Moral Pieces, in Prose and Verse/Pope

by Lydia Sigourney

POPE.

"CURST be the verse, how well so e'er it flow,
"That tends to make one honest man my foe,
"Give virtue, scandal; innocence, a fear;
"Or from the soft-ey'd virgin steal a tear."

Too well may be applied to this fine writer, the following imitation.

SHAME to the man! how well so e'er he write,
Who mingles fair with foul, and wrong with right;
Gives pain to virtue, spotted robes to truth,
And crimsons o'er the bashful cheek of youth.