The works of Mr. Thomas Brown Serious and Comical, In Prose and Verse; In four volumes. The Fourth Edition, Corrected, and much Enlarged from his Originals never before publish'd. With a key to all his Writings |
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 | The works of Mr. Thomas Brown |  |
To a Lady, whom he refus'd to Marry, because he lov'd her.
Marriage! the greatest Cheat that Priesthood e'er contriv'd,The sanctify'd Intriegue, by which poor Man's decoy'd,
That damn'd Restraint to Pleasure and Delight,
Th'unlawful Curber of the Appetite.
Curst be the Sot that first the Chains put on,
That added to the Fall, and made us twice undone.
The Sex that liv'd before in a free common State,
Or Golden Age, ne'er knew this Pious Cheat;
Then Love was unadulterate and true,
Then we did unconfin'd Amours pursue,
If by his Flame the Shepherd was inspir'd,
On no coy Trifles, the kind Nymph retir'd;
The officious Trees pimp'd for the honest Trade,
And form'd a very kind and welcome Shade.
Then like the bord'ring Fields, was Womankind,
By no Land-marks, or unjust Bounds confin'd.
'Tis true, if that, by my ill Stars inclin'd,
So great a Trespass I shou'd e'er commit,
Your Charms alone would change my Mind,
And tempt me to the Sin, tho' mighty 'tis and great;
For you'd with vigorous Beauty still incite
The pall'd and wearied Appetite.
And what's a mortal Sin with any other she,
To do with you, a Venial Fault wou'd be.
| The works of Mr. Thomas Brown | |