Virtue, Dear Friend, needs no Defence,
The surest Guard is Innocence:
None knew, till Guilt created Fear,
What Darts or poyson'd Arrows were.

Integrity undaunted goes
Through Lybian Sands or Scythian Snows,
Or where Hydaspes wealthy side
Pays Tribute to the Persian Pride.

For as (by amorous Thoughts betray'd)
Careless in Sabine Woods I stray'd,
A grisly foaming Wolf, unfed,
Met me unarm'd, yet trembling fled.

No Beast of more portentous Size,
In the Hercinian Forest lies;
None fiercer, in Numidia bred,
With Carthage were in Triumph led.

Set me in the Remotest Place,
That Neptune's frozen Arms embrace,
Where angry Jove did never spare
One Breath of kind and temp'rate Air:

Set me, where on some pathless Plain
The swarthy Africans complain,
To see the Char'ot of the Sun
So near the scorching Country run:

The burning Zone, the Frozen Isles,
Shall hear me sing of Caelia's Smiles,
All Cold but in her Breast I will despise,
And dare all Heat but that of Caelia's Eyes.