The Lure of Venus or, A Harlot's Progress. An Heroi-Comical Poem. In Six Cantos. By Mr. Joseph Gay.[i.e. J. D. Breval] Founded Upon Mr. Hogarth's Six Paintings; and illustrated with Prints of them |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
Canto IV.
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| V. |
| VI. |
 | The Lure of Venus |  |
30
Canto IV.
------ Unsanctify'd by Priests,
Behold the Punishment of Lawless Love.
Behold the Punishment of Lawless Love.
Maria
(for that Name the last she chose)
Ere a base Crew disturb'd her calm repose,
Who could but now, in peaceful Progress stray
From Place to Place, and this, or that survey,
Her Ease enjoy, and lye in Bed till Noon,
And what she pleas'd to do, or leave undone,
Doom'd to Confinement now, and Labour hard,
From all the pleasing Sweets of Life debarr'd,
In Bridewell, at the monstrous Hemp-block stands,
And weilds a pond'rous Mallet in her Hands.
The Keeper, Tyrant of tremendous Force,
Stranger to Pity, and to soft Remorse,
Still exercises his despotic Sway,
On young and old, who tread that hapless Way.
Thrice wretched Mortals, whom disastrous Fate,
Has e'er inclos'd within that massy Gate.
Stern are his Looks, and boundless is his Rage,
And no Respect he bears to Sex nor Age,
But all who loiter, certainly receive,
The smartest Discipline his Lash can give
Across their Shoulders. His ill-boding Eyes
He throws around, and soon the Stranger spies,
And thus accosts her. “These brocaded Cloaths,
(“Sure Baits for empty Fops, and powder'd Beaus,)
“Ill suit your State—Madam, don't think to waste
“Your present Time, as you have done the past,
“When you, in Lewdness took your first Career,
“For Idleness finds no Indulgence here;
“Exert your Strength, and all your Muscles strain,
“Bridewell's a diff'rent Place from Drury-lane;
“But if hard Work, and homely Fare, displease
“One long inur'd to Luxury, and Ease,
“View well this Weapon, its just Weight discern,
“And soon from thence your future Conduct learn.
“If Flogging fails, these awful Stocks survey
“Behind your Back, and dare to disobey.
“That lazy Rascal Mark, whose rebel Hands
“Are there fast fix'd, and dread my just Commands.
“Howe'er, if these should insufficient prove,
“To warn or fright you from a Life you love,
“The Whipping-Post's more prevalent than both,
“To cure a Wretch of Indolence and Sloth.
Ere a base Crew disturb'd her calm repose,
Who could but now, in peaceful Progress stray
From Place to Place, and this, or that survey,
31
And what she pleas'd to do, or leave undone,
Doom'd to Confinement now, and Labour hard,
From all the pleasing Sweets of Life debarr'd,
In Bridewell, at the monstrous Hemp-block stands,
And weilds a pond'rous Mallet in her Hands.
The Keeper, Tyrant of tremendous Force,
Stranger to Pity, and to soft Remorse,
Still exercises his despotic Sway,
On young and old, who tread that hapless Way.
Thrice wretched Mortals, whom disastrous Fate,
Has e'er inclos'd within that massy Gate.
Stern are his Looks, and boundless is his Rage,
And no Respect he bears to Sex nor Age,
But all who loiter, certainly receive,
The smartest Discipline his Lash can give
Across their Shoulders. His ill-boding Eyes
He throws around, and soon the Stranger spies,
32
(“Sure Baits for empty Fops, and powder'd Beaus,)
“Ill suit your State—Madam, don't think to waste
“Your present Time, as you have done the past,
“When you, in Lewdness took your first Career,
“For Idleness finds no Indulgence here;
“Exert your Strength, and all your Muscles strain,
“Bridewell's a diff'rent Place from Drury-lane;
“But if hard Work, and homely Fare, displease
“One long inur'd to Luxury, and Ease,
“View well this Weapon, its just Weight discern,
“And soon from thence your future Conduct learn.
“If Flogging fails, these awful Stocks survey
“Behind your Back, and dare to disobey.
33
“Are there fast fix'd, and dread my just Commands.
“Howe'er, if these should insufficient prove,
“To warn or fright you from a Life you love,
“The Whipping-Post's more prevalent than both,
“To cure a Wretch of Indolence and Sloth.
| The Lure of Venus | |