Progress of Vice

       &nbsp       &nbsp       &nbsp       &nbsp       &nbsp       &nbsp[Nemo repente turpissimus]







       &nbsp       &nbspDeep in the gulph of Vice and Woe

       &nbsp       &nbspLeaps Man at once with headlong throw?

       &nbsp       &nbspHim inborn Truth and Virtue guide,

       &nbsp       &nbspWhose guards are Shame and conscious Pride.

       &nbspIn some gay hour Vice steals into the breast;

       &nbspPerchance she wears some softer Virtue's vest.

       &nbspBy unperceiv'd degrees she tempts to stray,

Till far from Virtue's path she leads the feet away.





       &nbsp       &nbspThen swift the soul to disenthrall

       &nbsp       &nbspWill Memory the past recall,

       &nbsp       &nbspAnd Fear before the Victim's eyes

       &nbsp       &nbspBid future ills and dangers rise.

       &nbspBut hark! the Voice, the Lyre, their charms combine—

       &nbspGay sparkles in the cup the generous Wine—

       &nbspTh' inebriate dance, the fair frail Nymph inspires,

And Virtue vanquish'd—scorn'd—with hasty flight retires.





       &nbsp       &nbspBut soon to tempt the Pleasures cease;

       &nbsp       &nbspYet Shame forbids return to peace,

       &nbsp       &nbspAnd stern Necessity will force

       &nbsp       &nbspStill to urge on the desperate course.

       &nbspThe drear black paths of Vice the wretch must try,

       &nbspWhere Conscience flashes horror on each eye,

       &nbspWhere Hate—where Murder scowl—where starts Affright!

Ah! close the scene—ah! close—for dreadful is the sight.