OF TEMPER.
27
From the first page my just abhorrence springs;
For modern anecdotes are monstrous things:
Yet will I fee what dangerous poisons lurk,
To taint thy youth in this licentious work.
She said: and rudely from the chamber rush'd,
Her pallid cheek with expectation flush'd,
With ardent hope her eager spirit shook,
Vain hope! to banquet on a luscious book.
So if a priest of the Arabian feet,
In Turkish hands forbidden wine detect,
The sacred mussulman, with pious din,
Arraigns the culprit, and proclaims the sin,
Curses with holy zeal th' inflaming juice,
But cursing takes it for his secret use.
The gay Serena, with unruffled mind.
The pleasing novel, thus unread, resign'd.
The vision on her foul such virtue left.
She only smil'd at the provoking theft;
The teasing incident she deem'd a jeft.
Nor felt the zone grow tighter on her breast.
For modern anecdotes are monstrous things:
Yet will I fee what dangerous poisons lurk,
To taint thy youth in this licentious work.
She said: and rudely from the chamber rush'd,
Her pallid cheek with expectation flush'd,
With ardent hope her eager spirit shook,
Vain hope! to banquet on a luscious book.
So if a priest of the Arabian feet,
In Turkish hands forbidden wine detect,
The sacred mussulman, with pious din,
Arraigns the culprit, and proclaims the sin,
Curses with holy zeal th' inflaming juice,
But cursing takes it for his secret use.
The gay Serena, with unruffled mind.
The pleasing novel, thus unread, resign'd.
The vision on her foul such virtue left.
She only smil'd at the provoking theft;
The teasing incident she deem'd a jeft.
Nor felt the zone grow tighter on her breast.
