PR ' 
 
 De Courcy 
 Seduction
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 FREDERIC THOMAS BLANCHARD 
 ENDOWMENT FUND
 
 seduction: 
 
 OR, THE 
 
 Caufe of Injured Innocence pleaded. 
 
 A POEM, 
 
 AddrefTed to the Author of the Villainy, 
 
 WITH 
 
 A PREFACE, 
 
 Stating the melancholy, but authentic Facts, on which 
 the fubjetfl of the Poem is founded. 
 
 Search earth, fearch hell, the devil cannot find, 
 An agent like Lothario to his mind. 
 
 Churchill, 
 
 B-v rtiiJUv.J X:c....r<t itCouicv ^■lc« ci S: Alld'i'"'-; inrt^'iLiui-. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED, a:<d SOLD by the BOOKSELLERS ijj TOWN axd COUNTRY. 
 
 M,DCC,LXXXn.
 
 TO ALL ^^ 
 
 AFFECTIONATE PARENTS, 
 
 AND 
 
 VIRTUOUS GUARDIANS, 
 IN GENERAL; 
 
 AND TO ALL THE 
 
 SYMPATHIZING FRIENDS, 
 
 AND 
 
 PATRONS, 
 
 Of an amiable, but GREATLY-INJURED 
 
 YOUNG LADY, 
 
 IN PARTICULAR; 
 
 THE FOLLOWING 
 
 POEM, 
 
 I s 
 MOST RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED 
 
 B Y 
 
 The AUTHOR. 
 
 85S555
 
 
 /J y .. i I 
 
 *c< - 
 
 ^' "7 jT T r "^ p : 
 
 1 /T 
 
 .H O
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 READER,. 
 
 IF there be a fingle fpark of lienor, modefh', or compaffion in thy breaft, an out-line 
 of the fafts, on which the following poem is founded, will fhock thy feelings to the 
 uttermoft. A perfon in the town of S<«vwt^y, called a gentleman, becaufe he has ac- 
 quired a few hundreds a-year in the Eaft Indies, keeps a coach, and wears a cockade, 
 had committed to his care a young Lady, at a verj- tender age, the daughter of z 
 Major in the army, who wiflied her to have the benefit of an Englifll education. A 
 truft of this nature, transferred in all the confidence of friendihip, by parents deeply 
 folicitous about the education of a beloved child, was facred and important to the laft 
 degree. The young Lady was accordingly fent to fchool. But foon after her return from 
 it, he, who fliould have been the guardian of her virtue and her morals, became the 
 
 plunderer of both, and ruined her, when not fourteen years of age. 
 
 When it is confidered that the man who has been guilty of this cruel atfl, is above fifty 
 years of age, and that he does not poflefs a fingle accoraplifliment of body or mind, to 
 which any young perfon upon earth could be tempted to facrifice her virtue ; they rauft 
 be prodigies in credulity, who can fuppofe, that 'a young creature, amiable in her 
 perfon and manners, and, 'till her late misfomme, of unblemifh'd reputation, could 
 have fubmitted, without force, to the brutal inclinations of the wretch that ruined her ; 
 or that he mufl not have debauched her principles, as the fatal prelude to the accom- 
 plifliment of his villainous projeA. And indeed the foleran teftimony of the young 
 l^dy, as well as the fubtle manner in which the fcheme was laid for her ruin, are Itrong 
 prefumptive proofs, that he ufed thofe arts, that arm all feducers, and conftitute thera 
 the moil dangerous aod flagrant charadlers upon earth. 
 
 Imjiediatelt
 
 [ vl J 
 
 lMMEniATEr.7 Upon the commiffion of this aft of unparalleled cruelty, the pcrpi* 
 trator of it enjoined fcciccy to the injured party, by every argument, tliat confcious 
 "guilt and a dread of punifhment can be fuppafed to fuggcft. Various motives, arlfing 
 from inexperience, and the peculiar infelicity of her fituation under the feduccr's roof, 
 induced her to conceal the deed and the author of it. But in two years after, the very 
 pcrfon who at firft wiflied the matter to be buried in darknefs, with double treachery, 
 became himfclf the divulger of it ; and thaftoo, under fuch circumftances of bafencfs 
 and barbarity, as aggravate his guilt to the higheft degree. This at firft view may ap- 
 pear paradoxical ; but what follows will explain the whole. 
 
 The confequenccs of this unhappy affair having produced expences, for which the 
 feducer made himfelf indireiStly refponfible, confulting the interefts of his purfe more 
 than the dictates of pity, truth and honor, with the mean profpeft of fliifting thefc ex- 
 pences and the guilt that incurred them, from himfclf, he turned traitor and lyar ; di- 
 vulo-ed the faCt to a gentleman, who is now one of the young Lady's guardians ; and 
 charged the guilt of it upon his (the feducer's) late footman. Thus the dread of lofing 
 ■a few pounds, inclined him> after having ruined a tender virgin, to blaft her reputation, 
 to rifque his own, to violate truth and confciencc, to add cruelty to treacherj-, and fin 
 to fin. Was there ever fuch concatenated villainy ? — Some very vifible confufion having 
 been obferved in the manner in which the dreadful fecret was difclofed, when confi- 
 dered in connecTion with other concomitant and Ibiking circumftances *, excited 
 
 ftrong fufpicions in the brcaft of the young lady's guardian, that C W was 
 
 himfelf the guilty man ; and, a fliort inteiTal confirmed thefe fufpicions. A favour- 
 able opportunity having offered for communicating to her the affair, according to the 
 
 C 's rcprefentation of it, the young lady, fired with indignation, and (hocked uidl 
 
 horror, that he fhould have dared to charge that on any man living, of which he, 
 and he aione, had been the guilty author, then laid open a fcene, the difcovcry of 
 which, no antecedent hints, or gentle perfuafions whatever, could extort from her. The 
 declarations (he made in private, to her guardian, (lie again reiterated, with the mcft 
 folemn appeals to Almighty God tor the truth of them, in the prcfence of the fame 
 
 • Particularly lier unconquerable oppofition to the propofal of cliufiiig C 1 W- 
 
 one of her Guardians, 
 
 gentleman,
 
 [ vU ] 
 
 jgentleman, the feducer, and his wife, and a gentleman in the commiffion of the peace. 
 That a man could ftand this (hock, and hear, without finking to the earth, the folemn 
 declarations that his own confcience, at that inftant witnciTed to be true, can only be 
 accounted for, upon the fuppofition of a mind loft to every fenfe of confcience, truth, 
 and honor. To ftiew the falfity of the feducer's charge, in transferring to another 
 the guilt that folely belonged to hirafclf, it need only be mentioned, that, before the late 
 
 M — r of S y, and the principal phyfician of the town, with whom the C '• 
 
 late footman now lives, he (the footman) folemnly difavowed the fad injurioufly and 
 
 falfely imputed to him by C- — 1 W . 
 
 f 
 
 In order, if poffible, to invalidate the force of the preceding, and other circumftailces 
 
 that carried with them fuch a ftrong implication of guilt, C 1 W faid, be could 
 
 prove, from very refpeflable authority, that Mifs F — r, in the hour of her estremit)-, 
 declared the footman to be the father of the child. Could he have fucceeded in pro- 
 ducing this evidence, although it would not have been atfolutely decifire in his favor, 
 yet it would have empowered him at leaft to bear up againft the popular odium with 
 more confidence than he can at prefent: But the ground of this declaration has 
 been inveftigated, and, like other parts of his defence, has turned out an indircft evi- 
 dence of his guilt. For, Doftor O — n, a gentleman of confiderable profeffional abilities, 
 
 and great humanity, has, under his own hand, declared, in diretl confutation of C 1 
 
 W 's falfe and injurious aflcrtion, that he (Doctor O — o) never did, during any 
 
 part of his attendance on Mifs F— r, hear her fay, that the footman was the father of 
 
 the child ; confequently he never could communicate fuch intelligence toC 1 W , 
 
 as he hath thought proper to report. What now is to overturn the weight of this 
 
 refpeftable teftimony ? Why, nothing, but the groundlcfs afiinnation of C 1 W , 
 
 who appears to have laid it down as one invariable rule through the whole of this me- 
 lancholy affair, never to relinquifh an untruth that he has once fabricated, but to flick to 
 the original falfliood, notwiThftanding all the irrefragable proofs of its grofsncfs and iti 
 guilt — the diftinguif!iing mark of thojough-paced falfification. 
 
 One mod extraordinary plea, as a dernier resort, hath indeed been ur*cd in favov 
 
 of the C 1. But it is fo truly ridiculous, fo inaditiiirible in every point of \iew, fo di- 
 
 icift'y repugnant to nblblutc matter of fa£t, and fo void of credibiiitj-, thoi;jh comin"
 
 from one, who of all people upon earth mi^lii be fjpiwfcd to be tlic mod competent juJgc 
 
 in fuch A cai'e, th.it out of cii;lic;wy, aiiJ tcnvi.:!!!!.-.!;, (not to C 1 W , for he 
 
 dufcrvcs aonc, but) to the party from vvhcaee the apology originated, I dare not mention 
 
 it. Suffice it only t J obfcrve, that the proof offered for the C I's innocence is like 
 
 an attempt to prove, that a felon could not be guilry of a third larceny, though he 
 had been conviiftcd of two antecedent fuds ei^uaJly atrocious, and llill poflcflbd the fame 
 powers and inclinations ta lleal^ a> ever. 
 
 What is there now, that can, in t!ie opinion of any man of candor and penetration, 
 
 exculpate the C 1 ? If he himfclf, or any advocate in his caufe, thinks he is in 
 
 the poflelTion of one circumibnce that ean refcue bis blaftcd reputation from the infamj 
 that covers it, let them produce it. The author of this invites them to the debate. Will, 
 it be urged, that he makes the moft foltmn proteftatlons of his iiuiocence ? With thofc, 
 who know, what a (light evaiion men of an unprincipled charadlcr will fometimcs make 
 as a fubterfuge for guilt, and with what aftonifliing obduracy they will perfeverc in the 
 denial of a faft, when under no apprehenfion of pofitive dcteftion, or capital puniflimcnt, 
 
 fuch protefiations as the C 's, weigh nothing iii his favor, but are rather to be con- 
 
 fidercd as VC17 heavy aggravations of his guilt. Befides, when a man has been once con- 
 viifled of a grofs deviation from the rules of ftrid honor, and of a fingle departure from 
 the didates of truth, do not fuch fails afford ground for jull fufpicion, that he who has 
 falfified in one inftance, will, in another, and that he who has deceived a neighbvyjr, 
 by ungentcel and illiberal artifice, would, alfo, when he could do it with fecrccy and 
 impunity, ruin his child. Two fuch flagrant inftances as thofc juft referred to, I will 
 now lay before the public. 
 
 I. In the firft place, it is a well-attefled, and will be a long-remembered faft, that 
 
 C 1 W did, for a confiderablc time, discourage an intimacy bct^veen Mifs 
 
 p R, and a very amiable young gentleman of the town of S y, (for what rea- 
 
 fons are beft known to the C 1) and yet, that, after he (the C 1) had de- 
 clared to the young Lady's guardian, that the footman was her ruiner, he then pcr- 
 fonally recommended the union to the father of the young gentleman.— ^Could any 
 thing be more repugnant to the diftates of honor and the laws of good neighborhood, 
 than for a man to recommend to a gentleman of great rcfpedlability, as a proper wifje 
 
 for
 
 [ ix 1 
 
 fcr his foK, ayoi'.n^- lady, whain the recommending party fecretly held forth as ^iiiltv of 
 it intrigue witK a iootnua ? Was not this the verj- quintcflcnce of tlifhonor ? 
 
 2. His violation of truth, is in the following inliance. Under the firft impreffions 
 
 which the difcovery of this affair to the world, appeared to make upon C 1 W 
 
 he declared he would not defray the expences attending the maintenance of the child, 
 unlefs legi^lly obliged to do fo ; and that he (hould wait the ufual form. Yet, without 
 making a fingle ftruggle, or daring to fliew his face in a court, he has tamely acquielced 
 in the requif.tion, and has made h;mfelf refponfible for expences, paft and future. Only 
 take this fa£l in recapitulation with fonner ones, and then judge whether he be guilty 
 or not ; or rather, whether the two laft, fo unworthy a man of honor and veracity, do 
 not evince what little credit is due to the evafive proteltations of his innocence. Sum up 
 the evidence, and you will find that it rerts upon the following inconteftable fads, viz. 
 
 The folemn declarations of Mifs F r, — the folemn difavowal made by the foot^ 
 
 man — the total want of one plaufible circumftance to bear the C out, in chargino- 
 
 the guilt on the footman — the pofitive teftimony of Dr. O k, contradifting 
 
 the falfe afTertion of the C 1, and acquitting the young Lady of havino" ever 
 
 faid, what he would make her fay — and his fubmltting to the maintenance of the child.^ 
 Do thefe facts convift him or not ? 
 
 It has been often juftly obferved, that a peculiar fatality attends the commiflion of 
 fecret villainy ; and that the difpenfations of Providence, feeia peculiarly exerted in 
 proportion to the fubtle contrivances of men to conceal their guilt from the public eye. 
 This obfervation, is remarkably verified in the prefent cafe. Had not our Eafi: India 
 ihips, particularly the Mountiluart, been captured by the combined fleets of France and 
 
 Spain, we fhould, probably, never have heard of Mifs F r more. Whatflie went 
 
 thro' on land, would on ihip-board, in all human probabilit}-, have terminated in her 
 death. Her captivity brought her back to England, faved her life, and has been productive 
 of a difcovery of that villainy which the feducer once confoled hlmfelf with the 
 hope of being buried in darknefs for ever. And poffibly this may not be the only fcene 
 ef fimilar guilt in which he may have been concerned, and which may fee the light. It 
 is only to be regretted, that an earlier difcovery had not'been made of that now laid 
 -fefore the public, that the author of it might have been profecutcd, and his difgrace and 
 
 punifhracnt
 
 [ X ] 
 
 puniftiraent made proportionate to the depth of his crime. His charafter, which a very 
 few intercfted pcrfons arc .now ftruggling, in the face of the moft iDControver- 
 tible faiSb, to fnatch from merited infamy, would then have given him a place among 
 thofe who fall vitftims to public juftice. But confcicnce will probably do that ten 
 rhoufand times over, which the executioner would have done but once. It h to be hoped, 
 that an impartial public will feel for an amiable young Lady, injured at an age when 
 flie could hardly judge of the nature and confccjuences of her injury; and that all pa- 
 rents, cfpecjally, will hold in a light of abhorrence that man, who has fo perfidioufly 
 viohted the laws of fricndfliip, and fo infamoufly betrayed a moft important tm ft. In 
 doing this, they will join the author of this piece in what he thinks a laudable under- 
 taking ; that of e^pofing vice, and making cotn^litt aad ctvi^Ucated villainy, an objefl 
 ^fj'tfl and (".(hlic indignation. 
 
 S E D U Cr
 
 SEDUCTION, &c. 
 
 A P O E M. 
 
 LUCKLESS, and inaufpicious was the hour, 
 Rul'd by ibme planet's dark malignant pow'r, 
 When, thro' ambition and^ thro' av'rice bold, 
 Athiril; for diflant empire and for gold, 
 Britons t'explore the eaftern world effay'd, 
 And the foundation of falfe greatnefs laid, 
 In ravaging that Clime, where Ganges' flood 
 Ennobles, as it rolls, each Gentoo god, 
 In gay Pagodas * pompoufly enfhrin'd, 
 Temples profane ot ev'ry abje£l mind, 
 
 B In 
 
 * The name of the Indian temples ; in which the principal deities worlhipped are Vift' 
 »cu, £f'wara, Brama, and thoufands of idols fubordinate to thefe. In the opinion 
 »f the Bramins, the priells, all Indoflan is holy l«nd ; and there is no part in which 
 
 foms
 
 ( 2 ) 
 
 In ]5agan tlarkncfs funk, without one ray 
 
 To happincfs or truth to point the way ; 
 
 Where the brij^ht gem, from rich Golcoficlas mines +, 
 
 With luflre, and with charms refiftlefs, (hlnes, 
 
 Strong, as a thouland magnets, to the fiiore 
 
 Of Indus, draws the fons of commerce o'er, 
 
 In veflels fili'd with inftruments of death. 
 
 And wafted fwiftly by the hoftile breath 
 
 Of winds, that aid the pre-concerted force, 
 
 Riches t'enfure ; but, with them, ev'ry curfe 
 
 That riches bring, when fought to feed the pride, 
 
 Or the accumulated guilt to hide, 
 
 fome deity has not appeared, and done fomcthing to merit a temple. Some of thcf: 
 fabrics arc of immemorial antiquity, and ftanJ as monuments of flupendous labour ; 
 
 but the hlrtory of their gods is a chaos of abfurdities. The Indians-pay the moft 
 
 fuperftitious honors to the river C,afii">. whiyh falls into rhc'^T^y oi Bengal, and 
 fancy that their temples, or pagodas, ereiSled near its banks, derive a faniflity ffom their 
 contiguoufnefs to the facred channels thro' which the Ganges flows — It is among 
 other things to be lamented in the conduiff of Europeans, that hardly any methods have 
 been attempted to rcfcue the heathens from thei^ idolatiy : With modern conquerors 
 the only object, worth attending to, fecms to be the acquifiton of wealth and power. 
 
 -)- The diamonds, dug from the niines of Golconda, on the Coromandel coafl, arc faid 
 to be of a fupcrior water to thoie difcovcred in Brazil. 
 
 Of
 
 ( 3 ) 
 
 Of titled mifcreants, who to jaghires tnift. 
 Their heads to fave, and fcatter gold as duft, 
 To blind the Stateman's penetrating eye. 
 And make e'en ruffians, juflice' felf defy ; ■ 
 Where thro' Onxas | territories vaft, 
 Or fam'd Carnatic, by the fword laid wafte 
 Of Hyder, 'till the Britilhi flandard rear'd 
 His rage and conquefls to reprefs appear'd ; 
 Or thro' Bahars, or BengaPs province great 
 Where, Britain's fons, with opulence elate. 
 Extend their conquefts and their {laughter too, 
 By methods, e'en to favage fiercenefs new, 
 Thro' fields of blood in fearch of booty roam. 
 To make their mafters, live like Kings at home. 
 
 Since that dire period, fraught with ev'ry ill, 
 That can the page of tragic hift'ry fill, 
 What a long feries of tranfadions bafe, 
 That Britifh valor, Britifh truth, difgrace, 
 
 J Orixa, Bahar, and Bengal, are the three principal provinces belonging to the Eaft- 
 India company, and are faid to comprehend an extent of territory fiiperior to that of 
 Great Britain and the Britifti illands. 
 
 Our
 
 ( 4 ) 
 
 Our arms have fulllcd, and our honor fl:ainM, 
 
 Of blood and trcafurc our rcTourccs drain'd ! 
 
 How weak our counfels, vile our plans have been, 
 
 The rifitig, and the felting-, fun hath feen. 
 
 Conquefl by treach'ry, traffic by deceit, 
 
 Chiefly in all our eaftern projcdls meet. 
 
 One Nabob's hir'd a rival to dcftroy, 
 
 Th' affaflln's murder'd by the fame decoy ; 
 
 Another's made the conqu'ror's fervlle tool, 
 
 Skill'd with the rod of tyranny, to rule ; 
 
 Though free before and in atchlevements brave, 
 
 A King becomes a fordid defpot's flave ; 
 
 Thus eaftern chiefs defrauded, or dethron'd. 
 
 Too long beneath the Britifh yoke have groan'd. 
 
 Cutting reflection too ! the Chrjji'ian name 
 
 Hath both enhanc'd and witnefs'd to our iliame ; 
 
 The idol-temples fland, and ev'ry day. 
 
 Pagans, with lolemn Invocations, pray 
 
 Their guardian Deities t'expel their coafl 
 
 The Chriftian, dreaded and detefted mofl, 
 
 Becaulc that name th' idea fad conveys. 
 
 Of xaufack'd towns, and cities in a blaze ; 
 
 Of
 
 ( 5 ) 
 Of thoufands ftarv'd, enflav'd, or captive led, 
 Or, lot more happy, number'd with the dead ;- 
 Of pride, ambition, cruelty, and fraud, 
 The rotten pillars, that fupport abroad 
 Th' unwieldy fabric of our int'refts, where. 
 By its own pond'rous weight, it draweth near, 
 By dreadful gravitation, to the brink 
 Of final ruin, foon perhaps to fuik,, 
 And by its fall, the vanity proclaim. 
 Of earthly grandeur, opulence, and fame. 
 
 From Indian fcenes, that teem with countlefs fnares. 
 Where pleasure all its blandifhments prepares ; 
 Where lux'ry fpreads the rich, the fumptuous boardy 
 Loaded w ith fweets, that earth and feas afford ; 
 The mind t' enervate, reafon to dethrone. 
 And give the reins to appetite alone ; 
 Where conouest brings the victor ample fpoil, 
 To recompcnle his dangers and his toil; 
 Where traffic e'en the fons of ^Iars invites 
 To tafle lier folid, lucrative deliglitsj 
 
 C Where
 
 ( 6 ) 
 
 Where fortune gives, with a capricious hand, 
 
 And fav'iites calls, by her fupreme command, 
 
 To Ihare in dignities, and rife to fame, 
 
 Although of mufhroom-origin, their name ; 
 
 Of clerks and cadets mighty Gen'rals makes, 
 
 Or from a flaughter-houfe a Col'nel takes, 
 
 In{>ru£led erft a tender lamb to bleed, 
 
 Then call'd a fcarlet regiment to lead ; 
 
 Gives to Commanders, that have run away. 
 
 And wiftily liv'd to fight, fome other day, 
 
 The wealth, and eafe, to vet'rans brave denied. 
 
 Who, to the fhame of cowards, fought and died ; 
 
 Ennobles e'en the vileft of mankind. 
 And, as a proof that in her fiivors blind. 
 Her honors, titles, riches, throws away 
 
 On men, in plans of infamy grown grey; 
 
 From fcenes, that thus intoxicate the mind, 
 Who cou'd help wond'ring, did we never find 
 Fortune's Ipruce fav'rites bring their meannefs back, 
 And, with it, principles, as midnight black ? 
 That fad adepts in vice, on India's fhore, 
 Shou'd turn out, here, feducers at thrcefcore? 
 
 W * *,
 
 ( 7 ) 
 
 W * *, this hint may make thee apprehend, 
 The mufe wou'd wifh to ftate the rife, and end, 
 Of that ftrange hift'ry, that records thy birth. 
 With intermediate fcenes, 'till to the earth 
 Confign'd, thy name mortality furvives. 
 And from thy crimes a deathlefs fame derives. 
 But let not meannefs tremble ; 'tis the part 
 Of honefl: truth, to fearch and probe the heart i 
 Not to feek virtue in a gay outfide. 
 Or think that riches can a villain hide ; 
 Not to efleem a man of real worth, 
 Becaufe he's noble only by his birth ; 
 Not from intrinfic excellence to take. 
 Or rigid comments on misfortune make ; 
 Fair virtue's fteady patronefs and friend 
 The mufe but ftrives her int'refls to defend ; 
 Vice in its native colors to pourtray, 
 And drag the monfter to the open day. 
 
 While truth eflays each lineament to trace. 
 In that pure mirror, canfl: thou view thy face? 
 
 W * *
 
 ( 8 ) 
 
 W * * {land forth — thy crhiics are brought to light. 
 
 Crimes big with hifamy, and black as night ; 
 
 The hour is come, when all expos'd to view, 
 
 Thy LUST, and cruelty, and av'rice too. 
 
 Shall {lamp thy charadler with guilt and fliame, 
 
 And brand through ages thine obnoxious name. 
 
 Blame no aflallins, or informers fly, 
 
 Th' inventors (hrewd, or bearers of a lye. 
 
 That oft' with defamation's poif'nous breath,. 
 
 "Bhd merit's rifmg excellence to death ; 
 
 Or, with Infidious whifpers, foftly kill 
 
 The fairefl names, by thoufands, at their wilh 
 
 Thine own the guiU, and the difcovry thine; 
 
 Claim both, and then, without one rival Ihine 
 
 For novelty of vice ! 'midfl tribes of thofe. 
 
 Who, to all ju{lice, truth, and mercy, foes, 
 
 Rob, ravifli, murder, with unfparing hand. 
 
 And deluge, with their villainies, a land. 
 
 While confcience makes e'en harden'd felons own 
 The guilt, chat hangs them, thou, more callous grown, 
 
 Durfl
 
 ( 9 ) 
 
 Durft veil the real author of the deed, 
 
 To make fair innocence more deeply bleed. 
 
 On complicated fchemes of ruin bent. 
 
 Not with a fuigle villainy content, 
 
 Plund'rer of virtue, then, thy next effay, 
 
 Worthy the blackeft crimes that Ihun the day, 
 
 Was character to ftab, and thus complete 
 
 What the chafte mufe e'en fhudders to repeat. 
 
 Horrid expedient ! Cou'd all hell devife 
 
 A plan more fraught with cruelty and lyes ? 
 
 The fecret's out ; thy fordid love of pelf, 
 
 Paffion well fuited to thy fordid felf. 
 
 Prompted to fabricate the fatal fcheme, 
 
 Of treach'ry, and of meannefs, the extreme,. 
 
 With artifice to execute a plan, 
 
 So foreign to the feelings of a man ; 
 
 Thy love of money, flronger than thy luft, 
 
 Impell'd to lyes, and lye the traitor muft. 
 
 To carry on the deeply tragic aft. 
 To render plaufible each defp'rate fa<51f,- 
 
 D Com-
 
 ( «o ) 
 
 Comminion fervants to retail the lye, 
 
 Contriv'd and launcH'd beneath the mafter's eye; 
 
 Tranfmit the written faliliood to each fool, 
 
 That's vile enough to be the lyar's tool : 
 
 The dark defign thy gviilt to cover o'er, 
 
 But aggravates and blackens it the more ; 
 
 Latent fufpicions make thy condu£t worfe, 
 
 And brand each mean contrivance with a curfe ; 
 
 Thou bafe betrayer Crf a parent's trull, 
 
 Thou brutal facrificer, to thy luft, 
 
 Of unfufpeding innocence, and youth. 
 
 Of facred friendfhip, chaftity, and truth ; 
 
 Who, j4mnon-\\ke, cou'dfl: by feign'd ficknefs, * lay 
 
 Th' infernal fnare, that caught the tender prey ; 
 
 Cou'dfl, unrelenting, ftretch the butcher's hand. 
 
 And make fair virtue bleed at thy command ; 
 
 * He had been fomcvvhat ind'ifpofed, for a few days before; find on tliis indifpo- 
 
 fition was founded the melancholy plot that he executed ; when, upon Mrs. W 's 
 
 going out to fpend the evening, and poor Mifs F r having been left to bear the 
 
 unfufpe£led traitor company, he, by threats and intreaties, accompliflied his pui-pofe. 
 — Whether on tiat fatal evening, his illnefs mull not have been feigticd, the readc? 
 is to judge. 
 
 Who,
 
 ( ^I ) 
 
 Who, deaf to all the bitter plaints and tears, 
 The keen deep anguifli, and diftraftlng fears, 
 Of modefty attack'd,^ cou'dfl e'en beiiold. 
 What hi idea makes my blood run cold ;— — 
 The gttilelefs virgin, child, and friend, in one^ 
 By perfidy, and ruffian arts undone, 
 'Then on her trembling hiee compeWd to bow^ 
 And pledge of folemn Jecrecy the vow. 
 
 Inhuman monfter ! Cou'd not this fufficc ? 
 Muft blacker deeds thy treach'rous heart devife ? 
 Brutal in luft, in falshood brutal too, 
 Durft thou the guilt transfer, that flicks to you f 
 Shall others be arraign'd to bear the blame, 
 To fnatch from dreaded infamy, thy name ? 
 Durft thou the fa£t divulge ? the traitor hide ? 
 To gain the cautious guardian to thy fide, 
 
 D 1 ? who foon th' envenom'd falihood faw, 
 
 And long'd to cite thee to the tefl of law ? 
 With jealoufy, and guilt, and envy flung, 
 Whilfl lyes on lyes drop poifon from thy tongue, 
 
 Mufl
 
 ( 1= ) 
 
 Muft thou involve the lover in thy plan. 
 Put on the flwagc, and put off the man ? 
 Infidious counfel give, and e'en pretend 
 To a(fl the upright neighbour and the friend ? 
 Such friendship's but the murd'rer's mafk to kill, 
 And he who wears it may deftroy at will ; 
 'Tis his, who ads dilTimulation's part. 
 The poor mean retuge of a lyar's art. 
 
 Who gave the truft fo facred in its kind ? 
 Whoy to thy care and guardianship, confign'd 
 The female, tender in her fex and years? 
 The child, in whom the anxious hopes and fears 
 Of love parental centred ? Frorn whofe hand 
 Th' important delegated pow'r to ftand 
 As father, and as friend, didft thou receive ? 
 Whofe was the heart, fo ready to believe. 
 In friendship credulous, thy promife fairj 
 With flricl fidelity, to take the care 
 Of virgin innocence and blooming youth, 
 T' enforce the laws oi purity and truth; 
 
 Ja
 
 ( i3 ) 
 111 virtue's glorious path to lead the way. 
 And flem the corrupt torrent of the day f 
 When vice, with brazen front, dares ftalk abroad, 
 And 'gainft the laws of nature and of God, 
 Polygamy takes up her impure pen. 
 To fandtify seraglios for the men ? 
 When a grave Priest, for twice ten years at work, 
 T' invefligate the fyftem of a Turk, 
 After deep ftudy, labor, thought intenfe, 
 Whilft friends and foes were kept in fad fufpenfc, 
 At lafl: finds out that Mahomet was right. 
 And Chriftendom's reformers, funk In night ; 
 Dares the pure province of connubial love 
 T' invade, and give licentious pow'r to rove, 
 Where'er concupifcence, or fancy lead, 
 With Mahomet and Madan at their head ? 
 
 Was it fome slave, with fears convuls'd and wild, 
 That offer'd to thy care a favage child. 
 Left, to the Indies trafric'd like the reft, 
 This fhou'd be ravifli'd alfo from her breaft ? 
 
 E Or,
 
 ( 14 ) 
 
 Or, found forfaken in fome baib'rous land, 
 Didfl: thou, relcntful, with a gcn'rous hand. 
 Life's lichefl comforts inftantly beftow. 
 And rcfcue her from penury and wo ? 
 
 No ! 'Twas a friend, a parent now no more. 
 
 By death's kind meflage, left not to deplore 
 The dire event, that would have plung'd a dart. 
 
 And fix'd it deeply in his bleeding heart, 
 
 A PARENT (canfl thou hear that awful name, 
 Without the pangs of confcious guilt and fliame ?) 
 In unfufpccllng confidence Cransfcrr'd 
 The I'ight, by nature on himfelf conferr'd, 
 To thee ; wdio, with barbarity unknown, 
 That any heart would foften, but thine own, 
 Dldlt the great truft perfidioufly betray, 
 And by tliy flagrant treach'ry, mark the way. 
 That wretches of the foulcft, meaneft clafs, 
 Through all the fcenes of vice progreflive pafs, 
 'Till hang'd as guilty fpeftacles on high. 
 They on a gibbet or a gallows die. 
 
 But
 
 ( 15 > 
 
 But, fiialt thou profper ia th' ungea'rons deed ? 
 No ! 'tis by fate inflexible decreed. 
 That juftice fhall, with fure tliough tardy pace. 
 At length o'ertakc t!iee in thy guilty race. 
 Thee the moft diftant climes fhali ne'er conceal. 
 Nor o'er thy crimes fliall midnight throw a veil ; 
 Omnifcience fliall purfue thee in the way, 
 And confcience kindle darknefs into day ,' 
 Shall light up fires in thy polluted breaft, 
 Rob thee of peace by day, by night, of reft. 
 Th' indignant mufe, prophetic of thy fate. 
 Dares, rapt in future diftant times, to ftate. 
 That orphans yet unborn fliall learn thy fame, 
 And lifp with terror thy detefted name. 
 Thy fears, and guilt, and horrors to renew. 
 An injur'd parent's ghost, ftiall rife to view ; 
 Shall feem, with vengeful afpe6l to demand 
 His ruin'd daughter's honor at thine hand. 
 
 Dost thou not fee, anticipate, or dread , 
 The ftorm that's gath'ring round thy ruthlefs head ? 
 
 Does
 
 ( i6 ) 
 
 Does not thine agitated mind portray 
 
 The fancied horrors of the fatal day, 
 
 When thou flialt take thine ignominious fland 
 
 Before the juft tribunal of the land ? 
 
 Where Thurlow fits, ftridt guardian of the law, 
 
 Fram'd and difpcns'd adulterers to awe ? 
 
 Where tlie black. Brief, as thy fam'd tape-worm * long, 
 
 Shall count thy crimes to an aftonifh'd throng ? 
 
 Where the Seducer and his arts fhall lie, 
 
 In native guilt, expos'd to public eye. t 
 
 If from thy heart, the blood e'er forc'd to rufli. 
 Thy fallow cheek did redden with a blufh ; 
 If e'er this fymptom of a confcious mind 
 Did fhew one fpixrk of modeft fhame behind, 
 
 * He has often mentioned in company, that a tape-worm, of an enormous length, 
 was extraiSlcJ from his leg. 
 
 •f The mufe has bitterly to regret, that (lie was, here, too fanguine in her expec- 
 tations. The length of interval between the commiffion of the crime, and the dif- 
 covery of it, rendered that legal difcuffion of the bufinefs impradticable, which was, 
 otherwifc, fo much to have been wifhed, and which wou'd certainly have ^bcen 
 attended with exemplary difgracc to the Seducer, 
 
 Amidfl
 
 ( 17 ) 
 
 Amidft th' empoifon'd principles, that flioot 
 In lechers' fouls, and taint them at the root ; 
 If e'er one foft fenfation made thy heart. 
 With even one extorted figh to part ; 
 If, pierc'd with forrow for another's wo. 
 The tear of fympathy did ever flow 
 Adown thy cheek ; if conscience, for one fin, 
 E'er rais'd her voice t'affert her pow'r within, 
 And made, with rod vindictive in her hand. 
 Thee, Felix-likCj a trembling culprit ftand; 
 Review- this fcene, maturely weigh the whole. 
 Hard as thou art, 'twill harrow up thy foul ; 
 Chill'd to the heart drive back the vital flood. 
 And freeze the warmeft current of thy blood. 
 
 In thefe, though evil and abandon'd times. 
 Shall there one fingle patron of thy crimes 
 Stand forth to vindicate, on all the earth. 
 Whether of noble, or ignoble birth ? 
 Canft thou procure one refpecftable friend, 
 Thy blafted reputation to defend? 
 
 F E'en
 
 ( i8 ) 
 
 E'lii brothels fearcli, inquire, examine well, 
 
 And ranfack all thcfe horrid haunts of hell ; 
 
 Alk all, who vlfit thefe infernal nefts. 
 
 Of virtue and fociety the pefls, 
 
 P'rom the poor beardlcfs debauchee, at fchool^ 
 
 L^p to the man, who, witli grey hairs, a fooJ 
 
 In vice, an aged veteran in fin. 
 
 The dupe of harlots, all his life hath been ; 
 
 Is there, in this detefted group, one rake, 
 
 That cou'd be brib'd, with gold, thy part to take r 
 
 That wou'd not, thine unparallel'd difgrace 
 
 Abhor, with imprecations, to thy face ? 
 
 To find a friend, go to that manfion foul, 
 O'er which the blacked cloud is feen to fcowl ; 
 While on its roof, the forked lightnings play. 
 And dark furrounding mifts obfcure the day ; 
 The refidence of viUainy complete. 
 Of wretchednefs, and vice, the fad retreat, 
 The fcene of ev'ry machination dark, 
 Of flratageiB; and guilt, that bears the mark; 
 
 Where,
 
 ( 19 ) 
 
 Where, phc'd in ftate infernal, fits a hng, 
 
 Ready into her fubtle wiles to drag 
 
 I'll' incautious maid that pafles by her door, 
 
 Or dares to tread on her enchanted floor ; 
 
 Bawd, on her furrow'd front, engraven {lands. 
 
 And galling fetters, in her wither'd hands, 
 
 Are held, man's nobleft faculties to bind, 
 
 And chain to fervile drudgery, the mind ; 
 
 Seduction, in black capitals, iiifcrib'd, 
 
 Points out her door, where haplefs virgins, brib'd 
 
 By meretricious arts, go heedlefs in, 
 
 To rufh, with their feducers, into hn ; 
 
 In whofe deteftable, and guilty train, 
 
 Is ev'ry fimp'ring coxcomb, light and vain, 
 
 That hath, in flate, the tour of Europe made, 
 
 To come back artift in fedu£l:ion's trade ; 
 
 Or rank adulterers, that nightly walk. 
 
 With ihamelefs, married proflitutcs to talk ; 
 
 'Mongft SUCH, and only such, a friend expert ; 
 
 To thefe, and only thefe, thy fuit dired,- 
 
 'Lur'd
 
 ( 20 ) 
 
 'Lur'd by til' attra£lion of a dirty fee, 
 Shou'd fome mean hireling of the law agree, 
 In favor of thy caufc, to plead, or write. 
 And vainly flrive to wafh the iE'riiloP white; 
 Shou'd fome dull fcriv'ner help to write thy name. 
 And write his own, as witnefs to thy fame; 
 The mufe fhall then their genuine portrait draw. 
 Others to fave from their rapacious paw ; * 
 Shall ftraight expofe the mercenary crime. 
 Gibbet their names, and hang them in a rhyme. 
 
 Think not to awe th' opinion of the town. 
 Or public wrath, by brazen front, bear down ; 
 Warmly concern'd in virtue's injur'd laws. 
 Parents and guardians make, their own, the caufe ; 
 Each trembles for himfelf, and for his child, 
 Left:, by inveigling ftratagems beguil'd. 
 Another W * * iliou'd their honor flain. 
 And other traitors follow in his train. 
 If one, who never knew a parent's care. 
 Ne'er own'd a child, the envied kifs to fhare 
 
 * Not tlic leaft reflection is intended here upon the honorable profeffion of the law 
 itfelf. Thofc who abufc it, are only referred to. 
 
 Ambitious,
 
 ( 21 ) 
 
 Ambitious, to the traitor clofe allied, 
 
 In pomp, and meannefs, fhou'd attempt to hide 
 
 His monflrous guilt, and vindicate his claim 
 
 To innocence, and honor's injur'd name ; 
 
 Think not a partial luiTraga will fuffice 
 
 To ihroud thy guilt, and palliate horrid lyes. 
 
 Amongst Salopia's virtuous parents, one, 
 Who educates a daughter or a fon. 
 Shall ne'er be found thy caufe to patronize, 
 Or the Seducer bear before his eyes. 
 When the fond mother wou'd inftru£t her child. 
 By counfel moft perfuafive, when moft mild. 
 The path of folly and intrigue to fhun, 
 Where thoufands of the fair have been undone ; 
 When the Seducer's arts fhe'd open lay, 
 That unfufpedling innocence betray ; 
 Thy chara£ler fhe'll then hold up to view. 
 And when fhe'd fhew a traitor, point to you. 
 
 When fam'd Lucretia, flow'r of faireft bloom. 
 That e'er adora'd the once imperial Rome, 
 
 G A vidim
 
 (■ =^ )■• 
 
 A viaim cliaftc, to Tarquin's brutal foil. 
 
 Fell, by a treach'rous favagc plot undone * ; 
 
 T' avenge the deed, the Injur'd hulband flies;. 
 
 Is fcarce arrlv'd, — when — lo ! Lucretia dies ! 
 
 Whllfl: o'er the bleeding, breathlefs Gorpfe, he mourns, 
 
 Whilft love and pity, grief and rage, by turns, , 
 
 Rend with their conflict his diftradled mind, 
 
 All Rome is rous'd th' adult'rer bafe to find ; 
 
 And ev'ry Roman rigid in the cauie 
 
 Of virtue, and of freedom's violated lawl, 
 
 Burns to a flate enflav'd to bring relief. 
 
 With Brutus bold^ their leader, and their chief. 
 
 With fuch difinterefted ardor fir'd. 
 
 As ancient patriotic breafls infpir'd, 
 
 ■"Sextus, fon of Tarqjjin the Proud, Kbg of Rome, having fail'd in his at- 
 tempts upon LucRETiA, while he ufed intreaties, at laft fuccecded, by threatening 
 that he would kill her, and, having killed a flare, would lay him in her bed, and then 
 Jprcad a report that having taken them io the aft of adirftery, he had punifhed them both 
 writh death. She yielded ; liv'd to tell Collatinus ; and then inconfolable for the lofs 
 of her virtue, raflily plung'd a dagger (he had concealed, into her heart. This event 
 produced the abolition of the kingly power in Rome, and the extirpation of the family 
 
 of the TARQiJlNS, 
 
 They
 
 ( =3 ) 
 
 They all confpire to urge the traitor's doom. 
 And fix the fate of Tarquia and of Rome ; 
 T' extermhiate an arbitrary race, 
 And plant fair freedom's patrons In their place ; 
 To wrefl the fceptre from a tyrant's hand. 
 And banifti vice and flav'ry from the land ; 
 T' avenge the chafle Lucretia's haplefs fate. 
 To DRIVE OUT Tarquin, and to fave the flate.. 
 
 And fhall Salopia be lefs flow to rife. 
 In Virtue's caufe ? lefs flow to patronize 
 The Fair One, injur'd, like a tender flow'r. 
 That in a fatal, an ill-omen'd hour, 
 Abus'd by fome rude hand, neglecfled lies, 
 Lofes it's fragrance, droops its head and dies ? 
 While cryflal dew, feems, pendent from its top, 
 O'er its hard fate, the big round tear to drop ? 
 Shall the fell fpoiler, o'er his tender prize, 
 Triumphant, propagate, before our eyes, 
 The flimfey falfliood ? in contrivance bold, 
 In fad intrigue, and deeds atrocious, old ? 
 
 Shall
 
 ( 24 ) 
 Shall flander her empoifon'd quiver fill ? 
 And, fportive o'er her fav'rite, dear quadrille. 
 Aim, unreftralu'd, t'enllveii ev'ry game, 
 
 By fixing darts in abfint F r's name ? 
 
 Shall honor, truth, compafiion, all give way. 
 To the conveuieiice of an evetilng's play ? 
 Will no kind hand tak^ up tli^ chaiTiiiag rod. 
 And, zealous for the laws of virtue and of God, 
 Arreft detradllon in its hifring flight ? 
 And fcour;rc the monfter to its native night ? 
 
 o 
 
 One friend I fee, dlftlnguini'd from the reft *, 
 With pity's foft emotions in his breaft. 
 With juv'nile ardor fir'd, and honefl zeal, 
 To hcav'n's high edicts make his bold appeal ; 
 I^ift up his voice, and, from the facred law. 
 Truths folemn appofite, perfuafive, draw ; 
 Direfl an arrow to the traitor's heart. 
 And make it with the piercing anguifh fmart, 
 Flafh keen convldlon in his guilty face, 
 Fprce him to blufli, and tremble in his place; 
 
 * The Rev. Mr. R ke. 
 
 While
 
 t 25 ) 
 
 While hearers all applaud the preacher's plan. 
 And God's vice-gerent cries, " Thm art the inan .'" 
 For this intrepid a£lion, gen'rous youth, 
 Tiiis kind dilplay of mercy and of truth, 
 
 F R, while o'wr the facred text fhs weeps, 
 
 And in her breail the wif- monition keeps, 
 Shall fjppliaiit, oft, at msrcy's footdojl bend, 
 To afk the rlchefl: bleiTuigs for that friend. 
 Who, when difcourag'd, others flood aloof, 
 Durft, e'en beneath the Temple's facred roof. 
 Stand forth, t'aflift fair virtue's injur'd caufe, 
 To draw her portrait, and enforce her laws. 
 
 For this humane, benev'lent, well-tim'd, deed. 
 The MUSE fhall wreath the mighty conqu'rors meed 
 Around his brow, and bid the trump of Fame 
 Emblazon, with her praife, his worthy name. 
 For this, whene'er the nuptial knot is tied, 
 Soon to unite him to a beauteous bride, 
 Jklay Sol fhine forth with a propitious ray ! 
 And not one cloud o'erhang the happy day ! 
 
 H His
 
 ( 26 ) 
 
 His torch of pureft flame may Hymen bring ! 
 And all the nine, in choral harm'uy, fing 
 Epithalamiums * ! while the feftive lay. 
 Makes the hours pafs infenfibly away ! 
 May Venus, drawn by the chafte doves alone. 
 Place, near herfelf, upon her rolling throne. 
 The HAPPY Pair ! and, as they move along^ 
 And all the Graces chant the nuptial fong, 
 May the foft-falling dew of heaven fhed 
 Tea thoufand benedictions on their head ! 
 
 Another patron of the injur'd Fair, 
 Wak'd by his MUSE attendant to declare 
 The thoughts, that rife in his empaffion'd breafl:^ 
 And flow in foft, harmonious numbers dreft, 
 Dares all the fons of apathy to ftand 
 Unmov'd, when, from his plaftic hand,. 
 Inventive fancy, and elab'rate art. 
 That foften, pleafe, and captivate the heart, 
 
 * It fecms neceflary to tell the unktter'J reader, that Epithalamium, fignifies 
 
 a MARRIAGE-SONG. 
 
 The
 
 ( =7 ) 
 
 The TALE OF wo fhall pafs to public view*, 
 The fhame, and apprehenfions to renew. 
 Of dormant guilt ; and ftrike th' effectual blow, 
 E're truth's fupprefs'd, and lyes luxuriant grow. 
 Go, gentle Poet, bid thy gen'rous Muse, 
 Dip the foft Pen in PiTY^s healing dews ; 
 Attend her flight, while on her foaring wing. 
 She wafts thee to feme fam'd Arcadian Spring ; 
 There drink thyfelf, and when infpir'd thy lay. 
 The potent draught, with friendly hand, convey. 
 In foothing numbers, to each wounded heart, 
 Of two fond HAPLESS Lovers, forc'd to part. 
 
 Speed the foft wilhes of fair F r's breaft 
 
 To that lov'd Youth, for whom, fo long diftreft, 
 She often heav'd the deeply-anxious figh. 
 And, than deceive him, rather wifli'd to die. 
 
 * AlUiding to an advcniffmcnt in the Shrewfbury paper, announcing the intended 
 publication of " a Poetical Epiftle from an unfortunate young Lady to her Lover," 
 which, f-nce the above was written, appears to have for its author, the Rev, ^Ir. 
 Johnson ; to whom the public are much indebted for his having gcneroufly patronized 
 the caufe of :ui injured young Lady. 
 
 Ot
 
 ( =8 ) 
 
 Of her misfortune the dire feries tel!^ 
 
 But, e're (he bid a long, laft, fad, Farewell ; 
 
 Say, that where'er th' afflifted Fair One Roves, 
 
 Tho' SPOIl'd, she's VIRTUJUS*, and, THo' iiANlSH'D, LOVES. 
 
 I Too wou'd fnin the gen*rous plan purfue, 
 Tir afFedting tliemc in penfive fbains renew, 
 Wou'd but Calliope her aid extend. 
 And ev'ry mufe the bold attempt befriend. 
 
 Whilst fome, tranfported with poetic fire. 
 String Orpheus' harp, or fweep the golden lyre ; 
 Whilfl: Dryden dares t' attempt the lofty lay. 
 Where Pindar's foaring genius led the way, 
 In Ode fublime, grac'd with Cecilia's name, 
 That emulates the Theban poet's fame ; 
 Whilft Milton's mufe, in her advent'rous flight, 
 Soars to the regions of empyreal light, 
 
 * The iiuthor thinks himfelf fully warranted to adopt thU fcntiincnt, in confcquencc 
 
 of the information of thofe who knew Mifs F r intimately, and who declare, th it 
 
 ihro' her whole condud, there never once appeared the fmalleft deviation, in word or 
 deed, from the ftiidleft rules of modefty and decorum. 
 
 PafTes
 
 ( 29 ) 
 
 Paffes the bound'rles of tli' eternal throne 
 
 To fee, and fuig the ftate of worlds unknown, 
 
 From Greece and Rome, to gain the epic prize, 
 
 And 'bove their proudefl bards fuperior rife ; 
 
 Whilft, in foft numbers of elegiac vcrfe. 
 
 In lines, that weep, and, as they weep, rehearfs 
 
 The fate of Andre, honor'd, iajur'd name, 
 
 Seward effays t' immortalize his fame. 
 
 O'er his fad relics bids her muse to mourn. 
 
 And, with her tears, to confecrate his urn ; 
 
 In humble lays, and modeft, be it mine. 
 
 The weakeft, meaneft, pupil of the nine, 
 
 T' adjudge to merit the due palm of praife. 
 
 And, for another's brow, to crop the bays. 
 
 Yet, whilil my mufe boafts no afpiring wing. 
 Nor dares, in flrains fublime, to foar or fuig ; 
 Though in a region low, but fafe, fhe keep. 
 And, pinion'd, hardly durll in numbers creep ; 
 Still fliall fhe, dauntlefs, make her res'lute claim 
 To facred Truth, and Freedoxm's honor'd name, 
 
 I Slave
 
 ( 30 } 
 
 Sluve to no pnrty, by no laws confin''d, 
 That fetter, and tlebafe a gen'rous mind; 
 Ne'er fhall (he proftitutre her honeft pow'rs, 
 To flatter vice, or praife the pride that tow'rs ; 
 Like fome adepts, to varnlfh falshood o'er, 
 For fmiles, and dhiners, and for nothing more; 
 Ne'er cringe to meannels, or for fools make room, 
 Or infcribe spotless on a sinner's tomb. 
 
 A difTrent theme invites, a dlft'rent caufe, 
 That pity calls for, fceks not vain applaufe ; 
 That prompts, o'er F — r's melancholy fate. 
 To weep, and join in virtue's juft deb;ite. 
 Of this ambitious, while the caufe depends. 
 Between the traitor and talr F — r's friends, 
 (For, friends flie hath, that love and pity too, 
 True to her int'refls, as to friendfliip true) 
 Though others flander, threaten, or deride, 
 And guilt, or cowardice, in cenfure hide ; 
 Though fome fliou'd deal the rude invective round, 
 In Vvords of portcf!:, grofllfl, coarfelt found ; * 
 
 * A few of poor Mifs F r's enemies (for, few they are) luivc dealt, too freely 
 
 in this illiberal dialcft. When people inveigh, they fliould at leaft learn to do it decently. 
 
 Yet
 
 ( 31 ) 
 
 Yet ftill the muse her planitive notes (hall fing, 
 
 And the foft tribute of compaffion brhig ; 
 
 Her injur'd reputation fhall defend, 
 
 Whofe cafe, not afks, but e'en demands a friend ; 
 
 Shall lift the rod fatiric in her hand. 
 
 And injur'd F r's bold avenger fland. 
 
 Ah ! haplefs maid ! portentous was the hour, 
 
 When Fate ordain'd thee to a Butcher's pow'r ! 
 
 How does^ the heart of one, to thee unknown, 
 
 Bleed for thy- woes, and for thine inj'ries groan !' 
 
 In all thy varied griefs, he bears a part, 
 
 And, while he writes to comfort, feels thy fmart ! 
 
 Himfelf a Parent, and with offspring bleft. 
 
 Dear to his foul, and as himfelf carefft. 
 
 Oft' as they play and prattle round his knee, 
 
 He thinks of, feels, and weeps, and prays for thee ; 
 
 Reflecls, that once, thy tender parents too. 
 
 Did the young plant with pleafmg rapture view ; 
 
 Watch'd wih delight, and faw thought's early dawn, 
 
 Th' idea germinant from reafon drawn ; 
 
 Their hopes, made fanguine through parental care, 
 
 Beheld no Ibrms, t' oblcure the profpecl fair ; 
 
 Tliey
 
 ( 32 ) 
 
 They read the book of flite with partial eye. 
 And nought for thee but honors could cfpy. 
 
 From fad reverfe of fortune, F R, know. 
 
 That bleffmgs, oft', in flreams falubrious flow. 
 Hence learn to Ihua each guileful tempter's art. 
 Nor lefs the daug'rous traitor in the heart ; 
 With vig'lant, cautious, wifdom, to take care. 
 Of Syrcn-pleafure, that enchantrefs fair ; 
 The blefTuig feek of that one great best Friend, 
 Whofe favors all the fmiles of earth traa fceud. 
 Soon as thy feet revifit India's fliore, 
 
 Britain and P n to fee no more ; 
 
 Iinplore heav'n's guardian, all-protedllng care, 
 Rembember W , tremble, and beware. 
 
 W ! that name wakes all the Mufe's ire. 
 
 And fcts th' indignant lay again on fire. 
 Provokes, once more thy confclencc to addrefs, 
 And aik for injur'd innocence redrefs. 
 Ere houefl:, virtuous, public wrath fhall fleep. 
 Ere my Melpomene Ihall ccafe to weep, 
 
 Or
 
 ( 33 ) 
 
 Or her foft elegies fliall ceafe to flow. 
 
 O'er F r's sad variety of wo ; 
 
 Or Satire, ceafe to barb the pomted dart, 
 
 And boldly pouit it to thy guilty heart ; 
 
 Confession open, honefl, genVous, free. 
 
 Each JMule, and all the world, expe£l from thee i 
 
 Small reparation for a crime fo great. 
 
 In which ten thoufiind aggravations meet ; 
 
 Yet make it, fpeak the truth, the deed confefs, * 
 
 'Twill make thy guilt, and F— — r's forrows lefs ; 
 
 Will juft refentment into mercy turn. 
 
 Conciliate friends, make anger ceafe to burn. 
 
 Who, from a heart relenting, cou'd with-hold 
 
 Though jufl: before in fad tranfgreflion bold. 
 
 The hand of pity, and of candor meek. 
 
 To wipe the tear repentant, from the cheek 
 
 Of pungent forrow ? Who that fully knows 
 
 Himfelf, his God, or, for another's woes. 
 
 E'er felt compafTion and benev'lence kind, 
 
 Pervade, with foft'ning energy, his mind, 
 
 Cou'd hefitate, one moment, to impart 
 
 The LOVE, that foothes and heals 4 wounded heart ? 
 
 K The
 
 ( 34 ) 
 
 The mufe herfelf Philanthropist wouM turn, 
 And foi- tliy grief, as for thy guilt, wou'd mourn ; 
 To plead the caufe of Penitence wou'd try. 
 And alk, for thee, of all the world, a figh,. 
 
 Fain wou'd I,, then, the pleafing hope indulge^ 
 That CONSCIENCE may compel thee to divulge 
 The truth ; and, though to pride fo hard the tafk, 
 
 Pardon of God, and injur'd F R alk ; 
 
 That, wounded with an arrow from on high. 
 Thou (halt abas'd, in humble fackcloth lie, 
 Thy num'rous, various, deep-dyed crimes deplore^ 
 Though veil'd, diffembled, and denied, before. 
 
 Does the fcene change, then ? does It realize 
 A profpe£l new to my adonlfli'd eyes ? 
 Do the dark mlds and lowering clouds give way, 
 While Sol fhlncs radiant with a flood of day ? 
 Or, is it FANCY, with illufion fair. 
 That gilds the Iky, and brightens all the air ? 
 Or hope, that plumes her gay expanfive wing. 
 And what she wisiiss, prompts the muse to sing ?- 
 
 Tl^
 
 ( 35 ) 
 
 The day ferene, tli' expanfe of aether clear, 
 Whilfl: all the groves waft harm'iiy to my ear, 
 Whllfl: feem'd eacli objed flatt'ring to portend 
 The near approach of fome aufpicious Friend ; 
 Sudden an emanation from on high 
 Burft in a ftream of glory from the Iky, 
 Bright efflux from the realms of pureft day. 
 Sent to illumine all th' aetherial way.. 
 The heavens dlfparting then unveil'd to fight, 
 A form angelic, near the throne of light ; 
 The concave vafl refuunded with her name. 
 And choirs celefUal join'd to chant her fame j, 
 Swift, from her native refidence, the Ikies, 
 On wing fernphlc, to the earth (he flies. 
 Her ROBE refpendent in each glofly lold. 
 Shone with bright telnts of azure and of gold. 
 Save, where it Aill appear'd deep-ting'd with blood, 
 Which once, as at Messiah's cross (he flood. 
 Left in her garments purple fpots, to prove 
 The marks indelible of dying love. 
 By Truth and Justice giv'n, a Crown (he wore,. 
 With gems of pureft lullre ftudded o'er ; 
 
 Her-
 
 ( 36 ) 
 
 Her name infcrlb'd, "m froot, in burulfh'd gold, 
 
 Her high defcent, and god-like nature told. 
 
 A radiance mild encircled all her face, 
 
 The Teat of each benign attractive grace. 
 
 Her hand firft rais'd to wipe the falling tear, 
 
 She {poke, and fpoke fo loud, that fhn the deaf might hear. 
 
 (( 
 
 Dlfpatch''d from heav'n, and with commlflion kind, 
 *• My plcafmg talk, is erring man to find ; 
 •' Th' eternal fav'rite of th' eternal Son, 
 *' Ere time its ample round began to run, 
 *' Within HIS breaft, before all worlds, I dwelt, 
 •' Ere man th* efFe(Sts of lad tranfgreffion felt. 
 ** Mercy my name, my origin divine, 
 " Eternal love and clemency are mine. 
 *' Man's caufe I pleaded, and in Eden knew, 
 " When her vindiftive fv\ord ftern Justice drew* 
 " See, in this hand a venerable roll, 
 *?' The fov'reign balm and med'cine of the ioul ; 
 *' Eternal Truth the chara6lers reveal'd, 
 *' The deed, with blood, the great Messiah feal'd, 
 
 " A CO-
 
 .( "37 •) 
 
 *' A covenant ofyeace it Is, proclaini'd to man, 
 
 *' Adoie the Author, and admire the Plan. 
 
 " Lo ! in my left, a lacred Sponge I bear, 
 
 " Potent lin's deepeil:, foulcft i^ain to clear, 
 
 *' Dipt in the crimlon current of a fpring, 
 
 *' Whofe flreams to thoufands health and vicror bring;. 
 
 *' Repent, believe the record — ftralght I'll fly 
 
 *' To heav'n's high court, and for tiiy pardon cry ; 
 
 *' There the long cat'logue of thy fins count o'er, 
 
 " And as I count, expunge the dreadlul fcore ; 
 
 *' Waft ev'ry figh, bear ev'ry tear and groanj 
 
 " Perfum'd with incenle, to th' eternal throne." 
 
 Thus Mercy fpoke, heav'n echoed to her voice, 
 ^nd the foft accents made the earth rejoice. 
 
 W , to THEE fhe fpoke ; o'er thee hath dropp'd a tear. 
 
 Her high commillion, tender plea, revere ; 
 
 To-day (he calls, throws wide her lacred door, 
 
 *' There's room," — ihe cries — enter — and sin no more,'' 
 
 Accept the meflage, ere terrific Death 
 
 Stop, with his unrelenting hand, thy breath ; 
 
 1^ Ere. 

 
 ( 38 i 
 
 r 
 
 Ere fummon'd by the Judge fuprcjne to fland 
 At his dread bar, thou trembUng, fllft thy haud ; 
 Ere, Mercy fpurn'd, Justice avahge the deed, 
 And ftrike the blow, by angry hiav'n decreed. 
 
 t H E END. 
 
 I 
 
 t 
 
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