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. |
Canto III.
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| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
 | The Lure of Venus |  |
23
Canto III.
In Drury's Haunts our late elated Dame,
Exposes both her Poverty, and Shame.
Exposes both her Poverty, and Shame.
Discarded thus, our Heroine chanc'd to meet
Her gay Gallant, and Betty, in the Street,
Whence hastning to a Tavern, they prepare
New Stratagems, and form a future War.
The Fair one vows Revenge against the Race,
Both Jew and Gentile, for her late Disgrace,
And swears that Peers, and Porters, high, and low,
Shall own her Charms, and at her Altar bow.
To compass this, like Cuma's frantick Maid,
She summons all the Furies to her Aid,
The Gods of Earth, and Hell, of Seas, and Skies,
So high, at once, her restless Passions rise;
And when, some Time, she'd saunter'd up and down,
In a convenient Quarter of the Town,
At length she fixes, and impatient grows,
To fleece the Fops, and gull the brainless Beaux,
To make her Name throughout the Place renown'd,
And raise large Contributions all around.
Her gay Gallant, and Betty, in the Street,
Whence hastning to a Tavern, they prepare
New Stratagems, and form a future War.
24
Both Jew and Gentile, for her late Disgrace,
And swears that Peers, and Porters, high, and low,
Shall own her Charms, and at her Altar bow.
To compass this, like Cuma's frantick Maid,
She summons all the Furies to her Aid,
The Gods of Earth, and Hell, of Seas, and Skies,
So high, at once, her restless Passions rise;
And when, some Time, she'd saunter'd up and down,
In a convenient Quarter of the Town,
At length she fixes, and impatient grows,
To fleece the Fops, and gull the brainless Beaux,
To make her Name throughout the Place renown'd,
And raise large Contributions all around.
Then with choice Silks, and Mechlin Laces dress'd,
Of Jew, and Christian Spoils at once possess'd,
A while she flaunted, and each fleeting Day,
In joyous Scenes, pass'd pleasantly away;
Courtiers and Cits her easy Dupes were made,
And Lords, and Lawyers, join'd to raise her Trade.
The Church, the Ball, the Playhouse, and the Park,
By Turns she view'd, where many an am'rous Spark
Gaz'd on her Face, and sought the Prize to gain,
And few who manag'd right, e'er sought in vain.
But still her Substance to some Fav'rite went,
For what she lightly earn'd, she loosely spent;
E'en Dalton , Wretch, of infamous Renown,
Hugg'd her a while, and held her as his own,
Told her of Honour's Ties, and Love sincere,
Till Laws relentless robb'd her of her Dear;
Whose Wig-Box still she keeps to look upon,
In pious Mem'ry of the Man that's gone.
Of Jew, and Christian Spoils at once possess'd,
25
In joyous Scenes, pass'd pleasantly away;
Courtiers and Cits her easy Dupes were made,
And Lords, and Lawyers, join'd to raise her Trade.
The Church, the Ball, the Playhouse, and the Park,
By Turns she view'd, where many an am'rous Spark
Gaz'd on her Face, and sought the Prize to gain,
And few who manag'd right, e'er sought in vain.
But still her Substance to some Fav'rite went,
For what she lightly earn'd, she loosely spent;
E'en Dalton , Wretch, of infamous Renown,
Hugg'd her a while, and held her as his own,
Told her of Honour's Ties, and Love sincere,
Till Laws relentless robb'd her of her Dear;
Whose Wig-Box still she keeps to look upon,
In pious Mem'ry of the Man that's gone.
26
Muse, cease a while thy Progress to persue,
And deign her Chamber Furniture to view:
But ah! her Fates are crost, the Times accurst,
Her Second Lodgings are not like the First:
A Bed there was indeed, but such a one,
As she before had never lain upon,
A broken Punch-Bowl on a Table stood,
With sundry Implements of Tin and Wood,
Pots, Pints, and Pipes, lay scatter'd round the Room,
Some from the Ale-house, from the Gin-shop some,
At her Bed's Head a matted Chair was plac'd,
With a large Bason, and a Bottle grac'd;
The first for Water us'd, for Light the last,
For thro' its Neck, full many a Candle pass'd;
Strange Signs of Poverty, but Sages say,
That Wealth has Wings, and swiftly flies away.
And deign her Chamber Furniture to view:
But ah! her Fates are crost, the Times accurst,
Her Second Lodgings are not like the First:
A Bed there was indeed, but such a one,
As she before had never lain upon,
A broken Punch-Bowl on a Table stood,
With sundry Implements of Tin and Wood,
Pots, Pints, and Pipes, lay scatter'd round the Room,
Some from the Ale-house, from the Gin-shop some,
At her Bed's Head a matted Chair was plac'd,
With a large Bason, and a Bottle grac'd;
The first for Water us'd, for Light the last,
For thro' its Neck, full many a Candle pass'd;
Strange Signs of Poverty, but Sages say,
That Wealth has Wings, and swiftly flies away.
27
Her modish Hat aloft, and Cloak below,
Hung on the Chair, no mighty Moral Show.
That Birch was useful, ancient Fathers held,
To lay the head-strong Member which rebell'd;
But now for diff'rent Ends our Females praise it,
And swear, sound Flogging is the Way to raise it.
Hung on the Chair, no mighty Moral Show.
That Birch was useful, ancient Fathers held,
To lay the head-strong Member which rebell'd;
But now for diff'rent Ends our Females praise it,
And swear, sound Flogging is the Way to raise it.
Two Heads beneath the shatter'd Windows hung,
Sacheverel's, and Mackheath's, remain unsung,
Both Doctors in their Way, both high renown'd,
Their Merits like, and with like Honours crown'd;
Vast Plund'rers both, and excellently pair'd,
Who nor for Country, nor for Conscience car'd.
This, a Lay-Brother, fam'd for Whores and Wine,
And that, a Robber of the Race divine;
This, for our Coin, set up a bold Pretence,
That, for our Laws, and Liberties, and Sense.
Sacheverel's, and Mackheath's, remain unsung,
Both Doctors in their Way, both high renown'd,
Their Merits like, and with like Honours crown'd;
Vast Plund'rers both, and excellently pair'd,
Who nor for Country, nor for Conscience car'd.
This, a Lay-Brother, fam'd for Whores and Wine,
And that, a Robber of the Race divine;
This, for our Coin, set up a bold Pretence,
That, for our Laws, and Liberties, and Sense.
28
But, stay, my Muse, nor farther push the Joke,
Lest you the Church's sacred Wrath provoke;
The Sequel tell; for while fat Grace, and she,
Were full engag'd one Morning at their Tea,
Where their Tea-Table was a plain Joint-Stool,
A Pat of Butter, and Half-Penny-Roll,
Their humble Fair, the Butter thither sent
On Title-Page from Past'ral Letter rent.
As Madam, in her Dishabille survey'd
A Watch, her mighty Industry had made;
And squabby Grace, abridg'd of half her Nose,
Slow, from her Seat, to fill the Tea-Pot rose
Sir John , and all his Myrmidons appear'd,
With Clubs, and Staves equipt, a num'rous Herd.
The surly Knight, intrepid, led the Van,
But stopping short, her curious Form to scan,
The Beauties of her Air, her Face, and Shape,
Did on his Zeal well nigh commit a Rape;
Soften'd his Rage, and almost drew him in,
To fall a Victim to the pleasing Sin;
Till re-assembling all his scatter'd Powers,
“Courage, my Boys! he cry'd, the Fort is ours,
“Ne'er fear to make your regular Approach,
“See here the Signs of Yester-night's Debauch.
Lest you the Church's sacred Wrath provoke;
The Sequel tell; for while fat Grace, and she,
Were full engag'd one Morning at their Tea,
Where their Tea-Table was a plain Joint-Stool,
A Pat of Butter, and Half-Penny-Roll,
Their humble Fair, the Butter thither sent
On Title-Page from Past'ral Letter rent.
As Madam, in her Dishabille survey'd
A Watch, her mighty Industry had made;
And squabby Grace, abridg'd of half her Nose,
Slow, from her Seat, to fill the Tea-Pot rose
Sir John , and all his Myrmidons appear'd,
With Clubs, and Staves equipt, a num'rous Herd.
The surly Knight, intrepid, led the Van,
But stopping short, her curious Form to scan,
29
Did on his Zeal well nigh commit a Rape;
Soften'd his Rage, and almost drew him in,
To fall a Victim to the pleasing Sin;
Till re-assembling all his scatter'd Powers,
“Courage, my Boys! he cry'd, the Fort is ours,
“Ne'er fear to make your regular Approach,
“See here the Signs of Yester-night's Debauch.
“And thou, vile Syren, these delusive Charms,
“No more shall tempt fresh Lovers to thy Arms;
“No more in Vice shalt thou triumphant reign,
“Nor make the publick Loss thy private Gain;
“The due Rewards of Wantonness receive,
“And for thy former Follies, learn to grieve.
“No more shall tempt fresh Lovers to thy Arms;
“No more in Vice shalt thou triumphant reign,
“Nor make the publick Loss thy private Gain;
“The due Rewards of Wantonness receive,
“And for thy former Follies, learn to grieve.
This said, his stern Attendants seiz'd the Pair,
Deaf to their Cries, relentless to their Pray'r,
And speedily to Bridewell, both convey'd,
To teach their tender Hands a rougher Trade.
Deaf to their Cries, relentless to their Pray'r,
And speedily to Bridewell, both convey'd,
To teach their tender Hands a rougher Trade.
| The Lure of Venus | |