SOURCE: Mandell, Laura. “Demystifying (with) the Repugnant Female Body: Mary Leapor and Feminist Literary History.” Criticism 38, no. 4 (fall 1996): 551-82.

In the following essay, Mandell examines Leapor's poem “Mira's Picture.”

CORYDON:

'Tis true, her Linen may be something soil'd. 

PHILLARIO:

Her Linen, Corydon!—Herself, you mean. 

Are such the Dryads of thy smiling Plain? 

Why, I could swear it, if it were no Sin, 

That yon lean Rook can shew a fairer Skin. 

CORYDON:

What tho' some Freckles in her Face appear? 

Come, come; you view her with malicious Eyes: 

.....

Her Shape— 

PHILLARIO:

—Where Mountains upon Mountains rise! 

And, as [if] they fear'd some Treachery at hand, 

Behind her Ears her list'ning Shoulders stand. 

CORYDON:

But she has Teeth— 

PHILLARIO:

—Considering how they grow, 

'Tis no great matter if she has or no: 

They look decay'd with Posset, and with Plumbs, 

And seem prepar'd to quit her swelling Gums...