Classic Poem

Pity the wretched daughter of despair,
Nor slight her sorrow, tho' you shun her snare;
She once in beauteous innocence was blest,
Pure was her pleasure, tranquil was her rest,
And at the song obscene, the lawless flame,
And broken vow, she blush'd unconscious shame,
Once fenced with honour as the thorny rose,
Now bare she lies to every wind that blows,
Like some vile weed, impregnate with decay,
Which rots, yet stings athwart the public way.
Art thou not shock'd that dulcet voice to hear
Tun'd to the felon-oath, and scoff severe,
And art thou not still doubly shock'd to find
That voice's eccho in th' abandon'd mind?
Ev'n in the loose delight no bliss she feels,
The purse she pilfers, the rich toy conceals,
Acts with feign'd passion the incentive part,
Her features less disguis'd than in her heart.
Hence doubt, and ev'n in the delicious fold
The muscles slacken, and the pulse is cold,
The lillies blacken on the harlot's face,
Hence lusty Health is chill'd in the embrace;
Oh! from that hollow cheek, and beamless eye,
Precipitate as from a fury fly,
Tho' silently it's painted beauties seize,
There lurk the siends, distraction and disease,
Scowl in the dimple, taint the fragrant breath,
And in the yellow clasp present you death.

How, lovely woman, how can you depart
From all those graceful sires that warm the heart,
How, witching prodigal, can you bestow
Your brightest gem for infamy and woe,
Roseless the cheek, extinguish'd is the eye,
And even your darling vanity must die;
Ask yon pale prey, deserted and decay'd,
Whose easy trust some villain has betray'd
If all her vital senses are not cold,
Cold as some statue in the venal fold,
When gay deceit, (heart-sick, yet gay,) must move
The sleeping embers of unhallow'd love?
Oh! she will tell you and she tells you true,
That she the seraph transport never knew,
That from the dragon-grasp, the baneful breath
Of each wild suitor came disgust and death,
Since first within that glowing breast she iay
From whence she fled:—ah! lost, lamented day,
Then turtle P EACE that unbought odours shed,
T RUTH , F EELING , F AITH , and maiden C ANDOUR fled,
Then thou poor female, from thy hopeless view,
Clad in thick clouds ev'n H EAV'N itself withdrew!