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"If you miscarry, you are lost so far, "(For there's no erring twice in love and war) "You'll ne'er recover, but must always wear "Those chains you'll find it difficult to bear. "Delia has charms, Iown; such charms would move "Old Age and frozen Impotence to love: "But do not venture where such danger lies "Avoid the sight of those victorious eyes, "Whose pois'nous rays do to the soul impart 95 "Delicious ruin and a pleasing smart. "You draw, insensibly, destruction near, "And love the danger which you ought to fear. "If the light pains you labour under now "Destroy your ease, and make your spirits bow, "You'll find 'em much more grievous to be borne, "When heavier made by an imperious scorn; "Nor can you hope she will your passion hear "With softer notions, or a kinder ear, 104 "Than those of other swains, who always found. "She rather widen'd than clos'd up the wound. "But grant she should indulge your flame, and give "Whate'er you'd ask, nay, all you can receive ; "The short-liv'd pleasure would so quickly cloy, "Bring such a weak and such a feeble joy, "You'd have but small encouragement to boast "The tinsel rapture worth the pains it cost. "Consider, Strephon! soberly of things, "What strange inquietudes love always brings ; "The foolish fears, vain hopes, and jealousies, 115 "Which still attend upon this fond disease

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"How you must cringe and bow, submit and whine, "Call ev'ry feature, ev'ry look, divine;

"Commend each sentence with an humble smile ; "Tho' nonsense, swear it is a heav'nly style; 120 "Servilely rail at all she disapproves, "And as ignobly flatter all she loves; "Renounce your very sense, and silent sit "While she puts off impertinence for wit: "Like setting-dog,new whipp'd for springing game, “You must be made, by due correction, tame. 126 "But if you can endure the nauseous rule "Of women, do; love on, and be a fool. "You know the danger, your own methods use, "The good or evil's in your pow'r to choose: 130 "But who'd expect a short and dubious bliss "On the declining of a precipice,

"Where, if he slips, not Fate itself can save "The falling wretch from an untimely grave?" "Thou great Directress of our minds,” said I, 135 "We safely on your dictates may rely, "And that which you have now so kindly prest "Is true, and, without contradiction, best; "But with a steady sentence to control "The heat and vigour of a youthful soul, "While gay temptations hover in our sight, "And daily bring new objects of delight, "Which on us with surprising beauty smile, "Is difficult, but is a noble toil.

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"The best may slip, and the most cautious fall; 145 "He's more than mortal that ne'er err`d at all:

"And tho' fair Delia has my soul possest, "I'll chase her bright idea from my breast; "At least I'll make one essay: if I fail, "And Delia's charms o'er Reason do prevail, 150 "I may be, sure, from rigid censures free; "Love was my foe, and Love's a deity.”

Then she rejoin'd; "May you succesful prove "In your attempt to curb imperious Love; "Then will proud passion own her rightful lord; 155 "You to yourself, I to my throne, restor❜d:"But to confirm your courage, and inspire "Your resolution with a bolder fire,

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"Follow me, Youth! I'll shew you that shall move
"Your soul to curse the tyranny of Love."
Then she convey'd me to a dismal shade
Which melancholy yew and cypress made,
Where I beheld an antiquated pile
Of rugged building in a narrow aisle;
The water round it gave a nauseous smell,
Like vapours steeming from a sulph'rous cell;
The ruin'd wall, compos'd of stinking mud,
O'ergrown with hemlock, on supporters stood,
As did the roof, ungrateful to the view;
'Twas both an hospital and bedlam too :
Before the entrance mould'ring bones were spread,
Some skeletons entire, some lately dead;
A little rubbish loosely scatter'd o'er
Their bodies uninterr'd, lay round the door :
No fun'ral rites to any here were paid,

But dead, like dogs, into the dust convey'd.

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From hence, by Reason's conduct I was brought,
Thro' various turnings to a spacious vault,
Where I beheld, and 'twas a mournful sight,
Vast crowds of wretches all debarr'd from light, 180
But what a few dim lamps, expiring, had
Which made the prospect more amazing sad;
Some wept, some rav'd, some musically mad ;
Some swearing loud, and others laughing; some
Were always talking, others always dumb:
Here one a dagger in his breast expires,
And quenches with his blood his am'rous fires :
There hangs a second; and, not far remov'd,
A third lies poison'd, who false Celia lov'd.
All sorts of madness, ev'ry kind of death,
By which unhappy mortals lose their breath,
Were here expos'd before my wond'ring eyes,
The sad effects of female treacheries.
Others I saw, who were not quite bereft
Of sense, tho' very small remains were left,
Cursing the fatal folly of their youth,
For trusting to perjurious woman's truth.
These on the left-upon the right a view
Of equal horror, equal mis'ry, too;

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Amazing, all employ'd my troubled thought, 200
And with new wonder new aversion brought.
There I beheld a wretched num'rous throng
Of pale lean mortals: some lay stretch'd along
On beds of straw, disconsolate and poor;
Others extended naked on the floor:

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Exil'd from human pity here they lie,

And know no end of mis'ry till they die:

But'death, which comes in gay and prosp'rous days, Too soon in time of misery delays.

These dreadful spectacles had so much pow'r, 210 I vow'd, and solemnly, to love no more;

For sure that flame is kindled from below
Which breeds such sad variety of woe.

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Then we descending, by some few degrees, From this stupendous scene of miseries, Bold Reason brought me to another cave, Dark as the inmost chambers of the grave: "Here, Youth!" she cry'd, " in the acutest pain "Those villains lie who have their fathers slain, 219 "Stabb'd their own brothers, nay, their friends, to Ambitious, proud, revengeful, mistresses,[please "Who, after all their services, preferr'd "Some rugged fellow of the brawny herd' Before those wretches, who despairing, dwell "In agonies no human tongue can tell. "Darkness prevents the too amazing sight, "And you may bless the happy want of light." But my tormented ears were fill'd with sighs, Expiring groans, and lamentable cries, So very sad, I could endure no more; Methought I felt the miseries they bore.

Then to my guide said I, "For pity, now "Conduct me back; here I confirm my vow, “ Which if I dare infringe, be this my fate, "To die thus wretched, and repent too late.

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