An Address to a Wealthy Libertine

An Address to a Wealthy Libertine - or, the Melancholy Effects of Seduction; with a Letter from an Unfortunate Farmer's Daughter, to her Parents in Norfolk

Believe me, Sir; I do these lines impart With every pang that can corrode the heart; Bring to your mind a dismal scene late past, And let that guilty Amour be your last. Think of my friend that was of late so gay, By your vile arts dishonourd and away; From every joy that animates this life, The tender mother and the happy wife. A husbands frowns, a fathers burning tears, For Stellas folly much increase their cares. A brother mourns, in solitude forlorn, To hear his Stella meet reproof and scorn: In tears he cries, my sisters late disgrace Will plant a stigma on the female race. Those friends so late that used to Stella stray, Now bend their courses far another way. She mourns in privacy her honour flown, And sighs to find illicit scenes are known. These sorrowing truths I feelingly renew, And know, oh guilty man! they rise from you. Can all your wealth lost honour ever gain? That, Sir, is scorndit is the impious stain Youve brought on Stella, to the end of life, And robs her all the comforts of a wife. Abandond man you must atone for all, Ere life is oer on God for mercy call. p. 4Your mind is harassd by reflections gale, That oft to you its bitterness exhale: Tempted by folly every scene pursue, That dissipation can expose to view. The softer pleasures that enrich the mind, That learning dictates, from you lag behind; Its cruel sport that bears a sovreign sway, To them and such like them you waste the day. Know, Sir, that wealth ant given to us here, To bring to infamy the British fair. Too much, I fear, you wanton hours employ, The needy woman daily to decoy. Too many wantons now disgrace this Isle, Whose bad example off the young beguile; I hope that plans to stop them will increase, And her that now is wretched rest in peace. Your genrous family will ever gain, Affections tribute while we life retain: Pure is the vine, except a leaf or two, Soon theyll decay and be no more in view. Disgracd, disownd, to foreign lands theyll fly, The censurd objects of the Deity. Wealth cannot stop the torrent of reproach, Tho screend from Britons by a gaudy coach; Its inmate oft tho clad in rich array, Meets hoots and hisses as he rides away; Till spleen, that canker of the human heart, Makes him oft wish he could from life depart. p. 5It is a scourge offended laws cant give, The worst of torments whilst its object live; Sometimes it stops our vices as they rise, While chaster thoughts the waving mind supplies. Oft does a parent with paternal care, His only Daughter with affection rear; Soon as the time arrives his cares to pay, A vile seducer takes his gem away; Wafts her to infamy of every kind, Then leaves the object with a torturd mind. Still does her heart with pure affection burn, Wish to a fathers roof again to turn; Just at that periodlucre tempts again, And the weak vessel totters on the main: She reels, she sinks, from chaste affections view, To taste the draught of bitterness anew. Some vile procuress with a demons skill, In a short period gains her to her will; Till grown familiar to a harlots life, Quote inebriety to banish strife; Becomes familiar to a vicious plan, Adds to the charmers in the sirens den; To liquor fly to banish thoughts of home, And nightly forcd for ways and means to roam. Sweet health is banishd and she finds too late, Some dismal bridewell soon must be her fate; All means are fled, the staff of life to gain, To bridewell hurried with remorse and pain. p. 6A pass is granted,to her father sent, Where she is fosterd from the element. A tender parent kiss the long lost child, Assures forgiveness tho by grief turnd wild. Soon as the mind to calmer scenes invite, He bless the hour that brought his lost to sight. A scene like this came lately to my ear, I know the parent and his worth revere. Frequent do parents cause the great distress, That on their daughters unexpected press. The mother drains her pockets very low, That Miss may make a gaudy flippant show; To country balls she often bends her way, And is allowed with cards and dice to play. View but the manners of the modern belle, And see if they dont levity foretell: The bosom oft appears too much in view, Sweet modesty is forcd to bid adieu: To her chaste dictates she cannot attend, Indeed they do not deem her as a friend. Mark how they roll their lively eyes about, Just like her Ladyship when at a rout. A piece of music next the parlour grace, While vanity is striding on apace: So swift she flies that almost time outrun; By her manuvres oft the fairs undone; Miss cannot look on any but a squire, Or dressd up coxcombs, only them admire; p. 7An honest farmers son they call a clown, Likes none but puppies living in a town; Such creatures, soon as wedded, only strive How to jog on and keep the game alive: Careless who suffers if they can but live, Wanting still more than prudent parents give; All wishes gratified,in hopes that Miss Will soon enjoy the matrimonial bliss. A prudent living man is known to say, For me such bawbles dress too fine and gay; Shed squander money much against my will, In paying milliners enormous bill. Such conduct in a parent may be wise, Where good estates can all his wants supplies; The ill effects that rise from such a plan, Is were stern poverty assails the man. Parents there are who often live this way, Although two shillings in the pound cant pay. Soon as their creditors do sharply press, The lovely maidens feel extreme distress; No lover then to sooth the drooping eye, When poverty is seen from them they fly: Unfit to baffle with the frowns of life, And greatly more so for to be a wife. Then does the wealthy Libertine succeed, Furnish their pockets known to be in need; Takes Miss from home to grace a chaise and pair, While the unhappy parents nurse despair. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 33456
Author: Parkerson, James
Release Date: Aug 17, 2010
Format: eBook
Language: English