard, in pursuit of a Friend, who had the Honour of a considerable Post of Command, and accor∣ding to my Desires I found him; but so Transmogrify'd, that, I protest, I could hardly give Credit to my own Eyes; Ye Gods! Cry'd I, What do I behold? Or are my Opticks deceiv'd? This is certainly some Illusion, and not my Friend; who when he first Imbark'd, made such a Noble Figure, That the Men o'er whom he was to Command, were fill'd with Admiration; the Fair Sex, in Murmuring Sighs, Condol'd his Loss; and by their Repeated Ori∣sons, invok'd Mars, Bellona, Neptune, and the Boistrous Aeolus, to protect him from all danger, and waft him safe ashore again.
The Gods were all Propitious to their last request; and return'd their mighty Charge back again with Life; but, alas, had Expos'd his Person to all the Casualties that attend such Desperate Performances; Mars and Bollona, notwithstanding they Honour'd him with Victory, and guarded his Life, gave him to understand, by those several Marks of Honour, which they so liberally bestow'd on him, that he was not Invulnerable; Phe∣bus, that Bright God, and Watry Neptune, with his briny Surface, by their Multiplicity of Embraces, so Tann'd his Hide, that he seems to be the Off-spring of an Ethiopian: Nay, surly Boreas, that was the chiefest In∣strument in his return, by his Rough Usage, had Exercis'd the part of a profest Enemy, on his Attire; for, Oh ye Powers! What a strange Metamorphose have ye Created, not to be parallell'd! those Locks, those Sacred Locks, that us'd to Adorn his Shoulders, and Modestly Harbour'd as much Powder as would stock a Suburbian Tonsor, are now become as Lank, as the Mane of an old Hackney. Thy Phiz, that Charming Phiz, so admir'd by the Ladies, and was impossible to behold without becoming its Captive, hath now lost its Charms, though beset with Rubies, and most fearful Scars, instead of Tempting Patches. Thy Eyes, those fatal Luminaries, that have darted so many Killing Glances, and learing Ogles, and prov'd as dangerous as Basilisks to the Female Sex,