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. |
Canto II.
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| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
 | The Lure of Venus |  |
11
Canto II.
The Insolence of Prostitutes in Keeping,
Exceeds the haughtiest Sultan of the East.
Exceeds the haughtiest Sultan of the East.
Now, was our Heroine from the Inn convey'd,
A harmless, innocent, unthinking Maid,
By that fly Pandress, to her known Abode,
Of Lewdness, and of Lust, the beaten Road.
Howe'er her Trade she still a Secret kept,
Till the fair Prize had thrice securely slept
Beneath her Roof; but when Aurora's Ray
Shot forth, and shew'd the fourth enliv'ning Day,
She thus her Guest bespoke, “Young Damsel, know,
“That to your native Modesty I owe
“My best Endeavours; Mine shall be the Care
“For You a proper Station to prepare,
“Freely to live in Pleasure, and at Ease,
“Unshock'd by Hazards, in the Arms of Peace.
“No more your Side, the Distaff shall disgrace,
“Nor the swift Wheel resume its wonted Place:
“No more these Hands their former Toils shall try;
“Nor cumb'rous Burthens on your Shoulders lye;
“Your Cares are past, your Slav'ry at an End,
“Mark but my Dictates, and my Steps attend.”
A harmless, innocent, unthinking Maid,
By that fly Pandress, to her known Abode,
Of Lewdness, and of Lust, the beaten Road.
12
Till the fair Prize had thrice securely slept
Beneath her Roof; but when Aurora's Ray
Shot forth, and shew'd the fourth enliv'ning Day,
She thus her Guest bespoke, “Young Damsel, know,
“That to your native Modesty I owe
“My best Endeavours; Mine shall be the Care
“For You a proper Station to prepare,
“Freely to live in Pleasure, and at Ease,
“Unshock'd by Hazards, in the Arms of Peace.
“No more your Side, the Distaff shall disgrace,
“Nor the swift Wheel resume its wonted Place:
“No more these Hands their former Toils shall try;
“Nor cumb'rous Burthens on your Shoulders lye;
“Your Cares are past, your Slav'ry at an End,
“Mark but my Dictates, and my Steps attend.”
13
Then to Francisco's House she led the Way,
Where the old Letcher close in Ambush lay
Impatient, fix'd the trembling Fair to seize,
Rank as a Goat, dissolv'd in Sloth and Ease;
Whose boundless Flame, nor Youth nor Age escapes,
Fam'd for gross Whoredoms, and renow'd for Rapes.
With wanton Leer, he ey'd the harmless Maid,
And to the Band, her stated Price convey'd;
Who knew full well that an unbridled Lust,
Like other lawless Games, admits no Trust.
Where the old Letcher close in Ambush lay
Impatient, fix'd the trembling Fair to seize,
Rank as a Goat, dissolv'd in Sloth and Ease;
Whose boundless Flame, nor Youth nor Age escapes,
Fam'd for gross Whoredoms, and renow'd for Rapes.
With wanton Leer, he ey'd the harmless Maid,
And to the Band, her stated Price convey'd;
Who knew full well that an unbridled Lust,
Like other lawless Games, admits no Trust.
No longer now our batter'd Beldam stands,
But leaves her Charge in Don Francisco's Hands,
And hastes away, some future Prize to find,
For Gold flow'd in, and she was always kind.
Mean while the C---l call'd his Females round,
And swore by Earth and Hell, whoe'er was found
That durst the Stranger's least Command dispute,
She dear should pay; his Will was absolute.
All promis'd this, and no Concern was seen,
For each She-Servant had a Sov'reign been,
Sway'd in her Turn, and easily could portend,
That e'er a Month was past, her Reign would end.
But leaves her Charge in Don Francisco's Hands,
And hastes away, some future Prize to find,
For Gold flow'd in, and she was always kind.
Mean while the C---l call'd his Females round,
And swore by Earth and Hell, whoe'er was found
That durst the Stranger's least Command dispute,
She dear should pay; his Will was absolute.
14
For each She-Servant had a Sov'reign been,
Sway'd in her Turn, and easily could portend,
That e'er a Month was past, her Reign would end.
Now did Francisco use his utmost Skill,
To bend the stubborn Fair one to his Will,
Fond Looks and Frowns alternately he try'd,
And Protestations, Vows, and Oaths apply'd
To gain his Ends, but she all Arts defy'd.
Gold then he proffer'd, and with Gold prevail'd,
For Gold has conquer'd, when a Godhead fail'd.
The Fort thus won, she triumph'd for a while,
And seem'd to sway her Sov'reign with a Smile,
Pleas'd, in her Arms he spent each am'rous Night,
Melted in Bliss, and revell'd in Delight;
But ah! such luscious Scenes the Lover cloy,
And slow Repentance follows short-liv'd Joy.
Her kind Caresses now no more can charm,
Nor all her Arts his Icy Bosom warm;
Sated at length he flies her fond Embrace,
With cold Indiff'rence views her beauteous Face;
Strips her of all his former Bounty gave,
And treats his late-lov'd Mistress as his Slave:
Yet this was no way strange, for Hundreds more
Had felt like Measure from his Hands before.
To bend the stubborn Fair one to his Will,
Fond Looks and Frowns alternately he try'd,
And Protestations, Vows, and Oaths apply'd
To gain his Ends, but she all Arts defy'd.
Gold then he proffer'd, and with Gold prevail'd,
For Gold has conquer'd, when a Godhead fail'd.
The Fort thus won, she triumph'd for a while,
And seem'd to sway her Sov'reign with a Smile,
Pleas'd, in her Arms he spent each am'rous Night,
Melted in Bliss, and revell'd in Delight;
But ah! such luscious Scenes the Lover cloy,
And slow Repentance follows short-liv'd Joy.
15
Nor all her Arts his Icy Bosom warm;
Sated at length he flies her fond Embrace,
With cold Indiff'rence views her beauteous Face;
Strips her of all his former Bounty gave,
And treats his late-lov'd Mistress as his Slave:
Yet this was no way strange, for Hundreds more
Had felt like Measure from his Hands before.
What she should do in this disast'rous Place,
She next resolves, and mourns her hapless Case,
Raves, frets, and weeps, and tears her lovely Hair,
And seems quite lost in Sorrow and Dispair.
A thousand Thoughts torment her anxious Breast,
Rack her poor Heart, and rob her of her Rest;
This Way and that she roves from Room to Room,
But finds no Refuge from impending Doom.
Mean time to Court her base Seducer goes,
And gives her some short Space for cool Repose;
She then a Sister in Affliction calls,
Who long had lain immur'd within these Walls:
In whom she plac'd a Confidence sincere,
“Betty, says she, since Fate has thrown us here,
“Let's lay some artful Scheme ourselves to free
“From this vile Sink of Lust and Infamy;
“This C---l, Wretch, detested, vile, and lewd,
“This matchless Monster of Ingratitude,
“Has stript and plunder'd me,—for which I swear
“Revenge e're long, or it shall cost me dear.
She next resolves, and mourns her hapless Case,
Raves, frets, and weeps, and tears her lovely Hair,
And seems quite lost in Sorrow and Dispair.
A thousand Thoughts torment her anxious Breast,
Rack her poor Heart, and rob her of her Rest;
This Way and that she roves from Room to Room,
But finds no Refuge from impending Doom.
16
And gives her some short Space for cool Repose;
She then a Sister in Affliction calls,
Who long had lain immur'd within these Walls:
In whom she plac'd a Confidence sincere,
“Betty, says she, since Fate has thrown us here,
“Let's lay some artful Scheme ourselves to free
“From this vile Sink of Lust and Infamy;
“This C---l, Wretch, detested, vile, and lewd,
“This matchless Monster of Ingratitude,
“Has stript and plunder'd me,—for which I swear
“Revenge e're long, or it shall cost me dear.
Betty reply'd, “Let all your Sorrows cease,
“Your Case and Mine's exactly of a Piece;
“The Villain promis'd, canted, swore and ly'd,
“And brib'd, and coax'd, and dress'd me like a Bride,
“Was fond a while, but soon his Flame expir'd,
“And now he loaths what he before admir'd:
“I too was robb'd, forsaken, and undone,
“And scarce durst call my very Soul my own;
“But since you've vow'd Revenge, let you and I
“Some strange, unprecedented Project try
“To gain our Freedom, and this Tyrant leave,
“(For Men are born to ruin and deceive.)
“Then lend an Ear—You're not, I hope, so nice,
“As tremble at the very Thoughts of Vice;
“Nor wou'd stick out, so You your Ends attain,
“To act the pleasing Transports o'er again.
“Your Case and Mine's exactly of a Piece;
“The Villain promis'd, canted, swore and ly'd,
“And brib'd, and coax'd, and dress'd me like a Bride,
“Was fond a while, but soon his Flame expir'd,
“And now he loaths what he before admir'd:
17
“And scarce durst call my very Soul my own;
“But since you've vow'd Revenge, let you and I
“Some strange, unprecedented Project try
“To gain our Freedom, and this Tyrant leave,
“(For Men are born to ruin and deceive.)
“Then lend an Ear—You're not, I hope, so nice,
“As tremble at the very Thoughts of Vice;
“Nor wou'd stick out, so You your Ends attain,
“To act the pleasing Transports o'er again.
“Revenge, the Stranger cry'd, is now my Aim,
“Which I'll attempt, tho' I pursue the Game
“Thro' all Degrees, and Orders, and bow down
“To e'ery Trade, and e'ry Sect in Town.
“Which I'll attempt, tho' I pursue the Game
“Thro' all Degrees, and Orders, and bow down
“To e'ery Trade, and e'ry Sect in Town.
18
“Bravely resolv'd, and like a Heroine spoke,
“Says Betty, to cast off this galling Yoke,
“A Thought has come this Minute in my Head,
“A Jew I know, that gen'rous and well-bred;
“Rich as a Lord, or Minister of State,
“Who soon will snap at such a tempting Bait:
“Your Shape, your Face, your Speech, your Air invite,
“Thither forthwith, I'll wing my hasty Flight,
“Tell him strange Stories of your Suff'ring past,
“And how to London, you escap'd at last,
“Dress'd like a Servant, from your Guardian's Care,
“Who thought to match you to a booby Heir,
“Tho' your Estate, in Yorkshire, might command
“A Spouse, the best, and richest in the Land:
“All this I'll swear, to perfect our Design,
“Let us but both in the same Story join.
“Says Betty, to cast off this galling Yoke,
“A Thought has come this Minute in my Head,
“A Jew I know, that gen'rous and well-bred;
“Rich as a Lord, or Minister of State,
“Who soon will snap at such a tempting Bait:
“Your Shape, your Face, your Speech, your Air invite,
“Thither forthwith, I'll wing my hasty Flight,
“Tell him strange Stories of your Suff'ring past,
“And how to London, you escap'd at last,
“Dress'd like a Servant, from your Guardian's Care,
“Who thought to match you to a booby Heir,
“Tho' your Estate, in Yorkshire, might command
“A Spouse, the best, and richest in the Land:
“All this I'll swear, to perfect our Design,
“Let us but both in the same Story join.
19
Betty run on apace, her nimble Tongue,
Like others of her Sex, was loosely hung;
Till Miss, impatient, made this short Reply,
“Prithee, make haste, be gone, hence, quickly fly;
“I long to see this Jew, nay, never start,
“Bring but good News, and I shall act my Part.
Like others of her Sex, was loosely hung;
Till Miss, impatient, made this short Reply,
“Prithee, make haste, be gone, hence, quickly fly;
“I long to see this Jew, nay, never start,
“Bring but good News, and I shall act my Part.
Away she flew, as swift as Eastern Wind,
This Son of Circumcision streight to find;
Nor miss'd her Aim, for just from Change return'd,
He with the Thoughts of a new Mistress burn'd,
And scarce took Time to hear her moving Tale,
(So much does artful Eloquence prevail)
When, some preliminary Terms agreed,
Back the Courier's dispatch'd, with utmost Speed;
To fetch her Lady,—Betty run amain,
And quickly reach'd Francisco's House again,
With the glad Tidings did her Mistress greet,
But urg'd a most precipitate Retreat,
Before the Don's Return.—Howe'er, She Thought
To rob the Robber, was no mighty Fault;
Thus, both resolv'd, they rifle and remove
With Bag and Baggage, to their new-found Love,
Who met them at the Door, with Court-like Airs,
And led his Nymph directly up the Stairs:
Flatter'd her Vanity, and sooth'd her Pride,
And us'd a thousand moving Arts beside
To win her to his Will; but all in vain,
A good round Sum must now the Favour gain,
And as her Lover's rich, he well may spare,
Or Gold, or Diamonds, to adorn the Fair.
This Son of Circumcision streight to find;
Nor miss'd her Aim, for just from Change return'd,
He with the Thoughts of a new Mistress burn'd,
And scarce took Time to hear her moving Tale,
(So much does artful Eloquence prevail)
When, some preliminary Terms agreed,
Back the Courier's dispatch'd, with utmost Speed;
To fetch her Lady,—Betty run amain,
And quickly reach'd Francisco's House again,
20
But urg'd a most precipitate Retreat,
Before the Don's Return.—Howe'er, She Thought
To rob the Robber, was no mighty Fault;
Thus, both resolv'd, they rifle and remove
With Bag and Baggage, to their new-found Love,
Who met them at the Door, with Court-like Airs,
And led his Nymph directly up the Stairs:
Flatter'd her Vanity, and sooth'd her Pride,
And us'd a thousand moving Arts beside
To win her to his Will; but all in vain,
A good round Sum must now the Favour gain,
And as her Lover's rich, he well may spare,
Or Gold, or Diamonds, to adorn the Fair.
Now, Muse, the costly Furniture survey,
Which grac'd his Chamber, modish, neat, and gay;
Which grac'd his Chamber, modish, neat, and gay;
21
Pourtray'd beneath a Gourd, here, Jonah sate,
Expecting Nineveh's approaching Fate:
King David, there, his antic Gambols play'd,
When back the Ark from Ashdod was convey'd:
Below, hung Woolston's Head, and Clark's above,
Here stood a Table, there, the Field of Love,
In beauteous Order every thing was seen,
And now his Charmer treated like a Queen,
A Month or two, in high Profuseness spent,
But ah! such Happiness was only lent;
She soon prov'd false, and, to her lasting Shame,
Hir'd a base Wretch to quench her wanton Flame.
Expecting Nineveh's approaching Fate:
King David, there, his antic Gambols play'd,
When back the Ark from Ashdod was convey'd:
Below, hung Woolston's Head, and Clark's above,
Here stood a Table, there, the Field of Love,
In beauteous Order every thing was seen,
And now his Charmer treated like a Queen,
A Month or two, in high Profuseness spent,
But ah! such Happiness was only lent;
She soon prov'd false, and, to her lasting Shame,
Hir'd a base Wretch to quench her wanton Flame.
Her Keeper, this, with Indignation see,
And tax'd her close one Morning at her Tea;
She scarce deny'd the Charge, but boldly swore,
That John, and Harry, Tom, and fifty more
Should share her Favours, and support her Pride,
E're she would be to such a Coxcomb ty'd.
And tax'd her close one Morning at her Tea;
She scarce deny'd the Charge, but boldly swore,
That John, and Harry, Tom, and fifty more
Should share her Favours, and support her Pride,
E're she would be to such a Coxcomb ty'd.
22
Insulted thus, He hardly could contain,—
When Madam snapt her Fingers in Disdain:
With one sly Kick the Tea-Table o'erthrows,
And the whole Floor with slaughter'd China strows,
When Madam snapt her Fingers in Disdain:
With one sly Kick the Tea-Table o'erthrows,
And the whole Floor with slaughter'd China strows,
So much this Scene her black Attendant scar'd,
That ev'n his woolly Locks with Horror star'd;
But Betty and her Spark the Sequel knew,
And wisely, with some Moveables withdrew;
For well she guess'd, what Ills soe'er attend,
A well-lin'd Purse is a substantial Friend.
That ev'n his woolly Locks with Horror star'd;
But Betty and her Spark the Sequel knew,
And wisely, with some Moveables withdrew;
For well she guess'd, what Ills soe'er attend,
A well-lin'd Purse is a substantial Friend.
Enrag'd at last, the sprightly Levite rav'd,
Her mean Gallant in roughest Terms beslav'd,
Call'd her the vilest Jilt, the worst of Whores,
Then, in a Moment, turn'd her out of Doors.
Her mean Gallant in roughest Terms beslav'd,
Call'd her the vilest Jilt, the worst of Whores,
Then, in a Moment, turn'd her out of Doors.
| The Lure of Venus | |