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Forbear the harlot's falfe embrace,
Tho' lewdnefs wear an angel's face, no
Be wife, by my experience taught; ont
I die, alas for want of thought.

As he, who travels Libya's plains, Where the fierce lion lawless reigns,

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Is feiz'd with fear, and wild difmay, -T
When the grim foe obftructs his way:
My foul was pierc'd with equal fright
My tott'ring limbs oppos'd my flight;
I call'd on VIRTUE, but in vain,

Her abfence quicken'd ev'ry pain sla, ol
At length the flighted angel heard, : 1
The dear refulgent form appear'd. 'la

Prefumptuous youth! fhe faid, and frown'd,
(My heart-strings flutter'd at the found)
Who turns to me reluctant ears,
Shall fhed a flood of future tears.
Thefe rivers fhall for ever laft ;
There's no retracting what is past:
Nor think avenging ills to fhun;
Play a falfe card, and you're undone.

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Of PLEASURE's gilded baits beware,
Nor tempt the Siren's fatal fnare:
Forego this curs'd, detefted place,
Abhor the ftrumpet, and her race:
Had you those fofter paths pursu'd,
Perdition, ftripling, had enfu'd:
Yes, fly you ftand upon its brink;
To-morrow is too late to think.

Indeed unwelcome truths I tell,
But mark my facred leffon well:
With me who ever lives at ftrife,
Lofes his better friend for life;
With me who lives in friendship's ties,
Finds all that's fought for by the wife.
Folly exclaims, and well she may;
Because I take her mask away;

If once I bring her to the fun,
The painted harlot is undone.

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But prize, my child, oh! prize my rules, And leave deception to her fools.

AMBITION deals in tinfel toys,

Her traffick gewgaws, fleeting joys!!

An

An errant juggler in disguise,
Who holds falfe optics to your eyes,
But ah! how quick the shadows pass!
Tho' the bright visions thro' her glass
Charm at a diftance; yet, when near,
The baseless fabricks disappear.

Nor RICHES boast intrinsic worth, Their charms, at beft, fuperior earth: Thefe oft the heav'n-born mind enflave, And make an honeft man a knave. "Wealth cures my wants," the miser cries; Be not deceiv'd, the mifer lyes: One want he has with all his ftore, That worst of wants! the want of more,

Take pleasure, wealth, and pomp away, And where is HAPPINESS, you fay

'Tis here-and may be yours for, know I'm all that's Happiness below. of I

To Vice I leave tumultuous joys; Mine is the ftill and fofter voice ;

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That whifpers peace, when ftorms invade, And mufick thro' the midnight fhade.

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Come then, be mine in ev'ry part, Nor give me lefs than all your heart When troubles difcompofe your breast, I'll enter there a chearful gueft: My converfé fhall your cares beguile, The little world within fhall fmile; And then it fcarce imports a jot, Whether the great world frowns or not..

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And when the clofing fcenes prevail, When wealth, state, pleasure, all fhall fail; All that a foolish world admires,

Or paffion craves, or pride infpires;
At that important hour of need,
VIRTUE fhall prove a friend indeed!
My hands fhall fmooth thy dying bed,
My arms fuftain thy drooping head:
And when the painful ftruggle's o'er,
And that vain thing, the world, no more;
I'll bear my favourite fon away,

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FRIENDSHIP.

F

RIENDSHIP! thou foft, propitious pow'r.
Sweet regent of the focial hour!
Sublime the joys, nor understood,
But by the virtuous and the good!
CABAL and RIOT take thy name,
But 'tis a falfe affected claim.

In Heav'n if love and friendship dwell,
Can they affociate e'er with hell?

Thou art the fame thro' change of times; Thro' frozen zones and burning climes; From the equator to the pole,

The fame kind angel thro' the whole.
And fince thy choice is always free,
I bless thee for thy fmiles on me.

When forrows swell the tempeft high, Thou, a kind port, art always nigh!

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